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Why Your Financial Plan Needs a Second Opinion

People often question if they’re doing all they can to protect their portfolios from losses while taking advantage of buying opportunities. To help you gain more confidence in your financial well-being, it can be beneficial to get a second opinion.  Even if you’re happy with your current plan, a second opinion can help pinpoint issues or call attention to parts that might be overlooked otherwise. Here are five reasons why it might be time to consider a second opinion. 

  1.  All financial planners are different, and each offers different services and products. You need a planner who is truly independent and not forced to offer a limited selection of options to meet your goals and objectives. The advisor you want is one that can customize a solution for whatever your circumstances may be. 
  2. You’ll want to make sure your advisor is a fiduciary, which means that an advisor puts your needs and goals before their own. If you’re currently seeing an advisor that is not a fiduciary like ours, that may mean they’re not keeping your best interests in mind. 
  3. Make sure you’re working with someone with the proper credentials. Ideally, you’ll want to see a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) because they follow higher standards in terms of education and ethics. The best of both worlds would be an independent fiduciary who is a CFP. Then they’d have access to almost any strategy, product or security and have to put your interests first. 
  4. Many advisors just do their own research and make investment decisions for your portfolio or put you in a cookie-cutter portfolio that isn’t really designed or customized for your specific goals. What you really need is an investment committee made up of people with the right experience and the right credentials. It should be a team with access to up to date research performed by qualified and experienced professionals ideally lead by a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA).
  5. Among the most important reasons to consider a second opinion is coordination. At Lineweaver Financial Group, we offer all our clients total coordination between all of their financial, tax, legal and insurance planning. We can even work alongside advisors they already know and trust. This helps ensure they have a holistic plan, focused on their best interest while making sure nothing slips through the cracks. 

Just like you’d get a second opinion from a doctor, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion when it comes to your finances and we offer all PSE clients one with no cost or obligation. Give us a call 216-520-1711 so we can help you and answer any questions about your retirement decisions. 
 

Information contained herein is not tax advice and should not be considered as such. Each individual’s tax situation is unique and different. For advice related to your specific tax situation, please contact your personal tax professional. Not FDIC insured. Not bank guaranteed. May lose value. 
 

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What the Social Security Fairness Act mean for Your Benefits in 2025

Posted By Lineweaver Financial Group
July 07, 2025 Category: Tax, Social Security, Tax Planning, Financial Planning

By Mark Sipos, LFG Tax Director If you’ve worked in a public service job, chances are you’ve heard of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO). WEP reduced Social Security benefits for individuals with pensions from jobs that didn’t pay into Social Security, and GPO reduced Social Security spousal and survivor benefits for individuals who also received a pension from a job that wasn’t covered by Social Security. But at the beginning of the year, as one of their last acts in office, the Biden Administration passed the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), meaning many retirees may see higher monthly payments and possibly retroactive benefits. Let’s break down what SSFA entails, how the repeals affect you, and what you need to know about the taxation of your Social Security benefits moving forward. What Changed in 2025? On January 5, 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act officially repealed WEP and GPO. This change applies to Social Security benefits payable for any months after December 2023. That means if you were previously impacted by WEP, your benefit could increase, possibly significantly. The repeal also opens the door for retroactive payments dating back to January 1, 2024. In total, more than 3.2 million Americans are expected to benefit from the elimination of WEP and GPO, according to the Social Security Administration. How WEP, GPO Repeal Impacts Public Employees and Retirees The repeal

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Posted By Lineweaver Financial Group
July 07, 2025 Category: Market Commentary, Bonds, Financial Strategy, Financial Planning

By Chad Roope, CFA ®, Chief Investment Officer U.S. municipal bonds (munis) are prized for their tax advantages, but their historic tendency to provide a stable source of return also makes them valuable amid market volatility and uncertainty. Munis are generally less vulnerable to inflation shocks or the crossfire of global trade policies because they are often linked to public authorities that provide fee-based essential services, such as waste collection and public transportation, or secured by taxes on sales, property, and income. Munis have also shown historically low default rates and high credit ratings (Aa3 versus Ba1 for global corporate debt, on average) thanks to the disciplined finances and stable revenues of most state and local governments. Tax equivalent yields of munis have reset to levels not seen in over a decade, with some investment grade yields north of 6%. Against this backdrop, we see an opportunity to increase allocations, particularly as the outlook for limited supply relative to demand in July and August could bolster performance. Additionally, munis offer a possible antidote to tariffs and recession concerns. Amid Wall Street’s growing concern over a potential tariff-induced recession, investors are seeking refuge in areas least affected by global supply chains. This is fueling interest in state and local government bonds for the following reasons: Limited exposure to trade risks: A broad-based economic slowdown would reduce state r

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Posted By Lineweaver Financial Group
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Case studies are intended to illustrate the types of financial issues faced by actual clients. They should not be construed as a testimonial for or endorsement of Lineweaver Wealth Advisors. They do not represent the experience of any advisory client. Each client’s situation is different, and their goals may not always be achieved. Lineweaver Wealth Advisors, LLC, is not engaged in the practice of law or accounting. Tax information provided is general in nature and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation. Tax rules and regulations are subject to change at any time.
Crain's Cleveland Business is a print and online newspaper delivering local business news and information to Cleveland's business executives, which is published by Crain Communications Inc. The Crain's list may employ different methodology than described above for similar designations granted in other years. No clients were consulted and no fees were paid to determine the winners; the award is based on assets under management. Neither the participating candidates nor their employees pay a fee in exchange for inclusion on Crain's List. However, recipients may pay a fee to Crain, an affiliate, or an unaffiliated third party in exchange for plaques or article reprints commemorating the designation. The publication should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if the recipient is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services; and should not be construed as a current or past endorsement of the recipient by any of its clients. In 2025, 2024, 2020 and 2019 Lineweaver Wealth Advisors (“LWA”) was ranked in the Top 25 of Crain’s of Cleveland’s annual list of Registered Investment Advisors. In 2023, LWA was ranked in the Top 15 of Crain’s of Cleveland’s annual list of Registered Investment Advisors. In 2021 and 2022, LWA was ranked in the Top 20 of Crain’s of Cleveland’s annual list of Registered Investment Advisors. For all years the awards were based on assets under management.
Nominees in the Top 100 Magazine selections are not required to pay a fee for consideration. Individuals appearing in half and full page editorials, have paid a fee for additional exposure. Candidates for consideration are selected utilizing proprietary software. Top 100 Magazine analyzes the results before making their final selections. Financial Professionals and/or wealth managers must also met the following criteria; 1. Be registered with the SEC as a registered investment advisor or a registered investment advisor representative; 2. Have no more than 1 filed complaint with a regulatory agency; 3.Never been convicted of a felony. Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the Financial Professional by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation. Participants for the Top 100 in Finance appearance were reviewed in 2022, and recognized in March of 2023. Lineweaver Financial Group appeared in Money magazine in 2015, Fortune Magazine in 2016, WTAM 1100 in 2018, Forbes in 2020, Channel 5 in 2020, and Top 100 in Finance in 2023.

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