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
As the flowers bloom, the grass gets greener and our worries feel lighter, we know that spring is around the corner. You’re probably cleaning out your closets this spring or your garden beds but we’re going to talk about financial spring cleaning as this is a great time to get organized. It is a process of organizing your finances and reviewing your financial position. It can help find areas to save money, reduce expenses and improve your retirement.
In this episode, Josh Leonard discusses 10 different ways you can clean up your finances to get ready for this season and easily transition, helping you feel confident in your portfolio.
Josh discusses:
How you can calculate and review your expenses
Cleaning up debt and checking your credit report
How to approach that junk drawer we all dread going in to
Optimizing your tax strategy to pay fewer taxes in retirement
Some strategies on how to operate inactive accounts from prior jobs or student accounts that are no longer in use
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
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
What is your biggest fear? Many times our fears don’t align with our biggest risks. Market risk has been on the top of everyone’s mind but that is not the only risk we need to worry about in retirement.
In this episode, Josh Leonard discusses what risks you should be wary of when preparing and in retirement. Due to the recent market activity, everyone’s been worried about the stock market, but that might not be the biggest risk you might be facing in your financial life.
Josh discusses:
Common risks we might not be aware of in retirement
How current tax cuts will affect your portfolio in the next few years
Longevity risk and how that ties into your retirement plan
Isn’t that always how it goes? Most of us set some goals but fall off the wagon not too long after. We get it.
In this episode, Josh Leonard talks about the challenges of staying accountable and on track with your New Year’s resolutions. He shares some tips and tricks for how to overcome these VERY common challenges.
Josh discusses:
His New Year resolutions and how he plans to stay on track for achieving them
The SMART goals framework, how it works and why it works
The importance of staying accountable to achieve your goals
Some creative ways to make goal-setting a fun process
Looking for last-minute gift ideas for your Grandkids? Look no further! Although they might be looking for fun toys, it might be time to offer them the gift that keeps on giving; a solid financial foundation.
In this episode, Josh Leonard is joined by Bill Leonard, father and founder of the Leonard Advisory Group. As the holiday season is sneaking up on us, it might be time to start thinking about some non-traditional gifts you can offer your children. These gifts can aid in the stability of their financial future, whether that is opening a savings account for them or offering aid through goal setting.
Josh and Bill discuss:
Ways to incentivize savings accounts among younger children
Some out-of-the-box gift ideas you can offer your children or grandchildren that can help their financial future
Some teachable moments that come from fun experiences
How to help your children understand the idea of savings
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 of assisting families transition into retirement Bill is excited to transition himself into retirement at the end of 2022.
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
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.
As we get our front porches wrapped with spider webs and observe the leaves changing colors, it might be a good time to take one step forward in your retirement planning.
In this episode, Josh Leonard discusses some tricks and treats for retirement along with all the planning that goes into it as we head into the final quarter of the year. Additionally, he explains some ways to develop an efficient plan to take advantage of current market conditions, prepare for recessions before they come, and make smart health and tax decisions.
Josh discusses:
How you can use tax loss harvesting to benefit your portfolio
The benefits of a donor-advised fund
Ways you could earn more with your savings accounts
How to take advantage of the current market conditions
With the large number of clients under our belt, we pride ourselves in adapting and catering to any of our client’s needs, in any circumstances. This is why we work with trusted professionals, as well as other partnered firms such as AE Wealth Management and Morningstar Investment Management.
In this episode, Josh Leonard is joined by some of the key players from his team: Angela Ferrante, Desiree Hoosac and the founder of Leonard Advisory Group, Bill Leonard. They explain what you can expect while working with them as you plan your retirement. Additionally, they talk about some fun events you can look forward to participating in when you join the clientele.
The Leonard Advisory Group team discusses:
Everyone’s individual role within the business and how it all works together
How the Leonard Advisory Group started out
The importance of a close-knit environment among the staff
How we have helped clients no matter what step in their planning process they are at
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. 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.
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.
Desiree Hoosac has worked for over 20 years in client service and administrative roles in the financial and medical industries. Her top priority is to provide exceptional service to clients. This includes assisting the team in preparing for client reviews, updating plans and various service items. Desiree resides in New Eagle, Pennsylvania, with her two rescues: Maggie, a Lab mix, and Mittens, her cat. She has a daughter, Deanne, and granddaughter, Eliza. Desiree stays active trying to keep up with her many great nieces and nephews and enjoys golfing with her dad, playing pinochle, reading, spending time with family, history and being outdoors.
