Tag: Financial Planner
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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Meet the Newest Member of Our Team: Pete Belcastro, CFP® (Ep. 27)

Meet the Newest Member of Our Team: Pete Belcastro, CFP® (Ep. 27)

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Get to know another puzzle piece that intertwines perfectly in the Leonard Advisory Group’s growing team…

In this episode, Josh Leonard is joined by Pete Belcastro, Financial Planning Consultant at Leonard Advisory Group. Pete shares his journey from cold calling to becoming an investment banker and then a Certified Financial Planner. Pete also discusses his passion for outdoor activities and his dedication to community service. 

Josh and Pete chat about: 

  • Pete’s personal background, including being a Pittsburgh native and a sports fan
  • Pete’s career journey into the world of financial planning and investments
  • The importance of comprehensive financial planning
  • His other certified hat: a father and husband
  • His involvement in the Reading is Fundamental program, which promotes literacy among elementary school students in Pittsburgh
  • 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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Can You Harvest the “Fruit” of Volatility? (Ep. 26)

Can You Harvest the “Fruit” of Volatility? (Ep. 26)

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Discover the secrets of wealth mastery as we unveil strategies that will work for you no matter what your portfolio looks like. 

In this episode, Josh unravels essential strategies for navigating uncertain financial landscapes, drawing insights from the practices of the ultra-wealthy and astute investors. Starting with the importance of diversifying a portfolio to mitigate market fluctuations, exploring options like fixed income and advanced strategies. We then delve into the concept of “dry powder” and how it empowers investors to seize opportunities without unnecessary trading. Advanced tax planning steps are also unveiled, offering potential avenues to maximize tax advantages. 

Josh discusses: 

  • Three hidden opportunities to take advantage of and two costly mistakes to avoid when the market is volatile
  • Essential questions to ask yourself in the process
  • The importance of partnering with knowledgeable financial professionals as trusted resources due to the current online climate 
  • Finding advanced tax strategies for wealth preservation
  • Importance of caution with investment trends and social media Influencers
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

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How to Choose the Best Place to Retire (Ep. 24)

How to Choose the Best Place to Retire (Ep. 24)

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Are you questioning whether you want to retire in your home state or venture into a different area during your golden years? 

Josh Leonard explores the topic of the best places to retire, depending on an individual’s savings and personal preferences. He explains the important factors to consider when making the decision to relocate such as thinking about the taxes, the cost of living, the proximity to family and friends and more.

In this episode, Josh covers: 

  • How to research the cost of living for the place you desire to relocate to
  • Getting to know the climate or seasonal changes in certain retirement locations
  • Considering the travel time to visit your loved ones, especially any kids or grandkids in your family
  • Looking for areas where it’s not going to be difficult to stay active and make new friends 
  • Thinking about healthcare needs before making a move in retirement
  • Considerations for living overseas in retirement
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

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Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Goals (Ep. 20)

Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Goals (Ep. 20)

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We’ve got our very own IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead accomplisher in the studio! 

In this episode, Josh Leonard shares his experience completing a half ironman race. Despite facing thunderstorms and a delayed start, Josh was able to swim comfortably and exceed his expectations on the bike leg. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on what you’re good at and enjoy, both in the race and in retirement. Despite setbacks, including a shelter-in-place order, Josh remained determined to complete the race.

Josh discusses: 

  • The key takeaways from his training
  • Reflections on the value of accepting unexpected challenges
  • The importance of the loving support he received from his wife and the community around him
  • The importance of setting goals and staying motivated
  • How this relates to achieving the goals that you set for yourself in retirement
  • And more

Resources:

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Money Meets Machine: The Impact of AI in Financial Services (Ep. 16)

Money Meets Machine: The Impact of AI in Financial Services (Ep. 16)

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In a world where AI is slowly taking over our everyday lives, it is important to understand what exactly this technology is and how it may be beneficial to a number of different aspects of your life. 

In this episode, Josh discusses new AI ventures such as Chat GPT and how some of our everyday devices may not be so far from it. He shares the different ways this technology could be leveraged to serve our clients better.

Josh discusses: 

  • Some benefits AI might bring to your job and everyday life
  • The number of different AI vehicles you might not realize you are using on a day-to-day basis 
  • Ways we see it impacting the financial services industry 
  • How AI can be used to assist in data analysis and decision making
  • The benefits of using AI to personalize and enhance customer experience
  • The future of what these technologies could mean for us in a number of facets 
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

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Your Recession Survival Guide (Ep. 13)

Your Recession Survival Guide (Ep. 13)

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Have you been in a sticky situation where you needed to pay a large amount of money but did not have liquid assets on hand? With price increases on basic necessary items, it is time to start thinking smarter, not harder. 

In this episode, Josh Leonard outlines a number of saving strategies you can start incorporating into your daily life now, to combat the stressors that come with surviving the current recession. 

Josh discusses: 

  • Some key tips for saving your money while prices hike up
  • Rising along with interest rates – locking in higher retirement rates
  • The 10% rule you can use as a guide for all of your investments in your portfolio
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

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Income Planning: When The Paychecks Stop (Ep. 12)

Income Planning: When The Paychecks Stop (Ep. 12)

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What do YOU view as your most substantial asset that allows you to live the life you want to live on a daily basis?

In this episode, Josh Leonard talks about the road you have to follow once your paychecks stop coming in. Is your life going to run the same? How do you feel confident in your bank account when that number stops increasing? Where is all your money going to come from? Josh alleviates all of these stressors in detail.

Josh discusses: 

  • How life expectancy can determine the plan you create for your retirement
  • The ins and outs of pension planning
  • Some ways you can keep a consistent income source during retirement that does not limit you to a 9-5 job
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

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Secure Act 2.0: What does it mean for you? (Ep. 11)

Secure Act 2.0: What does it mean for you? (Ep. 11)

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The Secure Act 2.0 was signed into place on December 23, 2022.  This opens several new strategies you can dip into, in order to save for your retirement and/or fund important goals such as education. 

In this episode, Josh Leonard discusses the number of changes this act has brought forward to us so that we can save more money more efficiently. Whether you are in the planning stage of your retirement or are looking into the future to understand how to further your savings, this episode will help you move forward. 

Josh discusses: 

  • What this act means for people under or over the age of 72
  • Changes in required minimum distributions and how the reduction penalty has lowered 
  • The increase in catch-up contribution amount for different plans
  • The ability to roll leftover 529 funds into a Roth IRA tax and penalty-free
  • How you can more effectively donate to charities of your choice
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

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A Father & Son Legacy: Meet the Leonards (Ep. 1)

A Father & Son Legacy: Meet the Leonards (Ep. 1)

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Retirement may pose many questions, but you can make the most of this next chapter of your life by preparing for it intentionally. 

And you’re in the right place if you’re wondering how. 

Introducing the Hello Retirement podcast with Josh Leonard.

In this inaugural episode, Josh Leonard is joined by the father of the Leonard Advisory Group, Bill Leonard who also happens to be his father and real-life mentor during his shift to the financial services industry. 

Bill and Josh share: 

  • Stories of how each of them started in the financial industry
  • What their business philosophy is 
  • How they integrate teaching in their client community 
  • Leonard Advisory Group’s five areas of personalized retirement planning
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

About our Guest:

William Leonard founded Leonard Advisory Group to fill in the gaps he saw when helping his mother plan for retirement. Bill focused much of his career on the insurance and annuity industry. As an independent advisor, he helped thousands of retirees and pre-retirees face the financial challenges that lie ahead with confidence. Since 1996, Bill has worked in a variety of capacities, gaining valuable experience with insurance. In 2007, he became an independent consultant, focusing on income protection and retirement planning. Bill was an honorary host of the “Protecting Your Profits” radio show on 94.5 3WS Pittsburgh and a weekly guest on the national broadcast “Financial Safari” radio show heard locally on NewsTalk 104.7 FM. He has also been featured on WISR 680 AM and WORD FM. In his free time, Bill enjoys traveling, boating, skiing, hiking, biking, restoring antique vehicles, and spending quality time with family, friends, and clients. He has been married to his wife, Cindy, for almost 40 years. They have three children: Zach, Josh, and Zoey, as well as a crazy border collie named Sweep. After over 25 years assisting families transition into retirement Bill is excited to transition himself into retirement at the end of 2022.



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