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4 Things We Can Learn from the Pope

What We Can Learn from the Pope: 4 Tips

The Pope toured Cuba and is now in the USA. He is discussing many controversial topics with class and poise while connecting with people of all ages. Here are four principles we can learn from the Pope:

1. Deliver your message with clarity: He’s touched on sensitive issues such as global warming and gay marriage. Think of what your intended outcome is when delivering your messages at work and even at home. Message clarity comes from prior planning and concise delivery.

2. Use the sandwich method when critiquing: Open with a positive statement or sincere compliment to connect with your audience. In the middle deliver your criticism without tone and then close in a positive manner with a smile. The Pope regularly employs this technique.

3, Be humble by example: Instead being transported in the $1 milion limousine that President Obama rides in, Pope Francis requested a black FIAT crossover vehicle to show he is of the people. Be mindful of the impression you leave with others.

4. Utilize social media: Pope Francis is connecting with younger generations like none of his predecessors by using social media. Consider making it a part of your daily routine.

Contact Robert today for your free consultation or insurance review.

September 25, 2015
Top 5 Places to Visit in the World

Lonely planet just published their top 25 places to visit in the world. The USA has #21 Yosemite national park and #6 the Grand Canyon. It’s exciting this January to have seen #1 the temples of Angkor in Cambodia. Most interesting place I’ve ever seen. Review this list, make your dream vacation plans and enjoy!

#5. Taj Mahal, India

Acres of shimmering white marble, a few thousand semiprecious stones carved and inlaid in intricate Islamic patterns, all in perfect symmetry – the breathtaking mausoleum is the essence of architectural perfection.

#4. The Great Wall of China

It’s a myth that it can be seen from space, but this awe-inspiring maze of walls and fortifications stretching for an astonishing 5,500 miles across rugged landscape seem both infinite and indestructible.

#3. Machu Picchu, Peru

It’s not the outrageously dramatic Andean setting, nor the way that the city clings to impossibly precipitous slopes that makes Machu Picchu so mind-blowing – it’s the fact that no-one really knows what happened here.

#2. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Stretching more than 1,860 miles up the northeastern coast of Australia, it’s home to the world’s largest network of coral reefs and thousands of species of fish and marine life.

#1. Temples of Angkor, Cambodia

Earlier this year I had the privilege to visit this magnificent masterpiece. The world’s greatest temple to the Hindu god Vishnu, the magnificent monument of Angkor Wat is the crowning glory in a complex of more than 1,000 temples, shrines and tombs that forms a virtual city of spires in the jungles of northern Cambodia.

Planning to see the world is one thing but more important is planning your financial future. Contact Robert today for a free financial review today.

Happy to have my oil painting framed!

August 20, 2015
5 Reasons to visit Sonoma California
- Wine tasting: Obviously the #1 reason, however in Sonoma they are committed to educating consumers on the intricacies of production, bottling and distribution. Two of my favorites are Bucher and the Thomas George vineyards. Both of them can be found on the renowned Westside road wine route!
- Antiques: Unbeknownst to me was the bevy of antique shops mostly found in the Sebastopol area which borders Sonoma and is part of Sonoma county.
- Seafood: The fresh seafood available in the area is phenomenal. I suggest Nick’s Cove where I had the best bacon and BBQ oysters of my life!
- Pace of life: This area is laid back and has little in the way of major chain stores. You will see mostly mom and pop boutique shops with friendly and easy people to talk to. Life is simple and there’s a sense of time standing still
- Micro-climate: Discover their unique climate where it can be 85 degrees during the day and a crisp 55 at night. There’s also a marine layer in some parts that help keep soil moist for optimum grape growing.
July 23, 2015
Summer Travel Tips
Having set foot on five of the world’s seven continents I have learned much. With solid planning I was able to do 3 weeks in Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia this January with one carry-on bag and one computer bag.

My top travel tips are:
1. Call your credit card companies in advance: and tell them where you are going and what dates. I have had cards frozen because companies see a string of out of town charges and they think your cards were stolen.
2. Think in body sections when packing: I do this in the morning while getting work ready and start from feet to head. It can be stressful the last days before a trip so you don’t want to forget anything so do the same with the kids.
3. Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on bag: 29 million bags are lost/delayed each year. Be ready when it happens to you!
4. Buy a guide book if going overseas: I cannot stress this enough. Advanced research prevents issues which can ruin a trip. For example my research told me that in Myanmar and Cambodia they accept US dollars however not with folds or wrinkles. I went to the bank in advance and withdrew $500 of new bills in 1’s, 5’s, 10’s and 20’s. I like “lonely planet” and “rough guides” the best. Look for the most recent edition.
1. Read negative reviews on hotels: I prefer Trip Advisor and Agoda for international travel.
1. If touring by car get a tune-up and GPS: Nothing worse than getting lost or having your car break down. GPS your destinations in advance for proper time planning.
  
  Contact Robert here today for a free consultation.
July 15, 2015
The Five Tallest Buildings in the World
When the Twin Towers were destroyed on 9/11/2001 they were the tallest buildings in the world. A lot has changed since including the skyline of NYC and many New York-based companies have updated their logos as a result since the Freedom Tower (aka One World Trade) was rebuilt.
1. Burj Khalifa building: in Dubai is 2,717 feet high and 162 floors. Completed in 2010 it stands 3 times the size of the Eiffel Tower and nearly twice the size of the Empire State Building.
2. Shanghai Tower: in China is 2,073 feet and 121 floors. Completed in 2008 it’s considered the “greenest” super skyscraper. China is in the building stage of what would be the tallest building in the world.
3. Makkah Royal Clock Tower: in Mecca, Saudi Arabia is 1,971 feet high with 120 floors. Completed in 2012 it has the world’s largest clock face and is meters away from the world’s largest mosque.
4. One World Trade Center: Also known as the Freedom Tower stands 1,776 feet and has 104 floors. Opened in 2014 it refers to the main building of the World Trade Center complex located in lower Manhattan.
5. Taipei 101: In Taiwan, it was originally known as the Taipei World Financial Center. It has 101 floors and houses the world’s fastest elevators. Taipei 101 stood as the tallest building in the world from inception in 2004-2010 until the Burj Khalifa building was constructed.
To take your personal finances to new heights please contact Robert today for a free consultation here.
June 25, 2015
The Belmont Stakes: 5 Lessons Learned
Saturday I had the privilege to watch history in the making at the Belmont Stakes. Here are five lessons I learned in the process.
1. Dress to impress and with comfortable shoes: Lots of walking and fantastic people watching. Best variety of hats and sundresses that you will ever see!
2. Leave the kids at home: It’s a long day, not much for kids to do and because of the heavy foot traffic it’s easy to lose somebody.
3. If driving get there before 10am: First come first serve with parking and it takes forever to get out. They booked the Goo Goo Dolls to play after the race so people wouldn’t all leave at the same time. Taking the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) is a better option especially if arriving after 10am. Wait an hour before leaving either way.
4. Walk both inside and outside: Regardless of where your seats are take a walk outside also. Great vibe and more room. You can even bring a blanket and picnic on the lawn while race watching.
5. Get your tickets either very early or last minute: There was ticket chaos on race day as it was announced that no tickets were being sold at the track and on-line ticket sales ended at 11:30am. That changed to a 4:00pm deadline and $1,000 tickets were available for $250 from noon-3:00pm. At 3:00pm it imploded and the system crashed with so many people using internet on their cell phones at the same time.
  Contact Robert today to learn how to win in the horse race of retirement and personal finance.
June 8, 2015
On NYC Radio

FREE Radio Broadcast Replay!

Click here and listen to Robert Intelisano “The Insurance Doctor”. Listen as Rob shares insights on purchasing health insurance, why bigger is better and much more in his recent interview with KC Armstrong (former producer and cast member of Howard Stern Show) on WRNW1- All Women’s Empowerment Radio AM1100 in New York City.

May 27, 2015
5 Reasons to Fire Yourself

Most working professionals fear one thing: being fired. Typical reasons for being fired center on downsizing, restructuring, market changes, personal conflicts and more. However, when should one consider firing themself? That’s right, themself. Sound strange? Perhaps. Examine each of these five reasons and see if any or all apply to you.

1. You’ve lost the passion. The late Apple founder Steve Jobs said…

” The only way to do great work is to love what you do”.

If you no longer have any passion left for your chosen career your quality of work will suffer. Our passion for our chosen profession is our wellspring of energy, ideas and enthusiasm and should be guarded closely.

2. You talk about quitting. If you find yourself regularly telling your spouse or close friends you’re thinking about quitting or should be quitting, stop. Take inventory of your statement and ask the question ‘why am I seriously considering leaving?’. Write down the reasons you want to quit. Then look at your list and right down next to each what you can or cannot do to address each. If your list presents no possible solutions it may be time to move on.

3. You know you’ve settled for less. If you have that nagging feeling that your present job is well below your potential and talents you have some decisions to make. Can you move into another position more well suited for your talents? Can you find ways to improve your value within your current position? Are you settling and only staying for the company health benefits or 401(k) plan? Staying for benefits alone is a poor reason to keep working for a company. Remember you can find similar benefits for you and your family at another job that you are passionate about.

4. Your job doesn’t fit your long term goals. Look at your personal and financial long-term goals and see if your present job aligns with them. If your job will never afford you the income to retire by age 70 for example you may want to find a better paying job that you still have passion for. If you are seeking independence or self-employment, each month you continue working for your company pushes your realized goal further down the road. Know your goals first and then see if your job is in alignment.

5. You are convinced you can no longer add value to the company. If you are fully convinced you can no longer add value to the company it is time to fire yourself. Quit, leave, resign. If you don’t your employer will eventually see that you are no longer adding value to the company and save you the trouble of firing yourself. Be honest with yourself and give your company the opportunity to fill the position with someone who will help them grow and yourself the opportunity to improve your professional and financial situation.

These are just a few reasons you may want to fire yourself. Also each of these reasons may give you the opportunity to retool, expand and improve your professional situation. **If you have a 401(k) from a company you’ve left or you will need to move one in the future contact Rob today for a free no-obligation consultation.

May 20, 2015
10 Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
Ten last minute Mother’s day gifts on a budget under $100

Mothers usually appreciate the little things that are thoughtful and lasting so most of these ideas will have that theme and some are (DIY) do-it-yourselfers.
1. The store “things remembered” will do custom engraving on short notice. They are located in most malls and their “custom couture jewelry” is drawing rave reviews.
1. Things Remembered will also do a custom “music box” so mom can think of you when she’s home doing chores listening to her favorite tunes.
1. Her favorite plant. Some folks will print out family pictures and wrap them around the plant pot so she can look at family in addition to the plant.
1. A yoga mat and/or towel. For the yoga mom these gifts are available and reasonably priced on amazon.com with overnight or 2 day shipping.
2. A VHS to DVD format converter is available new and used online at amazon.
3. A gift basket. This can be customized yourself and include some of mom’s favorite oils, bath salts, perfume, a book, candles and a relaxing CD.
4. A family scrapbook or montage. This can also be framed and hung up. Mom’s love this stuff and appreciate the effort putting it together.
5. A certificate for a home cleaning. Give mom a day off and either hire somebody to clean the house or better yet do it yourself.
6. A dinner gift card. You can go to restaurant.com and get discounted gift cards either in general or to mom’s favorite restaurant for half price.
7. If you can’t afford the “day of beauty” a mani/pedi gift card will go over very well as mom’s deserve to be spoiled.
- Bonus belated gift idea. Mom’s usually have special feeling for the grandchildren so get pictures of them put onto coffee mugs.
Cheers to my mom and all the fabulous moms out there that do so many things they don’t always get acknowledged for!!

Mom was good to you so be good to yourself. Contact Rob today for a free no-obligation consultation.
May 7, 2015
URGENT: Special Enrollment Period Ends

The Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for health insurance ends this Thursday April 30th.

Most folks will have to wait until 10/1/2015 to enroll for coverage which starts on 1/1/2016 at the earliest. That’s 8 months with no coverage!

What is the ‘SEP” special enrollment period? It’s a time outside of the open enrollment period during which you and your family have a right to sign up for health coverage.

In the Marketplace, you qualify for a special enrollment period 60 days following certain life events from an approved short list that involves a change in family status (for example, marriage or birth of a child) or loss of other health coverage.

Contact us here if you or loved ones are in this predicament as we have options to get immediate coverage.

Please Note: It’s too late to avoid the “2015 penalty” by obtaining coverage now.

April 28, 2015