Yearly Archives:2023

The Musuneggi Financial Group Adds Additional Insurance Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

{Mt. Lebanon, Pa.} The Musuneggi Financial Group announced the addition of Sam Carlson, LUTCF, CLTC, Insurance Advisor, who will provide expanded insurance services to customers. Sam has spent over 40 years delivering life, disability, and long-term care insurance solutions. He has earned his LUTCF (Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow) and CLTC (Certification for Long-Term Care) designations, and has been recognized by Million Dollar Round Table, a global, independent association of the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals.

The new expanded insurance offering will include insurance appraisals featuring an analysis of risks, review of cash flow needs of surviving spouse and/or in the case of long-term disability, and other annual income needed.

“We’ve long provided life, disability, and long-term care insurance,” said Christopher Musuneggi, CFS, RFC, President of The Musuneggi Financial Group. “Sam will take our insurance practice to the next level – providing ongoing analysis and solutions for our clients.”

Learn more at www.mfgplanners.com.

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About The Musuneggi Financial Group
The Musuneggi Financial Group is an independent, family-owned financial consulting firm headquartered in Pittsburgh’s South Hills. For over forty years we have helped individuals, families and businesses identify and realize their financial goals. Because our founder was one of the first female financial planners in the region, we also have a focus on helping women, especially women facing life transitions, navigate financial issues.

Put Your Mask on First

image of Mary Grace MusuneggiToday, when the word “mask” enters a discussion, we immediately think of mandates related to COVID-19. If that isn’t the first thing to pop into our heads, it might be the whole Halloween mask thing. But recently while on a flight out West, the flight attendant reminded me that if the cabin loses pressure and I am with someone who needs my help, I should put my mask on first. The best way I can help another is to be sure I am okay first.

That thought reminded me of the discussions we have with clients who are trying to take care of others, while sometimes to the detriment of taking care of themselves.

You might be that person who has worked so hard and now is retiring. You got your pension, your 401k rollover. You’ve gathered up your investments. You’re feeling wealthy. And you should.

Or a person who lost a spouse. You got the insurance money, the money from their savings plan, the lump sum from their pension. Seems like a lot of money now, and you are hoping it will be enough.

Or you are a child whose parents have passed away. You are surprised at how much money they left you. It is almost overwhelming. But you are very grateful.

In our practice we see situations like these all the time. And for those who receive the rewards of their hard work, or the rewards from someone else’s hard work and planning, our plan is to help them get the most out of the money for their retirement years or maybe for a lifetime.

But sometimes we see retirees finding themselves spending their money on dependent adult children or siblings who have lost jobs and have no savings; who are going through a divorce and are not financially secure; or who have gotten into debt for overspending or just lack of self-control. Sometimes when a client has inherited funds, there are other relatives that feel that the heir should share. Or there are the kids who want help with a down payment on a house that they otherwise could not afford.

It is wonderful if sharing and helping is an option for the giver. And it is a great opportunity if you can help others not as fortunate as you. But on many occasions, we have seen givers, give with no concern as to how their giving will impact their own life. Too often the recipient just assumes that those who have, have a lot more than what they do. And too often there is no discussion of what is good to give and what is good to take.

If you find yourself in a situation being asked to help another, begin with a discussion of what you have that you can actually give. Review your budget. Contact us so we can update your financial analysis to see if you will retain your independence. In other words, put your mask on first. Then if all is good, be glad that you are truly blessed to share with another.

The best thing you can do for your family is to stay financially independent, which is the best thing you can do for you. Just like the mask on the plane, the best thing you can do for another is to be sure you are okay first.

– Mary Grace Musuneggi

Sam Carlson joins The Musuneggi Financial Group

Sam Carlson Advisor and Insurance Specialist
Sam Carlson, LUTCF, CLTC Insurance Advisor

The Musuneggi Financial Group is thrilled to welcome industry veteran Sam Carlson, LUTCF, CLTC to the firm as an Insurance Advisor. A Pittsburgh native, Sam earned a BA from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA. He started his career in the financial services industry and has spent the past 40 years concentrating on life, disability, and LTC insurance. He has earned his LUTCF and CLTC designations and has been recognized by Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), a global, independent association of the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals.

His focus is and always has been client centric. Sam believes that his primary duty as a member of the insurance industry is educating clients so that they can make the best financial decisions for their specific situation.
In his spare time, Sam enjoys gardening and landscaping, walking the Montour trail, traveling, and spending time with his wife, Trish, son, Dan and his wife Jess, daughter, Brittnay and her husband Taylor and their children Eden and Jonah.

Learning Something Good from Something Sad

Center for Organ Recovery & Education logo "A Pledge for Life" Donate @ Life

Important information if you are an organ donor or plan to be.

As many of you know, my Significant Other, Thomas Hawkins, passed away July 2nd. From the time you could add Organ Donor status to your driver’s license, Tom added it to his. He added it to his Living Will and his final directives. He was a firm believer in the benefits of the program. But when the time came, and he was placed on Hospice, the option of being an Organ Donor was not a possibility. The numerous serious health issues he experienced had taken a toll on his body. What I learned was that to be an Organ Donor, your organs must go from you to a living person. That wasn’t going to happen for him.

But fortunately for me, my son, Christopher, reached out to his sister-in-law, Jessica Yokubeak, (Christine’s sister) an Organ Donor Referral Manager for the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), to see if there was any opportunity. Jessica let him know that although organ donation was not an option, there were other programs that might be suitable. One that she explained was for using tissue to help with the K9 Search and Rescue training program. Because Tom was a big dog lover, this was perfect. And tissue donation can also save and heal lives i.e., burn victims. But being an organ donor does not automatically allow for all the various programs. Some require that you enroll separately.

And I was so grateful that Jessica was able to make this happen. As I was appointed as Tom’s Healthcare Power of Attorney, Jessica spent over an hour on the phone with me going through the necessary documents. She managed to get this all submitted early in the morning. Early that afternoon, Tom passed away leaving behind a legacy of helping others.

CORE took on the responsibility of transporting Tom from the facility where he had been living to the funeral home. They provided us with personalized prayer cards, and some other mementos of this special program. (For those who may be concerned, the services of CORE are free and may reduce the cost of final expenses.) Also, I learned that many nursing homes and assisted living facilities do not contact CORE even if you have notified the facility in advance that you are an Organ Donor. So, it is suggested that the family contact CORE directly.

So, if you have made the decision to be an organ donor as part of your final planning, you may want to see what other options are available if organ donation becomes a non-option for you.

For more information, Jessica would be happy to provide you with more details. She can be reached at
CORE by calling 412-963-3550, option #1 or 412-290-8375. 

– Mary Grace Musuneggi

NAIFA-PA Names Christine Pikutis-Musuneggi, CRPC®, CLTC, LACP as 2022 Keystone Award Honoree

NAIFA-PA
The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors-Pennsylvania (NAIFA-PA) has named Christine Pikutis-Musuneggi, CRPC®, CLTC, LACP, of Pittsburgh, to receive the NAIFA-PA Keystone Award for 2022. The Keystone Award is NAIFA-PA’s highest award given in recognition of service and dedication to the financial services industry and NAIFA (local, state and national levels).

Christine Pikutis-MusuneggiChristine began her career in the financial services industry in 1998 as a licensed sales assistant, transitioning into operations and leadership while growing a part time practice. To better serve her clients, she moved into private practice in 2009 and relocated to the family firm, The Musuneggi Financial Group ten years ago.

Deeply involved in the industry, she has served in numerous elected positions with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors-Pennsylvania (NAIFA-PA), including state president. Servant leadership has honed her strategic planning, collaboration, and mentorship skills. But the highlight(s) of her involvement includes leadership master classes with (the late) General Colin Powell and Steven Covey along with opportunities to speak with members of Congress on Capitol Hill.

During her twenty-five-year path, she has been recognized by Advisor Today’s “Four Under Forty”, graduated from NAIFA’s ‘Leadership in Life Institute”, and received multiple National Quality Awards. This year will mark her eight consecutive Five Star Wealth Manager award, listed in Pittsburgh Magazine. She achieved Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Court of the Table qualification, providing another resource to experience personal and professional growth.

NAIFA-PA AwardA graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, her intention was to pursue a passion for architecture, when firsthand experience sent her down the path of the desire to work with business owners on a successful transition.

If you bump into Christine outside of the office, it’s probably while she’s on a trail. A dedicated runner, Christine loves the challenge of races like the Ragnar Relays…but her greatest challenge to date was the 2015 New York City Marathon. She and her husband Christopher enjoy their time in the Laurel Highlands of PA but make their permanent home south of Pittsburgh in McMurray.

ABOUT NAIFA: Founded in 1890, NAIFA is the oldest, largest and most prestigious association representing the interests of financial services professionals from every Congressional district in the United States. Our mission – to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members – is the reason NAIFA has consistently and resoundingly stood up for financial services professionals and called upon members to grow their knowledge while following the highest ethical standards in the industry.

Securities offered through Grove Point Investments, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Grove Point Advisors, LLC. Grove Point Investments, LLC & Grove Point Advisors, LLC are subsidiaries of Grove Point Financial, LLC. The Musuneggi Financial Group, LLC is not affiliated with Grove Point Financial, LLC or its subsidiaries.

Awards or recognition by unaffiliated parties are not indicative of investment success. Awards or recognition do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance. For more information on NAIFA-PA Keystone Award visit: https://pa.naifa.org/awards.