Len Kushner

Hello, my name is Len Kushner. Although orginally from Pittsburgh, PA. I now reside in Punta Gorda, FL. I graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Over the next 16 years I advanced from an Engineering position at the United States Steel Corporation, Pgh. PA., to Manager of the Engineering Department at Alcoa in Warrendale, PA. At this point in my life I decided to go out on my own. I left Alcoa and for the next 13 years I owned an operated a 65 seat home style restaurant primarily catering to senior citizens. Looking for a more rewarding lifestyle, in June of 2004 I decided to establish myself in Retirement Planning. After obtaining my Pennsylvania License I began working at Bankers Life. Bankers Life was too restrictive because their products were the only ones I could sell. After 6 months I left Bankers Life and accepted a position with Insurance Services. Here I could represent many more Medicare and Annuity Companies and really began to learn the business. Over the next 3 ½ years I learned how an independent retirement firm operated. In early 2008 I stepped out on my own and started my own Independent Retirement Planning Business; Stonecrest Financial Services. Concentrating more on the Financial Retirement Planning, I grew a large Annuity clientele base. In 2014 I was approached by a much larger Independent Financial Firm, Gateway Strategies, to partner with them. Over the years growing Stonecrest Financial Services, I had become friends with the owners. In partnering my business with theirs, I dissolved Stonecrest Financial Services and accepted the position of Vice President at Gateway Strategies. In accordance with our agreement I helped service their existing clients and brought in new clients from educational seminars we conducted. I was also, under our agreement, permitted to develop my own clientele base, which I established under a new business name of Secure Benefit Options. In June of 2021 I resigned my Vice-President position at Gateway Strategies and moved to Punta Gorda Florida maintaining Secure Benefit Options. I’ve always enjoyed working with the public and seniors in particular, making my present career a perfect fit. For my entire life I have been involved in providing customer service. I am now licensed in FL, MD, PA, SC and WV, but the majority of my business is spread between FL and PA.

I am very well versed in Health Care Insurance as well as Final Expense and Tax Free Wealth Transfer, but I specialize in providing Estate and Income Planning and guidance for those who are seeking a better lifestyle in retirement. Whether you have a retirement nest egg of five million or $50,000, I can help you make it work as hard and as smart as you did in earning and saving it. If you’re typical, your retirement could last as long as 30 years and you simply cannot afford to make mistakes with your retirement money and run the risk of ruining your lifestyle during your leisure years. I have helped countless individuals and couples, at all economic levels, to enjoy a worry-free retirement knowing that their money is safeguarded, plus working hard and smart, and ready for them when needed. There is no one “best place” to put your retirement money because each individual and couple has unique requirements, different tolerances for risk and different needs for their money at different times. Likewise, there is no one place to keep your money that fits everyone for exactly the same reasons. In order to make sure your money is in the “best place for you”, your unique circumstances must be taken into consideration. This is where I can be of service.

The two most common money mistakes made by the retirement-minded are (a) putting all their retirement assets in short term savings places, and (b) unknowingly taking risk they can’t afford. If you have your retirement money in highly liquid places that allow you access immediately, you’re paying a dear price for liquidity you may not need. Not all of your retirement money will be needed at the same time; therefore you may need to space your investments so they come due when needed yet retain enough flexibility to take care of an emergency should one arise. Far too many people have all their retirement money in the “market” and exposed to the risk of principal loss. Certainly, some of your money needs to be in short-term places that give you access without penalty. Some may be able to afford the risk of the market with some of their retirement money, but too much in either place is generally a bad plan.

I can help you deploy your retirement money properly while meeting your liquidity needs and making sure your risk is suitable at the same time helping you strike a proper balance between the short-term and the longer-term maturities. Additionally, with my help the income from your retirement money, pension (if you have one) and your Social Security can be perfectly coordinated to assure you a worry-free retirement without fear of running out of money in your lifetime.

I am very hopeful for an opportunity to discuss your retirement plans so you can learn first hand how we can be of benefit. There is no cost or obligation to talk with me by meeting to discuss your circumstances and your retirement plans. If I can’t be of service, you will at least have the comfort of knowing that you have consulted with a knowledgeable professional about the most important financial decisions in your life. It is very important for you to get retirement “right” because there is no second chance. I look forward to working with you soon to help you lower your stress and worry over your retirement years.