Elizabeth Evanisko - Wealth Manager

Elizabeth Evanisko - Wealth Manager Elizabeth Evanisko,
CRC®
- Co-Founder/Owner, Wealth Manager at Nova Wealth

Since 2007, Elizabeth has brought her compassionate, honest approach to client relationships and extensive professional experience. As a Wealth Manager, she has a deep commitment to helping people and enjoys the opportunity to work one-on-one with clients and help them identify their most important goals and dreams. Clear, direct advice geared toward each individual is a hallmark of Elizabeth’s st

yle. She appreciates the hard work that went into earning and saving the money entrusted to her care as a significant responsibility. Western New York has been her home her whole life; she currently lives in Eden with her husband and young family. Please see my website www.retirenova.com for additional information and disclosures

04/23/2026

One of the cool things about my job is I get to see so many parents celebrating their children’s successes. This dad was all in for his kid for so long.

04/22/2026

What to do yesterday to know if you qualify for immediate retirement benefits.

Pause this video

Call your HR office and you’re going to say exactly this:
1. I need to verify my retirement eligibility.
2. Can you confirm whether I currently qualify for immediate retirement or if I would face deferred retirement if I separated today?
3. I need my exact service computation date for retirement and confirmation of my credible years of service.

Get that information in writing—email’s fine—but you need documentation. Written, verifiable data is the foundation of every decision that you’re going to make.

* If you have a VERA offer: Call HR, request your retirement estimate.
* If you’re planning ahead for potential RIF: I want you to calculate your years to immediate retirement eligibility.
* If you’re 55 and up: Log into TSP.gov and verify your account.

Over the last 20 years, we’ve refined a framework for navigating early retirement, whether it’s forced or voluntary. We recently took it a step further to put two detailed DIY checklists together:
1. If you have a VERA offer on your desk now.
2. If you’re just planning ahead.
Comment ‘VERA’ below, and I’ll send you a link to both. It’s a lot of detail to put into a video, but it’s all organized into a simple planning sheet ready for you to manage your own way through this difficult decision.”

Early retirement is no longer an option - it’s being forced on hundreds of thousands of people every year. Government re...
04/04/2026

Early retirement is no longer an option - it’s being forced on hundreds of thousands of people every year. Government reductions in force, layoffs for jobs that will never come back.

55 is the new 65 when it comes to retirement.

The first step is not to panic.
1. Know your rights if you are laid off early from healthcare to severance
2. Know your options from social security to pensions - when to start taking income - and from which source
3. Try a Dry Run. Start today.
• Build a retirement income and expense budget
• Test drive it for 3 months
• Rinse and repeat until the make sense.

We are launching a new program called The Second Half. It’s all about giving you all of the tools we have after a combined 50 years in the business, helping thousands of people with almost $200 million in retirement funds.

If you think you’re going to be forced into early retirement comment “Retire” and i’ll send you the full step by step guide.

02/24/2026

The biggest decision - it’s a balancing act. Social Security, Taxes, Withdrawal Strategies. It’s not as complicated as it can seem but making the right decision can save 10s of thousands over your retirement. We are hosting a free event for New York employees in a couple of weeks where we will run through all of the options - including healthcare. If you’d like the invite comment retire below and I’ll send you the link.

02/21/2026

Navigating all of the tools in your retirement utility belt can be stressful and confusing. We are hosting a free session with some of our current NY PA clients to answer all of your questions. If you’d like to attend comment NYPA below and I’ll send you the link.

01/15/2026

What to do if you’re taking over the finances after being widowed, or you may be in the near future.

Your complete financial guide.
In this series we cover every major step:
1. Immediate Financial and Legal Clarity (First 30–90 Days. The Goal: Secure income, identify accounts, and prevent mistakes.
2. Estate, Inheritance & Legal Settlement (1 - 6 Months). The Goal: Transfer ownership, understand what’s taxable, and secure estate assets.
3. Income, Benefits, and Social Security Planning. The Goal: Replace income and establish new financial stability.
4. Spending, Debts, and Immediate Cash Flow. The Goal: Understand what it costs to live - and what changes.
5. Investments, Retirement, and Long-Term Security. The Goal: Transition from joint wealth to independent, sustainable management.
6. Emotional, Family, and Legacy Questions. The Goal: Move from reaction to purpose and empowerment.

Today we are covering Step 5: Investments, Retirement, and Long-Term Security
The Goal: Transition from joint wealth to independent, sustainable management.
Your need to knows
1. What is my full list of investment, retirement, and savings accounts now in my name?
2. How should my portfolio be adjusted to match my new risk tolerance and goals?
3. Should I consolidate accounts or maintain separate ones for tracking legacy vs. new assets?
4. Do I need guaranteed income streams (annuities, pensions) to cover essential expenses?
5. What is my sustainable withdrawal rate if I’m retired or semi-retired?
6. Should I update my estate plan, trusts, and powers of attorney to reflect new heirs?

If you’d like the full checklist for every step comment “control” and I will send you our full worksheet for managing this difficult transition.

01/10/2026

What to do if you’re forced into taking over the finances due to your partners’ health.

In this series we cover every major step:
1. Immediate Health & Legal Authority. The Goal: Establish decision-making power — legally and financially.
2. Cash Flow & Essential Bills. The Goal: Ensure bills are paid and living expenses continue without interruption.
3. Insurance, Disability, and Income Replacement. The Goal: Protect income and activate any available benefits.
4. Estate & Beneficiary Updates. The Goal: Ensure legal and estate documents reflect current realities.
5. Medical, Care, and Long-Term Planning. The Goal: Protect both financial and emotional wellbeing through care coordination.
6. Investments and Risk Management. The Goal: Simplify, protect, and sustain the family’s finances.
7. Emotional, Family, and Future Readiness. The Goal: Build a support system and prepare for what comes next.
8. Preventative Planning (For Couples Who Still Have Time). The Goal: Avoid chaos later by setting up the right structure today.

Today we are covering step 2: Cash Flow & Essential Bills
The Goal: Ensure bills are paid and living expenses continue without interruption.
Your need to knows:
1. Which accounts fund our ongoing expenses?
2. Are automatic deposits (salary, pension, Social Security) still coming in?
3. Do I have access to those accounts directly or only as joint owner?
4. Should I move funds to an account I can control independently?
5. Are there recurring bills (mortgage, insurance, taxes, utilities) that need to be switched to my name or billing info?
6. What debts are only in his name — and what happens to them if he can’t pay?
7. How long can we sustain current expenses if his income stops or decreases?

If you’d like the full checklist for every step comment “control” and I will send you our full worksheet for managing this difficult transition.

01/02/2026

It’s hard to watch someone you love slip away. It’s important that the steps needed to protect everyone’s financial future are taken - while you can. A family member of one of our team members just went through this. The father had dementia and no one really knew for 2 years. In those 2 years they went from a dream retirement to in debt and having to sell off homes where their children and grandchildren were living. She didn’t follow any of the financial activities so she couldn’t catch anything in time. The best defense really is offense by getting involved in the finances early. When that doesn’t happen it’s difficult but there is a way through. This is part 1 of our series for navigating this difficult period. If you know someone going through this tag them below and I’ll send over the full step by step checklist for navigating taking over the finances.

12/30/2025

If you’re a Government Employee and have been - or are worried you might be - forced into an early retirement.

Part 3: The Thrift Savings plan

There’s a Thrift Savings Plan rule that could save you $10,000 or more in penalties. 
It’s called the Age 55 Rule, and it’s in Internal Revenue Code Section 72(t)(2)(A)(v) if you want to look it up.

Here’s how it works:
THE STANDARD RULE EVERYONE KNOWS:
If you withdraw money from a 401k or IRA before age 59 and a half, you pay:
• Regular income tax at your tax rate
• PLUS a 10% early withdrawal penalty

THE AGE 55 RULE EXCEPTION:
If you separate from federal service in the calendar year you turn 55 or later, you can access your Thrift Savings Plan penalty-free.
Not at 59 and a half. At 55.
Where you withdraw from makes a difference - using your Thrift Savings Plan as a tool and you keep an extra $10,000 or more.

The critical mistake too many make is rolling their Thrift Savings Plan into an IRA.
The rule 55 exemption ONLY applies to the Thrift Savings Plan from the employer you left at 55 or older.
If you roll your Thrift Savings Plan into an IRA, you LOSE this benefit.
I see this mistake constantly. Someone retires at 56, immediately rolls their entire Thrift Savings Plan into an IRA because their advisor tells them to, then needs money at 57 and gets hit with the 10% penalty.
They gave up $10,000 or more for no reason.

So, should I roll over my Thrift Savings Plan to an IRA, or not? It depends on what you need.

12/26/2025

If you’re a Federal Employee and have already been, or may be forced into early retirement - make sure you know about VERA before that offer hits your inbox.

What is VERA (Voluntary Early Retirement Authority) and what do I need to know if I am considering retiring early or if I am likely to be part of a Reduction in Force in the near future.

First. When that Voluntary Early Retirement Authority offer hits your inbox, you typically get 30 to 60 days to decide.

Most employees I meet have no systematic way to evaluate this. They talk to colleagues who accepted and colleagues who declined, and everyone has an opinion but no framework - and so you’re left wondering if there is something you can do or use to make this life changing decision - today.
The short answer is, yes.
The long answer, there are many variables such as:
1. Are you married, how close is your spouse to retirement, and does your spouse have additional benefits you could leverage.
2. Are there any life events that are impacting your decision? A parent that requires long term care? A new grandchild that you want to spend time with? Travel you’d like to do - now.
3. Does retirement include changing states? Moving to a lower or no income tax state could save thousands per year - today.

Back to the short answer, let’s start by gathering the data. Here is the five-step framework that we use with our clients who are deciding whether to take an early retirement offer.
• Step 1: Calculate what you’re offered (pension + supplement + FEHB + VSIP + leave)
• Step 2: Calculate what you give up (salary + TSP + higher pension)
• Step 3: Calculate your net cost with Thrift Savings Plan withdrawals factored in
• Step 4: Estimate Reduction in Force probability and run expected value
• Step 5: List your personal circumstances that favor each option

Open a spreadsheet and build this exact framework for YOUR numbers and life assumptions. This takes some time to do properly. But it’s a decision worth $300,000 to $500,000.

Don’t skip this work.
If you’d like our help - drop VERA below and I will send you a link to my calendar and we can chat about your situation.

Address

100 Corporate Parkway Suite 320
Amherst, NY
14226

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17163006711

Website

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