September 19, 2011
Sound
financial advice is invaluable in today’s world – especially when
that advice comes from a source you can trust.
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Alumni and friends received precisely that at the most recent Meet
the Experts event on the Queens campus. Featuring a panel of
knowledgeable speakers, all of whom graduated from St. John’s
University, the program covered a number of essential topics
designed to help guests navigate these difficult economic
times.
Thomas Bonhag ’78MBA, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CAP, Principal of National
Madison, served as Moderator of the Meet the Experts panel.
“No one on this panel can tell you what’s coming down the line,” he
said, referencing the country’s constantly changing tax laws. “But
what we are going to do is focus on this: what are the challenges
and opportunities facing us right now? And how long will these
opportunities exist?”
After
Bonhag’s introduction, each panelist spoke about his field of
expertise. From real estate to tax laws, investments to retirement
planning, the speakers covered a wealth of topics that brought the
guests up to speed on current regulations and legal issues.
Panelist John J. Ceparano ’85CBA, CPA, PFS, M.Tax, CFP, Private
Wealth Manager of Joseph Capital Management, LLC, provided an
overview on investments and taxes.
“The goal of financial planning is to make sure that you can do the
things you want to do, without having to worry about the concerns
that wealth brings,” he said. “Remember: this is the first day of
the rest of your life, and there is always a chance to make
adjustments so you can experience all the things that perhaps
you’ve been putting off. That’s what we’re going to help you
with.”
Frank Riggio ’80CBA, Financial Planner for Northwestern Mutual
Financial, discussed the intricacies of retirement.
“Decades ago, people would attend St. john’s, then work for a
company, then retired and collect a pension,” he explained. “But
lifestyles are different now, and people today, when they retire,
don’t want to eat dinner at 4 p.m., go to sleep at 10 p.m., play
golf twice a week and sit by a pool. We want to do other things we
enjoy, and there are many risks that need to be managed in order to
make that a reality. Preparedness is the issue.”
The alumni and friends who attended the Meet the Experts panel
enjoyed the wide range of topics that were discussed. Some, like
Patricia Ahern ’60GEd, are concerned about the United States’
uncertain economy.
“It’s crazy what’s happening right now,” she said. “There’s hardly
any job security these days, so it is absolutely scary. But events
like this are a huge help, especially because I get to see how
fellow alumni are handling these issues. I like how the experts are
all graduates and can give me that St. John’s perspective when
sharing their advice.”
Other guests, like John Power ’66G, were not as concerned about the
economy. But Power agreed that up-to-date financial advice is an
invaluable asset.
“I’ve been coming to these events for the last few years, and I’ve
always gotten a lot out of them,” he noted. “Tax laws are
constantly changing, so it’s nice that this event can keep me up to
date on them. I usually make a few financial changes just about
every time I come here.”
This particular Meet the Experts event – held for the first time on
the Queens campus – was especially fun for Power because it brought
him back to campus for the first time in years.
“I’m amazed with how campus has transformed,” he said. “I visited
maybe five years ago, and even in that span of time, so many things
have changed. It’s impressive to see how campus has grown since I
graduated, and it’s one of many reasons I’m glad to still be a part
of the community.”