Category: Finance

The Three-Bucket Strategy for Retirement Planning with Pete Belcastro
The Three-Bucket Strategy for Retirement Planning with Pete Belcastro (Ep. 37)

The Three-Bucket Strategy for Retirement Planning with Pete Belcastro (Ep. 37)

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Is your financial plan secure enough to last until retirement? How could dividing your income into separate groups help ensure your retirement income will last?

Check out this episode as Josh Leonard and Pete Belcastro from the Leonard Advisory team explore the essential elements of retirement preparation. They delve into the “three baskets” strategy, which includes the cash, income, and growth categories. Emphasizing the necessity of an emergency reserve, they discuss allocating funds for predictable costs through secure investments and the importance of long-term growth strategies to manage significant future expenses such as healthcare.

Josh and Pete discuss: 

  • Why is comprehensive retirement planning important
  • What are the three baskets in retirement planning
  • How do stable investments ensure a steady income stream during retirement
  • What role do different financial buckets play in providing insulation and protection for retirement savings
  • And more

Resources:

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Connect with Pete Belcastro: 

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Seven Steps to Successful Retirement
Seven Steps to Successful Retirement (Ep. 36)

Seven Steps to Successful Retirement (Ep. 36)

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Is your retirement plan set for a successful future? When was the last time you reviewed your plan and ensured it has been adapted for any life-changing events?

Discover the seven key steps for achieving a fulfilling retirement with Josh Leonard. He touches on everything from crafting a budget and merging accounts to making savvy choices regarding health insurance and maximizing entitlements.

Josh discusses: 

  • What is the first step in building a successful retirement plan
  • When should you start tax planning for retirement
  • Why is understanding Social Security important for retirement
  • How do you approach legacy planning
  • And more

Resources:

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Building Memorable Culture Moments at Work with Eric Leathem (Ep. 35)

Building Memorable Culture Moments at Work with Eric Leathem (Ep. 35)

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How do you build a connection with your work colleagues? How has your work culture helped with personal and professional growth?

Listen in as Josh Leonard and his guest Eric Leathem, director of operations at Leonard Advisory, explore Eric’s career journey with Leonard Advisor – his entry, his exit and his return. They reveal the workplace culture built in Leonard Advisory and how it contributed to the personal growth and well-being of the employees.

Josh and Eric discuss: 

  • What is Eric’s background and history of work with the firm
  • Personal anecdotes and experiences within the workplace culture
  • Why are office culture and team-building activities, such as ski trips, important
  • How have relationships and experiences contributed to shaping the office culture
  • And more

Resources:

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Connect with Eric Leathem:

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Managing the Unpredictability in Market Predictions for Investment Planning with Pete Belcastro, CFP® (Ep. 34)

Managing the Unpredictability in Market Predictions for Investment Planning with Pete Belcastro, CFP® (Ep. 34)

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Can current market predictions be as off the mark? How do long-term investment strategies and emotional management play into market unpredictability? How do unexpected market outcomes challenge current forecasts?

Listen in as Josh Leonard and Pete Belcastro, Financial Planner at Leonard Advisory Group, dive into what the market’s been up to and look back at some of the surprises from last year. They tackle the whole issue of bank failures and what that means for our wallets.

Josh and Pete discuss: 

  • Why are market predictions not always the most reliable
  • Where has the impact of bank failures been felt in the economy
  • What is the influence of interest rate changes on the economy
  • Why is it important to have a long-term investment plan and manage emotions during market fluctuations
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

Connect with Pete Belcastro: 

About our Guest: Pete is a seasoned Financial Planning professional with over 15 years of diverse experience in financial, business, sales, and marketing domains. Presently, Pete serves as a financial planner, specializing in helping clients make decisions that align with their current and future financial requirements. His extensive career includes roles as an independent advisor, a registered assistant, and a licensed banker, providing him with a broad spectrum of financial expertise.

Pete’s belief in the value of a multifaceted background is rooted in his conviction that it enables him to offer clients a distinctive and ultimately more effective perspective when it comes to future planning and goal setting. He firmly believes that a comprehensive understanding, not just of financial matters but also of clients and their individual needs and desires, is the cornerstone of a robust financial plan. This holistic approach underscores his commitment to delivering the strongest financial solutions for his clients.

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Refine Your Financial Goals for Retirement with Lists (Ep. 33)

Refine Your Financial Goals for Retirement with Lists (Ep. 33)

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Did you add financial goals to your New Year’s resolutions? What happens when those goals aren’t the best option for your financial plan but you don’t want to change them? Sticking to those goals could do more harm than good.

Josh Leonard goes beyond the surface, addressing the intricacies of financial goal-setting and providing tangible examples of how lists can serve as a guiding force in achieving a secure and fulfilling retirement. Don’t miss out on this insightful discussion that can reshape your approach to financial planning in the New Year.

Josh discusses: 

  • Why is using lists important to refine financial goals for retirement
  • What are some common misconceptions about money, taxes, and debt 
  • How do emotions influence financial goals
  • How can financial goals be prioritized effectively
  • And more

Resources:

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Achieving and Setting Goals with Pete Belcastro, CFP® (Ep. 32)

Achieving and Setting Goals with Pete Belcastro, CFP® (Ep. 32)

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The New Year typically follows with New Year’s resolutions. What goals do you have for the New Year? And what strategies could help you to stay on track?

Gear up for a power-packed New Year as Josh Leonard and Pete Belcastro from the Leonard Advisory team discuss their resolutions and success strategies! Dive into their reflections on the past year’s triumphs, including Pete’s career eureka moment and Josh conquering a half ironman. Uncover the secrets behind their goal-setting choices and the winning strategies that propelled them to achievement. 

Get ready to be inspired and equipped with insights to conquer your resolutions.

Josh and Pete discuss: 

  • Their personal goals over the past year
  • How their goals related to their personal and professional growth
  • Why is setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals important
  • Why is emphasizing commitment and perseverance important in goal achievement
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

Connect with Pete Belcastro: 

About our Guest: Pete is a seasoned Financial Planning professional with over 15 years of diverse experience in financial, business, sales, and marketing domains. Presently, Pete serves as a financial planner, specializing in helping clients make decisions that align with their current and future financial requirements. His extensive career includes roles as an independent advisor, a registered assistant, and a licensed banker, providing him with a broad spectrum of financial expertise.

Pete’s belief in the value of a multifaceted background is rooted in his conviction that it enables him to offer clients a distinctive and ultimately more effective perspective when it comes to future planning and goal setting. He firmly believes that a comprehensive understanding, not just of financial matters but also of clients and their individual needs and desires, is the cornerstone of a robust financial plan. This holistic approach underscores his commitment to delivering the strongest financial solutions for his clients.

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How to Stay Safe and Have Fun Doing It with Angela Ferrante and Sam Rosenberg (Ep. 31)

How to Stay Safe and Have Fun Doing It with Angela Ferrante and Sam Rosenberg (Ep. 31)

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Do you take your personal safety seriously? What indicators could you be putting out, telling unsavory characters you are a vulnerable target?

Discover with Josh Leonard, Angela Ferrante and their guest Sam Rosenberg, founder of Live Ready and the author of “Live Ready: A Guide to Protecting Yourself in an Uncertain World.” Sam debunks some common myths about helplessness and randomness in violence, sharing valuable advice on personal security and self-defense techniques.

Sam discusses: 

  • When does learned helplessness have an impact on society
  • Where can danger be recognized and managed
  • Why is it important to have a plan for personal safety
  • How can body language and threat indicators be read
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Sam Rosenberg:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

About our Guest: 

Angela Ferrante is a 1987 graduate of Allegheny College with a degree in Economics and Finance. She started with Equitable Life as an insurance representative 2 weeks after graduation selling life and disability insurance to the medical community. By 2005 she was supervising 165 representatives in 4 states and running the brokerage side of the office which included the opening of accounts, research, trade placement, cashiering of upwards of $2 million per month, as well as her own client base. Angela became an Accredited Investment Fiduciary in 2015. Angela and Mark live in Somerset County where she enjoys skiing, hiking, biking and gardening.

Sam Rosenberg has been in the business of protecting people and organizations – and teaching them how to protect themselves – since 1996.

He is the Founder of Global Protective Services, Inc. (GPS) and Sam Rosenberg’s Academy of Personal Protection, both based in Pittsburgh, PA, which together provide comprehensive enterprise risk management, training, and executive protection services for clients globally.

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AI’s Impact on Information Retrieval and Career Futures with Michael Laughlin (Ep. 30)

AI’s Impact on Information Retrieval and Career Futures with Michael Laughlin (Ep. 30)

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Are you worried that technology could take over your job? You aren’t the first to feel this way. Whenever technology booms, fear of replacement creeps up. But have you considered the new jobs that this type of evolution opens up?

Join Josh Leonard with his guest Michael Laughlin, head of the portfolio specialist team at Morningstar. They explore the potential of AI in various sectors such as finance, marketing, software development, and healthcare, emphasizing that AI will never fully replace the human element, which is crucial to decision-making and building relationships.

Michael discusses: 

  • What are the potential business applications of AI
  • When and where is the role of AI in the financial advisory industry
  • How do established leaders and investors perceive AI
  • How is AI used in marketing communications
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Michael Laughlin:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

About our Guest: 

A subject matter expert in portfolio construction and trends in the wealth management community. Frequent conference speaker and thought leader. Collaborating with portfolio and sales management teams to design model solutions that help Wealth Management Advisors scale their practices. Experienced in multi-asset class portfolios including alternatives, ESG, and factor investing for UHNW clients.

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Is Your End-of-Year Financial Checklist Ready? (Ep. 29)

Is Your End-of-Year Financial Checklist Ready? (Ep. 29)

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The end of the year is the perfect time to take stock of your personal finances and make any adjustments that need to be made. 

From catching up on retirement contributions to making charitable donations, you have a bit of time left to get everything in order before 2024. 

In this episode, Josh Leonard explores end-of-year financial planning. He dives into assessing asset and debt issues, understanding tax implications, maximizing contributions to tax-advantaged accounts, and more. Josh also explains the benefits of gifting money to avoid estate taxes and the importance of financial aid planning for children or grandchildren attending college.

Josh discusses: 

  • The need to look at taxable investment accounts and making end-of-year moves
  • The importance of taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) for individuals turning 73 this year
  • Tax planning strategies
  • The importance of maximizing contributions to accounts like HSAs and 401(k)s by the end of the year
  • The need to review insurance plans during open enrollment and update estate documents in light of any family changes or additions
  • The importance of considering financial aid planning strategies for college-bound kids
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

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How Can You Protect Yourself from Identity Theft and Fraud in Retirement? with Pete Belcastro, CFP® (Ep. 28)

How Can You Protect Yourself from Identity Theft and Fraud in Retirement? with Pete Belcastro, CFP® (Ep. 28)

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In this episode, Josh Leonard and Pete Belcastro, Financial Planner at Leonard Advisory Group, shine a light on a concerning topic that affects many retirees – identity theft and fraud.

Join them as they unveil practical advice that acts as your shield against these modern-day threats. Discover the power of freezing your credit, regularly monitoring your credit scores, and cultivating robust online security habits. Our experts leave no stone unturned to ensure you’re well-prepared for the challenges that may arise.

But it’s not just about digital defense. Josh and Pete emphasize the significance of maintaining financial discipline when using credit cards, ensuring your retirement nest egg remains secure. 

Stay in the know about current fraud trends and outsmart the scammers at their own game.

Pete and Josh discuss: 

  • Statistics on the prevalence of fraud among older adults
  • Protective measures individuals can take, such as monitoring credit scores and freezing credit
  • Importance of freezing credit to protect against unauthorized credit checks and potential identity theft
  • Practicing good online security habits, such as using strong passwords and utilizing features like face recognition or fingerprint scanning
  • Staying informed about current fraud trends, particularly phishing scams through emails
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Pete Belcastro: 

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

About our Guest: Pete is a seasoned Financial Planning professional with over 15 years of diverse experience in financial, business, sales, and marketing domains. Presently, Pete serves as a financial planner, specializing in helping clients make decisions that align with their current and future financial requirements. His extensive career includes roles as an independent advisor, a registered assistant, and a licensed banker, providing him with a broad spectrum of financial expertise.

Pete’s belief in the value of a multifaceted background is rooted in his conviction that it enables him to offer clients a distinctive and ultimately more effective perspective when it comes to future planning and goal setting. He firmly believes that a comprehensive understanding, not just of financial matters but also of clients and their individual needs and desires, is the cornerstone of a robust financial plan. This holistic approach underscores his commitment to delivering the strongest financial solutions for his clients.

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