Business

Retire Smart, Save More: How MDRN’s Virtual Planning Model Can Slash Retirement Costs

Published

5 months ago

October 8, 2024

The media is calling it a “retirement crisis.” Millions of Americans are arriving at retirement age woefully unprepared.

Some studies suggest that 45 percent of the Baby Boomers have no retirement savings, while 28 percent of those who have started saving have less than $100,000 put away. Consequently, many Americans now living in retirement or approaching that season are looking for ways to cut back on their expenses.

Aaron Cirksena, founder and CEO of MDRN Capital, has a solution for those looking to retire smart and save more. His firm’s completely virtual model increases retirees’ spending power by decreasing the fees associated with retirement planning.

“Our unique approach to providing retirement planning services allows our clients to experience significant savings when compared with the traditional model of investment management and retirement planning,” Cirksena shares. “When we did away with the overhead expenses that stem from operating a brick-and-mortar office, we were able to create a fee solution for our clients that is lower than the typical advisor. On average, our fees on the entire client portfolio tend to run 30 to 40 percent lower than the typical advisor operating under a conventional model. Additionally, we can provide services like estate planning, tax planning, and tax preparation at no additional cost.”

MDRN Capital is revolutionizing retirement planning by offering a comprehensive range of services, including income planning, investment management, tax planning, healthcare, and estate planning, in a setting that exceeds the efficiency and effectiveness traditional providers are able to offer. Unlike traditional firms, MDRN Capital leverages the power of digital tools to deliver comprehensive services without the need for in-person meetings, allowing clients to enjoy their retirement while their financial needs are expertly managed.

“My goal with MDRN Capital was creating a completely virtual firm that could more efficiently provide the convenience clients wanted while also meeting their ongoing investment needs,” Cirksena shares. “MDRN Capital’s virtual model empowers an environment in which we could serve our clients with less costs to the firm and pass the savings on to them.”

Financial planning for the new normal

MDRN Capital’s innovative approach to retirement advising emerged as a result of Cirksena’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to social distancing, advising during the pandemic shifted to virtual appointments. When social distancing was no longer necessary, Cirksena expected his clients would resume their pre-pandemic patterns. He was wrong.

“My clients let me know they preferred the comfort and convenience of virtual meetings to the hassles associated with having in-office meetings,” Cirksena says. “They didn’t miss sitting in traffic and searching for parking spaces, and I couldn’t blame them. Even the clients who lived only a few minutes away decided they would rather meet via Zoom than have a face-to-face meeting in our nice Class-A office space.”

MDRN Capital was designed to meet the client expectations that emerged during Covid. By leveraging technology to take his services to his clients rather than expecting them to come to him, Cirksena made advising more convenient and more cost-effective at the same time.

Financial savings for struggling retirees

Recent studies show the high inflation the US has been experiencing has a larger than average impact on many retirees. In response, many are looking to tighten their belts by cutting back on spending, but reducing the fees associated with retirement accounts is something few consider.

“For retirees, lower gas and grocery costs are certainly helpful,” Cirksena says. “However, cutting their investment management costs in half puts dramatically more money in their pocket over time than lower prices on goods ever could.”

To understand the impact MDRN Capital’s approach can have on retirees, consider that $250,000 earning seven percent over 20 years will grow to $967,421.12. Factor in a 1 percent fee, and growth is limited to $801,783.87, but raising the fee to 2 percent causes earnings to fall to $721,034.70.

Cirksena points to his industry’s failure to embrace modern technology as one reason why investment fees remain high.

“Unlike many industries that have used and adopted technology for decades to help lower costs and make services more efficient, the financial services sector has lagged behind,” he explains. “Many firms continue to incur unnecessary overhead and expenses, which their clients pay for in the form of elevated fees.”

The virtual investment environment Cirksena has created moves retirement planning into the future. It provides a financial service experience that is convenient, comfortable, and efficient while also ensuring that none of its clients’ investment potential is wasted on unnece

Business

Mega Construction Projects That Relied on Advanced Crane Technology

Published

2 days ago

February 21, 2025

Matthew Wiles

When it comes to large-scale construction projects, the right equipment can make all the difference. From towering skyscrapers to massive bridges and complex infrastructure developments, cranes play a crucial role in lifting, transporting, and positioning heavy materials with precision and efficiency. As technology has advanced, so too has crane engineering, allowing for safer and more ambitious builds. In the points below, we take a closer look at some of the world’s most impressive mega construction projects that relied on cutting-edge crane technology to bring them to life.

Burj Khalifa – Dubai, UAE

Standing at a staggering 828 metres, the Burj Khalifa remains the tallest building in the world. Constructing such a colossal structure required cranes that could operate at extreme heights. Specialised luffing-jib tower cranes were employed to lift materials hundreds of metres into the air, battling high winds and desert heat. These cranes were anchored to the structure itself as it rose, ensuring stability and precision throughout the build.

Sydney Metro – Australia

As Australia’s largest public transport infrastructure project, the Sydney Metro has transformed the way people move around the city. The project required massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to carve underground routes, but just as critical were the cranes used to transport and position enormous precast concrete segments. Mobile and crawler cranes with advanced hydraulic systems played a key role in assembling stations and track infrastructure with minimal disruption to existing road networks.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge – China

This engineering marvel, stretching 55 kilometres across the Pearl River Delta, is one of the longest sea crossings ever built. Given its scale, floating cranes with immense lifting capacity were used to position pre-fabricated bridge sections. Some of these cranes had lifting capabilities exceeding 3000 tonnes, demonstrating the sheer power and precision required for such a complex marine project.

The Panama Canal Expansion – Panama

The expansion of the Panama Canal was one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in recent history, involving the construction of massive new lock chambers. Gigantic gantry cranes were used to install the enormous steel lock gates, some weighing over 3000 tonnes. These cranes had to operate with pinpoint accuracy to ensure the seamless functioning of the canal’s new locks, allowing for the passage of larger vessels.

Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station – UK

The construction of this next-generation nuclear power plant has required some of the world’s most advanced heavy-lift cranes. The site features one of the largest land-based cranes in the world, capable of lifting reactor components that weigh hundreds of tonnes. These high-tech cranes have been crucial in ensuring the safe and efficient assembly of the plant’s intricate infrastructure.

The Role of Advanced Crane Technology in Modern Construction

Each of these projects would have been impossible without the evolution of crane technology. Innovations such as digital load monitoring, autonomous operation, and enhanced safety systems have allowed cranes to handle heavier loads with greater precision than ever before. For companies tackling complex construction projects, working with an experienced crane hire provider is essential. Businesses like Sventek Cranes offer cutting-edge crane solutions, ensuring that even the most ambitious projects can be completed safely and efficiently.

Mega construction projects continue to push the limits of engineering and design, and advanced crane technology remains at the heart of these achievements

Whether it’s lifting components for a record-breaking skyscraper or positioning bridge segments over open water, cranes will always be an integral part of building the world’s most remarkable structures. By leveraging state-of-the-art crane systems, today’s construction industry is making the impossible possible – one lift at a time.