Your Advisor's Thoughts

Simplify Your Life!

As your "One-Stop Investment Shop", the "Your Best Interest" Financial Services team brings together investment, insurance, and tax expertise along with outstanding customer service to provide a comprehensive approach to your unique financial situation.

Unlike traditional financial services firms, we can simplify your life by addressing all the areas of your individual financial plan under one roof. Integrating investment knowledge with tax advice is a YBI distinctive. There are significant potential benefits to incorporating tax preparation services with:

Retirement Planning

Financial Planning

Investment Advice

401(k) Advice

Life Insurance

Income Planning

Real Estate

This year, take your financial planning a step further: let the YBI team help you build personalized investment strategies that have tax advantages as well. Come talk to us and see what we can do to simplify your life!

With warmest regards,

Phil Giambri

Founder and Owner, "Your Best Interest" Financial Services, Inc.

To contact "Your Best Interest" Financial Services, e-mail us at ybifs@ybifs.com, or call 610-485-1010.

Securities offered through Trustmont Financial Group (TFG) Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC Advisory services offered through Trustmont Advisory Group (TAG) Inc. 200 Brush Run Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-468-5665 Neither "Your Best Interest" Financial Services, Inc. nor 401kPRO are affiliated with TFG or TAG.

Christmas Lists

If there ever was a time for making lists, Christmas is it. Gift lists, holiday card lists, shopping lists, and recipe lists are the unsung heroes of the Christmas season!

At the “Your Best Interest” office this last week, we received some new lists… ones that we look forward to completing! Recently, the YBI team paid a visit to CityTeam Ministries in Chester, PA. We were there to learn more about this amazing organization that is bridging the gap for so many who are struggling in our region. We talked with the staff about the needs at CityTeam and how we can get involved with supporting their activities. What an amazing day that was – we were certainly blessed and encouraged by what we saw, and we look forward to blessing them with our involvement in the coming year. An immediate opportunity was presented to us by their Christmas Toy Drive. This drive fulfills the Christmas wishes of local children by providing participants with a short list of toys to purchase for a child in our area. We received our lists and look forward to sending toys to CityTeam for delivery to these precious kids!

Giving gifts is naturally one of the best parts of Christmas… and in truth, it was originally God’s idea! The first gift ever given was Jesus: the Savior of mankind, the Messiah, Emmanuel (meaning “God with us”). No shopping list was needed for this first Christmas. There was only one gift, and every single one of us were the recipients. God gave us the Gift we most needed in the form of a flawless baby born into a filthy stable. The Good Shepherd was greeted by lowly shepherds. A Miracle Worker whose very birth was itself a miracle. He was, and is, a most perfect Gift in every way.

You are on God’s list of beloved gift recipients. You are on our list too: our list of extraordinary and exceptional clients, friends and colleagues. We are blessed to have been able to work with and for you in this last year, and we look forward to continuing our relationship in the coming year.

We wish you a most Joyful Christmas and promising New Year!

Phil Giambri, Greg Teal, and the rest of the YBI Team

Securities offered through Trustmont Financial Group (TFG) Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC Advisory services offered through Trustmont Advisory Group (TAG) Inc. 200 Brush Run Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-468-5665 Neither “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, Inc. nor 401kPRO are affiliated with TFG or TAG.

2011: The Year in Review

When the history books are written about 2011, what will be the highlights that will stand out in your mind? It has been a year in which we have experienced hurricanes, blizzards, a tsunami, tornadoes, sandstorms and earthquakes. We have watched our politicians struggle in so many areas as they attempt to revitalize America. Many Americans are out of work and many more have lost their homes. As I look at 2011 in retrospect, I will remember it as a year of challenges and blessings, natural disasters and phenomenal accomplishments.

On the financial front we have watched the stock market go up and down sharply on almost a daily basis. It seems as though the slightest bit of news, either negative or positive, has tremendous repercussions for the market. Most of you reading this have been touched personally in some way by the effects of our wavering economy.

Well, is it all doom and gloom? Absolutely not! Is the cup half full or half empty? From my view point, it is not only half full, it is full and running over. Despite all the challenges facing our nation, we still live in the most amazing country in the world. While my family has not been immune to the challenges of 2011, I still believe the opportunities and blessings far outweigh the issues we face.

You may question my optimism, but it is based on the following: When you chart both the S&P and the DOW over the past two years, both of these indices have actually seen slight increases. When compared to the current economic situation in many other countries across the globe, this is an unquestionable positive. In addition to those documentable figures, I have also noticed a growing regional trend of increasing numbers of “Help Wanted” signs. I am not referring here to seasonal jobs, but rather jobs that will generate income and benefits for families.

Personally, the most significant lesson that I learned in 2011 as I spent time reading through the book of Proverbs is that we need to show more mercy to one another. I was struck by how much more pleasant our lives would be if we routinely treated one another with attitudes of compassion and forgiveness. I look forward to 2012 with great anticipation as it is my desire to grow in knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

I know you will agree that as you get older, each year seems to go by much, much quicker than the year before. 2011 has not been an exception. This year has flown… as we watch 2011 go out, we have great expectations for next year. It is my hope that 2012 will be one of the most wonderfully memorable years of your life.

With warmest regards,

Phil Giambri

This is a guest blog by Philip M. Giambri, the founder and owner of “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, Inc.

Securities offered through Trustmont Financial Group (TFG) Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC Advisory services offered through Trustmont Advisory Group (TAG) Inc. 200 Brush Run Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-468-5665 Neither “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, Inc. nor 401kPRO are affiliated with TFG or TAG.

Always Something to Be Thankful For!

Thanksgiving…

For so many of us this day marks the beginning of the holiday season. The excitement of turkey roasting, family hosting, and Christmas shopping can quickly obscure the opportunity for grateful reflection. For others the concept of being “thankful for all that we have” is a very difficult one. Maybe money is tight this year, or health and family concerns weigh on your mind. This is a painful reality for so many in our community, and all the tasty recipes and beautiful table settings cannot compensate for the hurt or lack that so many feel.

So in light of these realities, how can we truly celebrate Thanksgiving Day with an attitude of gratitude?

Make a conscious effort to be more aware of what you have than what you don’t!

Simple words – but they really are such a challenge for all of us. We can all quickly reel off a list of our wants, but when did you last consider what you might be taking for granted? There are so many things we each enjoy every day… a beautiful Fall day with magnificently colored trees, the companionship of a pet, a place to call home, a hug from a loved one. We are so truly blessed, but we lose the blessing when we focus on our lack rather than the abundance of even simple things.

Express your gratitude to just one person this week.

Receiving just a few words of gratitude can go a long way toward brightening someone’s day. We all love to be told how much we are appreciated… look for someone that you can recognize with just a few encouraging words, and likely you will benefit as well!

We are thankful for each of you, our clients and colleagues, and wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving!

Phil, Greg, Charlotte, Jackie, Carol and Jen

Securities offered through Trustmont Financial Group (TFG) Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC Advisory services offered through Trustmont Advisory Group (TAG) Inc. 200 Brush Run Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-468-5665 Neither “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, Inc. nor 401kPRO are affiliated with TFG or TAG.

2011 Federal Energy Tax Credits

Tax season is quickly approaching! Have you made improvements to your home over the last year to improve its energy efficiency? Maybe you are considering home system upgrades and are wondering about the possible tax benefits. The Federal tax credits for making energy efficient improvements continue to be extended in 2011, but at lower levels than in previous years. For 2011 the credit varies depending on the type of improvement.

The improvements in this first list qualify for a tax credit of 10% of the cost of the improvement, up to $500 or a specific amount from $50 - $300. Remember that for these items, installation costs are not included.

• Insulation
• Roofs

- Metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings

- Asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules

- All must meet ENERGY STAR requirements

• Windows and doors

- Must be ENERGY STAR qualified

- Windows, maximum of $200

Each of the items in the next list qualify for the same tax credit (10% of the cost of the improvement, up to $500 or a specific amount from $50 - $300) but in these cases, installation costs can be included in the cost calculations:

• Furnaces & boilers

- Natural gas, propane, oil, hot water

- Capped at $150

- Must meet 95AFUE

• Advanced main air circulating fan

- Capped at $50

- Must use no more than 2% of the furnace’s total energy

• Central air conditioners

- Capped at $300

- Split systems: SEER > 16, EER > 13

- Package systems: SEER > 14, EER > 12

• Air source heat pumps

- Capped at $300

- Split systems: HSPF>8.5, EER >12.5, SEER >15

- Package systems: HSPF > 8, EER >12, SEER >14

• Water heaters

- Natural gas, propane, oil

- Capped at $300

- Energy factor > 0.82 or thermal efficiency at least 90%

• Electric water heaters

- Capped at $300

- Energy factor > 2.0

• Biomass stoves

- Capped at $300

- Thermal efficiency rating at least 75%

To claim the credit, the improvements must be made to an existing home that is your principal residence. New construction and rentals do not qualify. A lifetime limit of $500 is now in effect. Therefore, if you have already received $500 in these tax credits from tax years 2006-2010, you are not eligible for any additional energy tax credits.

The following improvements still qualify for 30% tax credit with no maximum limit:

• Geothermal heat pumps
• Solar energy systems
• Small wind turbines

In the case of these items, the credit applies to existing homes and new construction for principal residences and second homes. Rentals do not qualify. Installation costs are included in the credit.

The following qualifies for a tax credit of 30% of the cost (installation costs included), up to $500 per .5kW of power capacity:

• Fuel cells

- Residential fuel cell and micro-turbine system

- Efficiency of at least 30% and capacity of at least 0.5kW.

The credit applies to existing homes and new construction that will serve as your principal residence. Rentals and second homes do not qualify.

Please note:

• Not all Energy Star qualified products qualify for a federal tax credit.
• No federal tax credits are given for appliances.

We recognize that for many private taxpayers it is a challenge to stay on top of the ever-changing tax laws. The tax team here at “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, Inc. stays current on tax law changes by continually attending educational seminars and reading professional tax publications. Jackie Ward, the YBIFS Tax Operations Manager, will be posting here occasionally over the next few months to provide you with relevant information in an easy-to-understand format. Remember, our tax department is available to assist you year round, not just during tax season. If you ever need help, or just have a question, please call Jackie at 610-485-1010.

Stay tuned…

This is a guest blog by Jackie Ward, the Tax Operations Manager at “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, Inc.

Securities offered through Trustmont Financial Group (TFG) Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Trustmont Advisory Group (TAG) Inc. 200 Brush Run Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-468-5665 Neither “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, Inc. nor 401kPRO are affiliated with TFG or TAG.

Does Your 401(k) Contain Treats or Tricks?

The Treats - The GOOD Things:

401(k) plans are among the most successful investment instruments ever created to help American workers accumulate wealth. A majority of employers have generous matching programs available. For many of our retired clients, their social security checks are augmented by withdrawing retirement funds to provide for a desired standard of living.

The Tricks - The BAD Things:

The very legislation that provides for 401(k) plans is arguably the most complicated section of IRC code that exists. The simple fact that the law is complicated forces the plans to be complex and this often results in very high internal costs. Many participants believe that their plans are free, but this could not be further from the truth! The worst offending plan I have analyzed had 5.8% internal fees. A majority of plans commonly have over 3%. To put this in real terms, assuming a $150,000 account balance, this amounts to $8,700 in fees. When compounded over 10 years at 8% this is equates to $126,000 in potential retirement savings lost to fees.

In addition, 401(k) plans are legally permitted to be stretched by your beneficiaries. However many employers prohibit stretching simply because of the costs that can be incurred, and consequently your beneficiaries will not enjoy the full advantages of your savings.

The good news is that in many cases, the "Treats" of a plan do outweigh the "Tricks"… but it can be difficult to ascertain unless you know the important questions to ask your company Benefits Manager. Often even these employee fiduciary managers are unaware of the hidden costs that lurk within retirement plans, and this can make planning even more frightening! At “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, Inc., our 401(k)PRO service provides a complimentary analysis which will examine any plan for your employer to determine how tricky the "Tricks" are, and identify methods to maximize the benefits to employees.

If you are currently in a situation where you do not have a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, it is often advantageous to move your existing savings to an IRA to reduce costs, and allow stretching. A note of caution though: there are 3 caveats to moving your retirement plan to an IRA. Stay tuned for future information on this.

The bottom line, no matter your current situation, is that you need to work with someone who has vast experience and specialized knowledge in this area. If you have questions about your 401(k) plan and its costs and benefits, please contact us for an appointment to review your individual situation.

Stay tuned… and happy October!

Greg

Securities offered through Trustmont Financial Group (TFG) Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC Advisory services offered through Trustmont Advisory Group (TAG) Inc., 200 Brush Run Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-468-5665 Neither “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, Inc. nor 401kPRO are affiliated with TFG or TAG

September 11

Ten years have passed since the events of 9/11/01, and while in some ways it feels like a lifetime ago, the memory remains painfully fresh in our minds.

An attack on U.S. soil. The loss of nearly 3,000 lives. In the wake of these horrific events, we might have recoiled. We were all wounded that day, but the people of this nation rallied together, and in the decade that has followed, we've proven our strength, our courage and our resilience.

Let us never forget the events of 9/11.

This coming Sunday, Patriot Day, let us remember the thousands of precious lives that were lost that fateful day, as well as the lives of those we've lost since then - the brave men and women of the armed forces who fight for us each and every day.

9/11 is a wound that may never fully heal - like the wound we sustained at Pearl Harbor, but those wounds, though deep, make us stronger.

Our thoughts and prayers this week are with all those who lost family members and loved ones on that day, and in the subsequent years of military action.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Phil Giambri and Greg Teal

You can contact Phil and Greg at the office by calling 610-485-1010

Philip M. Giambri is the founder, and owner of “Your Best Interest” Financial Services Inc. Phil is a registered representative of Trustmont Financial Group Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC. Greg is an investment advisor representative of Trustmont Advisory Group, Inc. 200 Brush Run Road, Greensburg, PA 15601, 724-468-5665

A 5.9 Earthquake and a Category 2 Hurricane...

All of us on the East Coast are being reminded this week that some natural disasters can be anticipated, and others cannot. When the unexpected occurs, individual reactions may vary widely, as we discovered last Tuesday in the “Your Best Interest” office. During the earthquake, each of us reacted differently: one of us moved under a doorway, some jumped up to run outside, and one (the native Californian in the bunch) crawled under her desk. Phil calmly continued on with his appointment, appearing slightly amused by the collective alarm.

As if the earthquake weren’t enough for one week, the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irene quickly moved to the top of the headlines! Local authorities and news outlets stressed the importance of making appropriate preparations for the expected torrential rain and high winds.

Our financial markets have been rocked recently as well. As with natural disasters, we each respond to these “financial tremors” differently. Some are tempted to run away, some stand their ground, and still others look for opportunities.

At “Your Best Interest” Financial Services, we understand that everyone has a different comfort zone when navigating the financial marketplace. Personal risk tolerance does not fluctuate with the market, but sometimes our feeling of uneasiness does. We are here to help you proactively create your individualized investment strategy and then encourage you to stay the course with professional guidance, perspective and objective assessment of the market.

Stay tuned…

Greg

You can contact Greg at his
office by calling 610-485-1010.

Greg Teal is an investment advisor representative of Trustmont Advisory Group, Inc. 200 Brush Run Road,
Greensburg, PA 15601. Trustmont can be contacted by calling 724-468-5665

Welcome, Jen!

I am pleased to introduce you to the newest member of the “Your Best Interest” family: Jen Myers has joined our team as the Marketing Coordinator. You’ll be hearing from Jen regularly regarding new services and educational opportunities coming soon! At Your Best Interest Financial Services, service is our biggest asset, and we anticipate serving our current clients with even better communication as well as developing new relationships as we promote all the distinctives that set us above and apart from the crowd.

In addition to Jen’s new responsibilities at Your Best Interest, she is a wife and mom. Jen and Jeff have been married 17 years, and have 2 children, Ian and Bekah… both of whom will be in Middle School this year. Jeff and Jen are anticipating that it will be an adventure!

Jen enjoys rose gardening and baking, and we have heard that she has a special fondness for chocolate! We are eager to personally evaluate some of her favorite recipes in the (hopefully) near future. Jen also is involved with the women’s ministry at her church, Faith Community in Brookhaven.

We are here to serve you, and we always enjoy the opportunity to make a personal connection. Jen looks forward to meeting you the next time you are here in the office or at an upcoming event. Stay tuned!

With warmest regards,

Phil

This is a guest blog entry by Philip M. Giambri, President of "Your Best Interest" Financial Services, Inc. Phil is a Registered Representative for Trustmont Financial/Advisory Group, Member FINRA/SIPC

29 Going on 30

On February 8, 2011, I celebrated the completion of my 29^th year as a financial professional.  Let me tell you, it has truly been a wonderful experience.

As my wife and I look back, we are just in awe of how God has worked in our lives and shaped us over these years.  We thank the Lord for all He has done for us and through us, and we give Him the glory for any measure of success we have achieved.  It is only by His grace we have been so blessed.

To those of you who are my clients and have given me the honor to serve you over the past 29 years, I want to thank you and tell you how much I treasure the relationships we have developed. The confidence and trust you have placed in me, my associates and staff is something I value highly and strive to maintain.  Interacting with so many wonderful people makes my job enjoyable and gives me the desire to continue doing so.

I have also been blessed with terrific co-workers and staff over the years.  Integrity, diligence and dedication are words that come to mind, as I think about them and their work ethic. They have worked with me to provide the level of service you deserve and have come to expect.

As I begin my 30^th year, I just want tell you what an incredible journey this has been and to thank each one of you.

With warmest personal regards,

Phil

Stay tuned for more….

 

This is a guest blog entry by Philip M. Giambri, President of "Your Best Interest" Financial Services, Inc.  You can reach Phil at 610-485-1010 or email ybifs@ybifs.com.

Phil is a Registered Representative for Trustmont Financial/Advisory Group, Inc.

Member FINRA/SIPC