Retirement Unlocked

Larry Heller

Retirement Unlocked. With Larry Heller, CFP®. Your life. Your way. How financial resilience can let you live it – for life. While money matters, being able to pursue the things that enrich our individual lives also matters. Having the financial resilience to live life without limits is just one of the wide range of subjects discussed on the ‘Retirement Unlocked’ podcast. Join Larry Heller, certified financial planner and president of Heller Wealth Management, as he covers topics from tax tips to investment strategies, to healthy lifestyle practices, and trekking the globe!

  1. 6D AGO

    Life Insurance That Works While You’re Living with Richard “Big Daddy” Salgado (Ep. 195)

    Most people think life insurance is only about what happens after they are gone. But what if part of your coverage could support you during a serious health event while you are still living? In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Richard “Big Daddy” Salgado to explore how life insurance has evolved beyond the traditional death benefit. Drawing from his experience working with professional athletes, Rich shares how career-ending disability coverage and life insurance with living benefits are designed to protect income, earning potential, and financial stability when the unexpected happens. Richard discusses: The difference between traditional life insurance and policies with living benefits How career-ending disability insurance protects future income What health events may trigger living benefit payouts Why policy reviews are essential as your life and finances change Common misconceptions about life insurance and protection planning And more! Connect with Richard “Big Daddy” Salgado: MyTermLife.ai LinkedIn: Richard “Big Daddy” Salgado LinkedIn: MyTermLifeAI Connect with Larry Heller:  (631) 248-3600 Schedule a 20-Minute Call Heller Wealth Management LinkedIn: Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, CPA YouTube: Retirement Unlocked with Larry Heller, CFP® About Our Guest: Richard “Big Daddy” Salgado is an insurance professional with more than 25 years of experience specializing in career-ending disability coverage and life insurance with living benefits. He has worked extensively with professional athletes, helping them protect future earnings and financial stability in the event of injury or serious health challenges. Rich focuses on education-first conversations, policy reviews, and ensuring clients understand how protection planning fits into their broader financial picture.

    27 min
  2. FEB 4

    Why Investing Feels Harder Than It Should: Understanding Investor Behavior and Bias with Scott Bosworth (Ep. 193)

    Why does investing feel so emotional, even when the plan is solid? This episode explores how psychology, and not just numbers, shapes the way investors react to markets. In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, CPA, is joined by Scott Bosworth, CFA,  Head of Speakers Bureau and Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors, to discuss how investor behavior and common behavioral biases influence long-term investment outcomes. Scott explains why emotions often feel more powerful than logic during market swings and how those reactions are deeply rooted in human psychology, not a lack of intelligence or discipline.  The conversation also explores the tension between efficient markets and behavioral finance, and why understanding both is essential to staying invested through market cycles. Throughout the episode, Scott shares practical analogies and real-world examples that help investors better recognize their own biases and make more resilient decisions over time. Scott discusses: What behavioral finance is and why it matters for investors The most common biases that affect decision-making, including overconfidence and hindsight bias Why market headlines and media narratives can increase anxiety How diversification and discipline help investors stay grounded during uncertainty The role advisors play in helping clients navigate emotional market cycles And more Connect with Scott Bosworth: LinkedIn: Scott Bosworth Dimensional Fund Advisors Connect with Larry Heller:  (631) 248-3600 Schedule a 20-Minute Call Heller Wealth Management LinkedIn: Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, CPA YouTube: Retirement Unlocked with Larry Heller, CFP® About Our Guest: Scott Bosworth, CFA, is Head of Speakers Bureau and Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors. He has been with the firm since 1996 and brings decades of experience as a portfolio manager, institutional and advisory consultant, and trusted resource for advisors navigating market behavior and long-term investing principles.

    32 min
  3. JAN 7

    Selling Your Business the Right Way: Timing, Buyers, and Value with Gregg Schor (Ep. 191)

    Selling a business is one of the biggest financial decisions an owner will ever make, and the right preparation can shape both the outcome and the next chapter of life. In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, speaks with Gregg Schor, CEO of Protegrity Advisors, about what business owners need to understand before entering the mergers and acquisitions process. Gregg shares practical, experience-based insights into how different buyer types approach transactions and how sellers can position themselves well ahead of a sale to improve both financial and non-financial outcomes. Together, they walk through the typical Mergers & Acquisitions timeline and key decision points business owners should be prepared to navigate from early planning through closing. Gregg discusses: The different types of buyers in today’s market, including strategic buyers, private equity firms, and family offices How seller goals influence deal structure, timing, and buyer fit The role of cash at closing, earnouts, and rollover equity in a transaction Why the best time to consider selling is often when the business is performing well What preparation really looks like, from financials and contracts to reducing owner dependency How the M&A process typically unfolds, from early planning through closing And more Connect with Gregg Schor: Protegrity Advisors LinkedIn: Gregg Schor gschor@protegrityadvisors.om (631) 285-3172 Connect with Larry Heller:  (631) 248-3600 Schedule a 20-Minute Call Heller Wealth Management LinkedIn: Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, CPA YouTube: Retirement Unlocked with Larry Heller, CFP® About Our Guest: Gregg Schor is the CEO of Protegrity Advisors and has over 25 years of experience managing mergers and acquisitions, corporate development, legal, and human resources for companies of all sizes in a wide range of industries. He has previously held senior management positions at companies that have been acquired by IBM, Microsoft, and EMC, including Deputy and General Counsel, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and Director of European Operations. As a result, he brings a very unique perspective to Protegrity clients, having been on all sides of M&A transactions and in a variety of roles. Over the years, he has developed an extensive network of national and international relationships with public and private companies, private equity firms, family offices, search funds, and serial entrepreneurs, looking for businesses to acquire. He is on the boards of the Exit Planning Institute and the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors, and is a member of the Exit Planning Exchange (Long Island Chapters). Gregg received a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and a Diploma on International and Comparative Law for study in Russia and Poland from the University of San Diego School of Law. He also completed the Mergers and Acquisitions Executive Education Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Certificate Program in Family Business Leadership and Governance from Cornell University.

    27 min
  4. 12/17/2025

    Key Decisions to Get Right in Your 60s for a Confident Retirement (Ep. 190)

    Planning for retirement in your sixties involves a series of decisions that shape the rest of your life. Many retirees and pre-retirees are unsure how Social Security, healthcare, taxes, investments, and estate planning all work together, and this uncertainty can lead to costly missteps. In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down the most common mistakes he sees people make during this decade and explains how thoughtful planning can help you approach retirement with clarity and confidence. He highlights real-world scenarios where timing, income needs, and coordination across financial decisions can make a meaningful difference for retirees and their families. What to expect: The Social Security mistakes many people make at ages 62 to 67 How income needs, longevity, and spousal benefits affect the right claiming strategy Why knowing your spending is one of the most powerful pieces of retirement planning Healthcare planning essentials, including Medicare, IRMAA, and long-term care Managing investments in your sixties without becoming too conservative too quickly Missed tax opportunities such as Roth conversions and withdrawal sequencing Emotional preparation and lifestyle planning for a fulfilling retirement Why updated estate documents and beneficiary designations matter And more! Resources: Download the checklist: Key Retirement Decisions in Your 60s Connect with Larry Heller:  (631) 248-3600 Schedule a 20-Minute Call Heller Wealth Management LinkedIn: Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, CPA YouTube: Retirement Unlocked with Larry Heller, CFP®

    27 min
  5. 12/03/2025

    How to Build a Confident Retirement as a Northwell Employee with Belinda Tsui (Ep. 189)

    Retirement planning for Northwell Health employees involves understanding a range of unique benefits and making strategic financial decisions. Many employees across all tiers and roles are unsure how these pieces fit together as they approach retirement. In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, speaks with Belinda Tsui, CFP®, about how strategic planning can help employees understand what they have, what they may be leaving unclaimed, and how each decision affects retirement planning goals.  They explore common scenarios for physicians, nurses, administrators, and other employees navigating their retirement plan options. The message is clear: knowing your benefits early, coordinating income sources, and avoiding costly timing mistakes can make a meaningful difference for Northwell employees when it’s time to retire. What to expect: The most common benefits Northwell employees might miss Key decisions employees face as they approach age 65 Northwell pensions, cash balance plans, and deferred compensations How Heller Wealth Management has helped their Northwell clients that are nurses, administrators, & physicians to set up for a successful retirement And more! Resources:  Northwell Employee Retirement Ready Checklist Connect with Belinda Tsui: (631) 248-3600 LinkedIn: Belinda Tsui Heller Wealth Management Connect with Larry Heller:  (631) 248-3600 Schedule a 20-Minute Call Heller Wealth Management LinkedIn: Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, CPA YouTube: Retirement Unlocked with Larry Heller, CFP® About Our Guest: Belinda Tsui, CFP® approaches wealth management the same way she undertakes any other discipline in her life. She has many clients that are working for Northwell Health or have retired from Northwell Health with her help. With laser focus, cool reserve, steely resolve and unwavering adherence to the principals and fundamentals that foster success and lead – ultimately – to mastery of the craft. The ‘craft’ in this case being comprehensive financial and investment planning. The finer points of which include designing customized portfolios, plan implementation, portfolio rebalancing, customizing asset reports and operations management.  Skills acquired and finely honed over 20 years of advising, counselling and creating financial resilience for high net worth individuals, family trusts, foundations, corporate executives and business owners.

    17 min
  6. 11/19/2025

    What You Can Still Do to Cut Your 2025 Tax Bill with Jonathan Niyazov (Ep. 188)

    Year-end tax season doesn’t have to catch you off guard. With the latest tax law updates now in effect, there are new windows of opportunity, but also new limitations, especially for high-income earners and business owners. In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Jonathan Niyazov, CPA, to unpack how the 2025 tax code changes are reshaping financial planning conversations. From expanded SALT deductions and personal exemptions to permanent bonus depreciation and R&D credits, the 2025 tax code changes are reshaping planning conversations. The real challenge? Knowing how and when to act before December 31st to keep more of what you’ve earned. What to expect from this release: How income thresholds impact the new deduction and exemption limits Strategic planning moves for high earners, senior taxpayers, and business owners The power of Roth conversions, tax-loss harvesting, and retroactive refund claims Why choosing the right business structure may help reduce your tax bill in 2025 and beyond And more! Resources: How to Avoid a Tax Time Bomb in Retirement (Ep. 185) Connect with Jonathan Niyazov: Tax Ace LLC. LinkedIn: Jonathan Niyazov, CPA (929) 522 0607 Connect with Larry Heller:  (631) 248-3600 Schedule a 20-Minute Call Heller Wealth Management LinkedIn: Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, CPA YouTube: Retirement Unlocked with Larry Heller, CFP® About Our Guest: Jonathan Niyazov is an accomplished Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a wealth of experience assisting mid-size to large businesses and high-net-worth individuals with their tax needs. With a distinguished career spanning prestigious international accounting firms, he brings an acute understanding of the tax code that is crucial for any growing business and its owners. Jonathan’s expertise extends to assisting overseas companies in establishing a business presence in the United States and providing guidance to US companies expanding abroad. He leverages his commercial tax expertise to deliver high-quality tax services to a diverse portfolio of clients across many industries and sectors. His experience and expertise is centered around tax management, consulting, and compliance, with a focus on S corporation, partnership, corporate, and individual taxation.

    18 min

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Retirement Unlocked. With Larry Heller, CFP®. Your life. Your way. How financial resilience can let you live it – for life. While money matters, being able to pursue the things that enrich our individual lives also matters. Having the financial resilience to live life without limits is just one of the wide range of subjects discussed on the ‘Retirement Unlocked’ podcast. Join Larry Heller, certified financial planner and president of Heller Wealth Management, as he covers topics from tax tips to investment strategies, to healthy lifestyle practices, and trekking the globe!

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