What are the long-term impacts of keeping your 401(k) with a former employer versus rolling it over to an IRA or a new employer’s plan? How can the benefits of IRA rollovers and Roth conversions influence your decision for penalty-free withdrawals?

Josh Leonard explores the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining the 401(k) with a past employer, transitioning it into an IRA, or moving it to the retirement plan of a new employer.  He highlights the importance of comprehending the regulations, costs, and tax consequences associated with each plan. 

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Is your financial plan secure enough to last until retirement? How could dividing your income into separate groups help ensure your retirement income will last?

Check out this episode as Josh Leonard and Pete Belcastro from the Leonard Advisory team explore the essential elements of retirement preparation. They delve into the “three baskets” strategy, which includes the cash, income, and growth categories. Emphasizing the necessity of an emergency reserve, they discuss allocating funds for predictable costs through secure investments and the importance of long-term growth strategies to manage significant future expenses such as healthcare.

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Is your retirement plan set for a successful future? When was the last time you reviewed your plan and ensured it has been adapted for any life-changing events?

Discover the seven key steps for achieving a fulfilling retirement with Josh Leonard. He touches on everything from crafting a budget and merging accounts to making savvy choices regarding health insurance and maximizing entitlements.

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How do you build a connection with your work colleagues? How has your work culture helped with personal and professional growth?

Listen in as Josh Leonard and his guest Eric Leathem, director of operations at Leonard Advisory, explore Eric’s career journey with Leonard Advisor – his entry, his exit and his return. They reveal the workplace culture built in Leonard Advisory and how it contributed to the personal growth and well-being of the employees.

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Can current market predictions be as off the mark? How do long-term investment strategies and emotional management play into market unpredictability? How do unexpected market outcomes challenge current forecasts?

Listen in as Josh Leonard and Pete Belcastro, Financial Planner at Leonard Advisory Group, dive into what the market’s been up to and look back at some of the surprises from last year. They tackle the whole issue of bank failures and what that means for our wallets.

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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.

Did you add financial goals to your New Year’s resolutions? What happens when those goals aren’t the best option for your financial plan but you don’t want to change them? Sticking to those goals could do more harm than good.

Josh Leonard goes beyond the surface, addressing the intricacies of financial goal-setting and providing tangible examples of how lists can serve as a guiding force in achieving a secure and fulfilling retirement. Don’t miss out on this insightful discussion that can reshape your approach to financial planning in the New Year.

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The New Year typically follows with New Year’s resolutions. What goals do you have for the New Year? And what strategies could help you to stay on track?

Gear up for a power-packed New Year as Josh Leonard and Pete Belcastro from the Leonard Advisory team discuss their resolutions and success strategies! Dive into their reflections on the past year’s triumphs, including Pete’s career eureka moment and Josh conquering a half ironman. Uncover the secrets behind their goal-setting choices and the winning strategies that propelled them to achievement. 

Get ready to be inspired and equipped with insights to conquer your resolutions.

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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.

Do you take your personal safety seriously? What indicators could you be putting out, telling unsavory characters you are a vulnerable target?

Discover with Josh Leonard, Angela Ferrante and their guest Sam Rosenberg, founder of Live Ready and the author of “Live Ready: A Guide to Protecting Yourself in an Uncertain World.” Sam debunks some common myths about helplessness and randomness in violence, sharing valuable advice on personal security and self-defense techniques.

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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.

Sam Rosenberg has been in the business of protecting people and organizations – and teaching them how to protect themselves – since 1996.

He is the Founder of Global Protective Services, Inc. (GPS) and Sam Rosenberg’s Academy of Personal Protection, both based in Pittsburgh, PA, which together provide comprehensive enterprise risk management, training, and executive protection services for clients globally.

Are you worried that technology could take over your job? You aren’t the first to feel this way. Whenever technology booms, fear of replacement creeps up. But have you considered the new jobs that this type of evolution opens up?

Join Josh Leonard with his guest Michael Laughlin, head of the portfolio specialist team at Morningstar. They explore the potential of AI in various sectors such as finance, marketing, software development, and healthcare, emphasizing that AI will never fully replace the human element, which is crucial to decision-making and building relationships.

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A subject matter expert in portfolio construction and trends in the wealth management community. Frequent conference speaker and thought leader. Collaborating with portfolio and sales management teams to design model solutions that help Wealth Management Advisors scale their practices. Experienced in multi-asset class portfolios including alternatives, ESG, and factor investing for UHNW clients.

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.

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