Alexander Haas, Licensed Agent with New York Life

09/09/2026

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month — a good reminder that life insurance isn't always something you can “set and forget.”

Life can change a lot after a policy is put in place. A new job, marriage, children, a home purchase, a growing business, or changes in financial responsibilities can all be good reasons to take another look at your coverage.

If it’s been a while since you reviewed your life insurance, I’d be happy to sit down with you and take a look at what you currently have, discuss what may have changed, and help you better understand your coverage.

Sometimes a review simply provides clarity about where you stand.

Feel free to message me if you'd like to schedule a review.

09/01/2026

Your children will always come first. But you shouldn't have to risk your financial future in order to help them with theirs. Reach out and I'll help you create a financial strategy that ensures a brighter future for both you and your child.

08/04/2026

Most people feel that current federal tax rates are high, but a look at U.S. history offers an interesting perspective. 📈

When the federal income tax was introduced in 1913, the top marginal tax bracket was just 7%.

By 1944, to help fund World War II efforts, the top rate reached a historic peak of 94%. For nearly two decades following, top marginal rates remained above 90%, and stayed around 70% into the late 1970s. (Source: IRS / Tax Foundation)

Today, top federal income tax rates sit at 37%—making our current environment relatively low compared to historical highs.

📝 Why Tax Diversification Matters in Retirement

Many individuals spend their careers accumulating savings primarily in pre-tax accounts (such as traditional 401(k)s and IRAs). While pre-tax contributions offer an immediate tax deduction today, withdrawals in retirement are generally taxed as ordinary income.

Because tax laws and national economic conditions can change over time, relying on a single tax structure may limit your flexibility in retirement.

📌 Evaluating your strategy across three tax environments can help manage potential tax exposure down the road:

- Pre-Tax (Tax-Deferred): Traditional 401(k)s, traditional IRAs — Taxes are deferred until withdrawal.

- Post-Tax (Potential Tax-Free Distribution): Roth 401(k)s, Roth IRAs, and Cash Value Life Insurance — Contributions are made after-tax, offering potential tax-free growth and distributions under current tax laws.*

- After-Tax (Taxable): Standard brokerage accounts and real estate — Offers liquidity, with earnings subject to capital gains taxes.

Taking a macro view of your financial strategy allows you to balance these options so you have flexibility regardless of where tax rates head in the future.

When was the last time you reviewed how your retirement accounts are distributed across tax buckets?

👇 Question for discussion: Do you think tax rates are likely to rise, drop, or stay the same over the next 10–20 years? Share your thoughts below!

Disclosures: *This post is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws are subject to change. Individuals should consult a qualified tax or legal advisor regarding their specific situation. *Access to cash values through policy loans or withdrawals will reduce the policy's cash value and death benefit, and may have tax consequences depending on policy status.

05/05/2026

For many business owners, the company is the estate plan. But will there be enough liquidity to:
—Cover estate costs?
—Keep the business running?
—Treat your heirs fairly?
If you’re not sure, reach out to me and let’s talk about some proven ways to protect what you’ve built.

05/01/2026

Millionaire status is rising, but most are older. Here are strategies younger Americans may consider when building wealth.

Millionaire status is rising, but most are older. Here’s how younger Americans can build wealth.

04/28/2026

Ever considered if your employee benefits could do more? What if your coverage stayed with you for life, and not just while you’re at your job? With employee benefit products from New York Life, you’re in control. If you’re seeking a simple, straightforward application process—with no questions asked—watch this video and get in touch today.

04/23/2026

Most people think of life insurance as a death benefit. Few realize it can be one of the most powerful buffer assets in a retirement portfolio. 🛡️

Here's what I mean:

A "buffer asset" is anything that protects your investment portfolio from being liquidated at the wrong time — specifically during a market downturn. The sequence of returns risk is one of the biggest threats to a successful retirement. If you're forced to sell equities when markets are down 20-30%, you may permanently impair your portfolio's ability to recover.

That's where permanent life insurance (specifically Whole Life) comes in.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿:

✅ The cash value in a permanent life policy is NOT correlated to the stock market
✅ You can borrow against it tax-free during a market downturn instead of selling investments*
✅ Your portfolio stays intact and participates in the eventual recovery
✅ Policy loans don't require repayment on a fixed schedule
✅ The death benefit passes to heirs income-tax-free

𝗔 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲:

Imagine the market drops 30% in year 2 of your retirement. Instead of withdrawing from your portfolio, you draw from your life insurance cash value for 12-18 months. When markets recover, you resume normal withdrawals — and your portfolio never locked in those losses.

⚠️ It's not for everyone. The premiums are significant, and it works best when funded over many years before retirement.

Depending on your circumstances, it may work for you
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♻️ Repost if this reframes how you think about life insurance.
💬 What other "alternative" tools are you using to protect retirement income?

*Loans against your policy accrue interest and decrease the death benefit and available cash surrender value by the amount of the outstanding loan and interest

04/21/2026

How would you cover a $1,000 bill for urgent costs? Use a credit card? Get a family loan? Far better to have an emergency fund. Here's how to set it up quickly.

04/16/2026

Even the star quarterback needs a coach to help them call the right plays. No matter where you are on the field, I can help guide you to make the right financial decisions. Reach out and let's discuss your next play.

04/02/2026

Tony Malloy, New York Life’s Chief Investment Officer with 35+ years of financial experience, calls whole life insurance “an incredibly versatile and valuable financial product.” From tax-deferred cash value accumulation to stability through market cycles, his insights are a must-read. Read the Q&A with Tony Malloy here.
https://nyl.co/4mi10yf