🌿 Welcome to A Smarter Way to Retirewith Tony Leonardi, CFP® from Fairfield County, Connecticut! On May 21, 2025, Tony shares a personal update—his sons’ travels, a garden rebuild after a flood, and spring in CT—before diving into Memorial Day’s 1868 origins and itsmeaning: honoring 1.1M fallen soldiers.

Then, explore the Moody’s May 16 downgrade of US bonds to Aa1, driven by a $37T debt (up 50% since 2019’s $4.4Tspending vs. 2024’s $6.75T) and $2T annual deficits.

Learn how this impacts retirees, the S&P 500’s 5.5% rise from 5,592.785 (April 30) to ~5,900 (May 21), and international stocks’ 14% 2025 gains.

Get a Memorial Day tip to review your diversified portfolio.

Visit LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com for more, listenon Spotify and Apple Podcasts, watch on YouTube, or download the 2025 Retirement Reset Checklist.#MemorialDay #RetirementTips

Feeling rattled by recent market volatility? 📉 In this episode of A Smarter Way to Retire, Tony Leonardi, CFP® based in Fairfield County,Connecticut, shares three positive economic updates from May 2025 that arelifting markets and spirits. From the US-UK trade deal boosting sectors likemanufacturing, to a new US-China agreement easing trade tensions, and abipartisan pharmaceutical pricing policy cutting drug costs, these developmentsoffer hope for retirees. Learn why focusing on data—not headlines—is key tostaying grounded in your retirement plan. 🌱 Tune in foractionable insights and a reminder to step away from the 24/7 news cycle. Howdo you tune out the noise? Share your thoughts!
For more retirement planning insights, visit LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com.
#RetirementPlanning #MarketVolatility #FinancialTips #FairfieldCounty

Save thousands for your 2025 retirement with Tony Leonardi, a CERTIFIEDFINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, in this A Smarter Way to Retireepisode. Discover 5 tax-smart moves—Roth conversions, timing withdrawals, QCDs,bunching deductions, and low-tax states—plus a 2026 rate hike alert. HearTony’s client stories and a fun $18,000 gifting tip! Based on ASmarter Way to Retire and MoneyGuidePro. Sign up for our free 2025Retirement Reset Checklist athttps://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com/2025-retirement-reset-checklist andwatch our Taxes in Retirement Webinarat https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com/webinars. Also on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/643N9lbuQYiXXc188Rb1z8. Subscribe for more!Disclosures at https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com. #RetirementPlanning#TaxStrategies

Ready for a smarter 2025 retirement? In this final A Smarter Way to Retire episode, Tony Leonardi, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, recaps his 10-step process to build a secure retirement plan. From organizing finances to optimizing taxes, get actionable insights based on Tony’s book A Smarter Way to Retire and MoneyGuidePro tools.

🔥 Sign up for our FREE 2025 Retirement Reset Checklist by entering your email at https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com/2025-retirement-reset-checklist
🔥 Watch our Taxes in Retirement Webinar - Strategies to Keep More of Your Money at https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com/webinars
🔥 Also on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-smarter-way-to-retire/id1793796703

Follow A Smarter Way to Retire on Spotify for weekly episodes! Please refer to our website for full disclosures and resources: https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com. #RetirementPlanning

Your retirement plan evolves! Tony Leonardi, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, shares retirement adjustments for 2025 in Step 10. Tweak investments, budgets, or savings to hit 70–90% success probability. 📈 Small changes boost your plan by 20%! Get your free 2025 Retirement Reset Checklist and 2025 tax webinar at LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com (Webinar tab) or YouTube @LeonardiFamilyWealthcare. Disclosures on site. Start now—subscribe!
Released: May 5, 2025 | Duration: 12 min

Tax season got you down? In this lively episode of A Smarter Way to Retire, host Tony Leonardi dives into the wild history of the federal income tax. Discover how a 3% Civil War “temporary” tax became permanent, why Al Capone was nabbed for tax evasion, and how top rates once hit a staggering 94%. Tony also reveals the hidden cost of tax prep—13 hours and $290 per person annually—and what it means for your retirement. Packed with quirky facts and practical tips, this episode will change how you plan for 2025 taxes. Tune in, subscribe, and start retiring smarter today!

Released: April 15, 2025 | Duration: 12 min 45 sec

Is it time to rethink America’s trade policies? In this episode of A Smarter Way to Retire, we explore how tariffs have shaped the U.S. economy, from post-WWII wealth redistribution to today’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. We break down how uneven trade policies impact American jobs, manufacturing, and the wealth gap—while also questioning whether new tariffs are the right solution.

🔹 What’s inside this episode?
✔️ The history of tariffs and their global impact
✔️ How trade deficits fuel the wealth gap in the U.S.
✔️ Which countries are already renegotiating fairer trade deals
✔️ Are new tariffs too aggressive, too fast, or necessary?

📢 What do you think? Should the U.S. impose higher tariffs to level the playing field? Or is there a better way?

🎧 Tune in now for expert insights on trade, wealth distribution, and how these policies could shape your financial future.

💡 Subscribe for weekly episodes on financial planning, retirement strategies, and the economy.

🔗 Visit LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com for full disclosures and additional resources.

How do you know if your retirement plan is truly on track? In this episode of A Smarter Way to Retire, we break down Step 9: Measure Your Probability of Success.

✅ What does “probability of success” really mean in financial planning?
✅ How do financial planners stress-test your retirement plan?
✅ What factors—like market conditions, inflation, and spending habits—affect your long-term outlook?
✅ How can you improve your odds of a comfortable and secure retirement?

We’ll discuss the tools and strategies used to assess whether your plan is strong enough to handle market ups and downs, unexpected expenses, and longer-than-expected lifespans.

📈 Want to take control of your financial future? Listen now and learn how to stay confident in your retirement plan!

🔗 Visit LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com for financial calculators, tools, podcast episodes, and retirement planning resources.

👍 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more smart retirement strategies!

#RetirementPlanning #FinancialSuccess #SmartInvesting #RetirementGoals #FinancialFreedom

Are your investments working for you? In Step 8 of A Smarter Way to Retire, we break down how to analyze your current investment portfolio to ensure it aligns with your retirement goals.

✅ Are you taking the right amount of risk?
✅ Do your investments support your long-term financial plan?
✅ How can you adjust your portfolio for a more secure retirement?

In this episode, I’ll guide you through evaluating asset allocation, understanding diversification, and avoiding common investment mistakes that could put your retirement at risk.

🔹 Need a smarter investment strategy? Listen now!

📖 Based on my book: A Smarter Way to Retire: 10 Steps Towards a Confident Financial Future

🎧 Tune in now and take control of your retirement investments!

How much risk are you really comfortable taking in your investments? In this episode, we break down risk tolerance—what it is, why it matters, and how it shapes your retirement strategy. We’ll explore the emotional and financial aspects of risk, how market volatility impacts different investors, and why aligning your investments with your comfort level is key to long-term success.

Are you taking on too much risk—or not enough? Tune in to find out how to strike the right balance.

www.LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com