Tag: Josh Leonard
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:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

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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Transitioning into Retirement with Jerome Myers (Ep. 17)

Transitioning into Retirement with Jerome Myers (Ep. 17)

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Getting stuck doing the things that you’ve always done just because you’ve always done them is one of the biggest atrocities of life. We have an opportunity each day to make something new and you should make the most of it.

In this episode, Josh Leonard brings on Jerome Myers to talk about one of the biggest lifetime transitions, transitioning into retirement. Jerome goes over the key areas of finding your next chapter in life and explains the significance of an “and” instead of an “or” lifestyle, the importance of prioritizing authenticity, how you can find your next mission in life, and how silence can help you find clarity.

Jerome discusses: 

  • Why he started to help people with exit planning and transitioning into retirement
  • The key areas of finding your next chapter 
  • The significance of an “and” lifestyle instead of an “or” lifestyle
  • Why it’s important to prioritize being your true, authentic self in all aspects of your life
  • How he helps people discover their next mission in life
  • How finding silence and peace can help you find clarity
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Jerome Myers:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

About our Guest: 

Jerome Myers is an award-winning engineer, investor, mentor, and business strategist who helps founders navigate their Exit Paradox through his masterminds and coaching programs.  

Prior to leaving his corporate leadership position, Jerome built a $20 million, 175-person division of a Fortune 550 company from scratch.  He now uses his project management, engineering, and business expertise to advise business leaders on key areas such as leadership strategy, process improvement, sales and data analytics in real estate, financial services, business services, and health care to help his clients double their revenue, time off and charitable giving.

Jerome is also a general partner in a multifamily real estate portfolio and serves on the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. 

In 2022, Jerome won the prestigious alumni achievement award for the North Carolina A and T State University College of Engineering where a fully endowed scholarship has been created in his family’s name.  A noted media expert, Jerome has been featured in Business Insider, Black Enterprise, Entrepreneur, Biznow, CBS, ABC, and Fox.

Jerome has interviewed numerous newly exited operators (NEOs) on his top-ranked Dreamcatchers podcast which provides inspiration, education, and direction to his audience of founders who are building companies to sell after they exit the “Matrix”.

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Protecting Yourself from a Bank Collapse: Silicon Valley Case (Ep. 15)

Protecting Yourself from a Bank Collapse: Silicon Valley Case (Ep. 15)

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After the Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse, a lot of people panicked and started doubting the stability of their own banks where they hold accounts.

What is the difference between investing in a bank and depositing in it? Are my deposits insured? What can I do if I fear that my bank will collapse?

In this episode, Josh Leonard addresses the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, what happened, and how it affected their clients and investors. He talks about how FDIC insurance works for our deposits, and what we can do to protect ourselves if our bank fails. Additionally, Josh explains high-yield savings accounts and how they give us good returns with our unused funds.

Josh discusses: 

  • The collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank and the factors leading to their failure
  • The difference between investing and depositing in a bank
  • How FDIC insurance can help protect your deposits
  • The importance of finding a diversified bank
  • High-yield savings accounts and some options for earning more interest on our unused money
  • 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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5 Hidden Year-End Tax Saving Strategies (Ep. 7)

5 Hidden Year-End Tax Saving Strategies (Ep. 7)

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2022 has been a challenging year, to say the least. From the war in Ukraine, inflation and elections to the downward shift in the market, there are a number of factors coming together, causing us to stress about our finances. Thankfully, the year is not over yet and we have a few effective strategies that might save you tax-free money. 

In this episode, Josh Leonard discusses five hidden tax-saving opportunities you may want to take advantage of before year-end.  

Josh dives into: 

  • How to get more tax-free money
  • Making savvy retirement planning moves
  • Being charitable, skipping your RMD, or getting rid of some qualified money
  • Bundling up the deductions as you make big money moves
  • Maximizing the current tax discounts
  • And more

Resources:

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Client Retirement Story: Cycling Across the USA with Al Miller (Ep. 5)

Client Retirement Story: Cycling Across the USA with Al Miller (Ep. 5)

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Are you unsure what your retirement will look like? Finding new passions at an old age can be challenging but finding an activity that releases your serotonin like never before can jumpstart you into a fulfilling retirement, living out your days to the fullest.

In this episode, Josh Leonard is joined by Al Miller, an avid cyclist who completed his ride across the US last year that he blogged live, where he averaged 350 viewers per day with a grand total of 18,000 viewers in 16 different countries. He dives into where his passion for cycling started and how he has turned it into a passion project over the last couple of years. 

Josh and Al discuss: 

  • All the benefits of cycling
  • How staying active helps, especially in this day and age
  • His most recent ride and all the scenic places he would like to visit again
  • The importance of retiring to something, not from something
  • His favorite ride and why he and his brothers were so determined to complete it
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Josh Leonard: 

About Our Guest:

Al Miller is an avid cyclist who completed a ride across the United States last year.  His adventure was chronicled through his blog with 86 followers and an average of 350 viewers per day. 18,000 total views in 16 countries. Al is a retired engineer, husband and father in addition to being a cyclist.

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