Tag: 529 Plans
Retire with Intent: The True Intent Planning System™ Explained (Ep. 96)

Retire with Intent: The True Intent Planning System™ Explained (Ep. 96)

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Retirement isn’t just an end, it’s the beginning of everything you’ve always wanted to do. 

What if you could approach this next chapter with purpose and confidence, not just hope? 

In this episode, Josh Leonard breaks down the True Intent Planning System™ and its five pillars for a purposeful retirement. He emphasizes the importance of planning for income, investments, taxes, healthcare, and estate matters, and discusses real-life stories and practical tips for retirees.

Josh discusses:

  • Optimizing income streams in retirement, including Social Security, pensions, annuities, and bridging any income gaps
  • Structuring investments to match retirement goals, manage risk, and address potential tax issues from withdrawals
  • Tax planning strategies, including the benefits of tax diversification, Roth conversions, and minimizing tax burdens for future generations
  • Health care planning, from managing costs pre- and post-Medicare to long-term care considerations and annual prescription reviews
  • The importance of estate planning, updating wills, powers of attorney, and using vehicles like 529 plans for generational wealth and education funding
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

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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:

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How Can You Prepare for the Rising Cost of College? with Dan Cieniewicz (Ep. 23)

How Can You Prepare for the Rising Cost of College? with Dan Cieniewicz (Ep. 23)

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As your children get closer and closer to graduation, that education cheque is slowly becoming your reality. 

In this episode, Josh Leonard is joined by Dan Cieniewicz aka The College Dude, to discuss all things saving for college. They emphasize the need for parents to come up with a budget and consider sources of funding for college including the FAFSA process and recent changes to it. 

Dan and Josh discuss: 

  • Retirement benefits grandparents can receive through paying for their grandchildren’s education 
  • The challenge of integrating grandparents into the conversation about college funding
  • The importance of scholarships, grants, and choosing the right school for each student
  • The FAFSA Simplification Act and its implications for grandparent-owned 529 plans
  • The four fits and factors you need to consider before choosing a college 
  • And more

Resources:

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About our Guest: 

Dan Cieniewicz works with parents of teenage children as they find themselves in a position to strategize to pay for college while also staying on track for retirement. Dan’s goal when working with clients is to explain the complexities of the financial aid & college application process and to strategize to make sure that both parents and children are set up for long-term success. 

Dan was born & raised in Berks County. He attended Albright College, majoring in Economics & Political Science and played on the football team.  Dan has obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. 

Dan is the head girls basketball coach at Warwick High School in Lititz, PA and loves working out and playing basketball. He resides in Lititz with his wife, Carly.  He also became a father in March of 2022, to a beautiful daughter, Stella.

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