On April 12th: `A New Normal: Restoring Our Life After COVID’

The COVID-19 pandemic has added a disruptive layer to the already-uncertain economic terrain experienced by many people at or near retirement.

As a result, it is more crucial than ever to be proactive and resilient in response to the global shake-up. That message is at the heart of “A New Normal: Restoring Our Life After COVID,” a practical guide for retirees and near-retirees that has been developed by retirement planning expert Greg Kurinec of Bentron Financial Group.

He brings “A New Normal” on Monday, April 12th to the Brookfield Public Library, through its online programming. The 90-minute session begins at 2 p.m. To register, visit https://brookfield.evanced.info/signup and click on the event listing.

The presentation is being held in conjunction with Money Smart Week, a public awareness campaign from April 10th to 17th that is designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. The campaign was launched in 2002 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; more information about the week is at http://www.moneysmartweek.org/

Among other topics, Kurinec discusses how everyone can embrace technology (such as FaceTime, Zoom and other Internet-based platforms), strengthen their relationships with healthcare providers, keep household essentials well stocked, and bolster their financial positioning in a variety of other ways.

One section covers planning for income, planning for risks, and planning for family---all interwoven topics that are fleshed out during “A New Normal.”

“The last year has really been a wake-up call—anything can happen and come unannounced,” said Kurinec. “Now is a good time to take a step back and see where you stand, whether it’s in your career, your retirement, or your overall life situation. Many people are asking themselves, ‘What changes do I want to make and what changes should I make?’”

In recent months, Kurinec has sensed an urgency among attendees who have a newfound motivation to address a host of financial matters. Estate planning is a particularly popular topic.

“People are now starting to really question the time they have,” he said. “This program is a good catalyst for you to check your preparedness and identify those areas of your life that you need to focus on.”

Bentron Financial Group was founded in 2001 by Dr. Jim Flanagan, who has built a comprehensive practice that combines professional expertise with vast experience in coming alongside clients as they make crucial decisions with far-reaching impact.

For over 30 years, Flanagan has provided financial guidance to people at or near retirement. Over that time, he has become a nationally recognized expert on financial issues impacting older adults and late-life transitions.

Those who attend “A New Normal” will be entered into a free drawing, with one individual receiving a copy of Flanagan’s 2019 book, Packing For Retirement: A Practical Guide to Prepare for Retirement at Any Age.

“Packing for Retirement” offers a comprehensive overview of the myriad facets of retirement planning.

Since joining Bentron in 2004, Kurinec has helped people at or near retirement through investment advising, estate planning, risk management and watching out for their overall financial well-being.

In 2012, after his mother, Jeanne, lost her life to cancer, Greg and his two siblings founded “Jeanne’s Journey for Hope” to help other families battle the disease in its many forms. Since then, the foundation has raised over $1250,000 to help families pay hospital and medical bills or as income replacement if the disease has resulted in a loss of employment.

For more information about Bentron Financial Group, visit www.bentron.com.