Episode 29: Mastering Medicare – Your Complete Guide to Parts, Plans, and Peace of Mind



Are you approaching Medicare age or already enrolled? Join host Bryan Bibbo and special guest, Gary J. Pelfrey, Director of Business Development at JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management.  

With over 28 years of experience as a Medicare specialist in financial services, Pelfrey demystifies Medicare planning and reveals how proper healthcare planning can protect your retirement savings. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • 2025 Medicare Changes: Learn about major updates coming to prescription drug coverage through the Inflation Reduction Act, including how you’ll benefit from the new $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket costs. 
  • Medicare Plan Options: Discover the real differences between Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans, including which might best fit your lifestyle, especially if you travel. 
  • Enrollment Timing: Find out exactly when you should enroll in Medicare, particularly if you’re still working past age 65, and how to avoid penalties that could cost you for life. 
  • COBRA vs. Medicare: Understand the crucial distinctions between COBRA and Medicare coverage that could save you from making an expensive mistake during your retirement transition. 
  • Long-term Care Gap: Learn what Medicare won’t cover in your later years and how to prepare for potential long-term care needs. 

Listen in as Bibbo and Pelfrey break down the crucial Medicare decisions you’ll face and share upcoming changes that could significantly impact your healthcare costs. 


Episode 28: How to Develop Total Health – Strategies for Thriving in Midlife



Join host Bryan Bibbo and special guest Elizabeth Sherman, owner and master certified life and health coach at Total Health by Elizabeth, as they explore the crucial importance of holistic health and wellness for middle-aged men and women.  

Together, Bibbo and Sherman discuss how tailored health strategies can dramatically improve quality of life, mental well-being, and physical capabilities for adults navigating the challenges of midlife. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Midlife Health Challenges: Elizabeth explains the unique health challenges faced by individuals in midlife and why addressing them is crucial for maintaining vitality and well-being. 
  • Time Management: A breakdown of how effective time management can impact overall health and wellness, especially for busy midlife adults. 
  • Eight Basic Health Habits: Discussion on the fundamental habits that form the core of Elizabeth’s coaching approach, including hydration, nutrition, and stress management. 
  • Relationship with Food: Various ways midlife adults can improve their relationship with food and make more mindful eating choices. 
  • Overcoming Obstacles: Strategies for motivating midlife individuals who may be reluctant to make lifestyle changes. 

Listen as Sherman shares insights on how small, consistent changes can lead to significant improvements in health and offers practical advice for getting started at any age. 


Episode 27: Aging Well: Transforming Senior Health with Balance, Motion, And Mindset



Join host Bryan Bibbo and special guest Artie Gardella, author and owner and personal fitness trainer at Synergy Senior Fitness, as they explore the vital importance of exercise and wellness for seniors.  

Together, Bibbo and Gardella discuss how tailored fitness programs can dramatically improve quality of life, mental health, and physical capabilities for older adults. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Exercise for Seniors: Artie explains how senior-centric exercises differ from traditional workouts and why they’re crucial for maintaining independence and vitality. 
  • The Science of Happiness: A breakdown of how exercise stimulates the body’s “happy chemicals” and combats depression in seniors. 
  • Balance and Motion: Discussion on the importance of balance exercises and how they can prevent potentially life-threatening falls. 
  • Functional Fitness: Various ways seniors can incorporate exercise into daily activities to maintain strength and mobility. 
  • Overcoming Obstacles: Strategies for motivating seniors who may be reluctant to start exercising. 

Listen as Gardella shares inspiring stories of seniors whose lives have been transformed through fitness and offers practical advice for getting started at any age. 


Episode 26: Enhancing Your Retirement Health – The Role of Reverse Mortgages in Holistic Wealth Management



Join host Bryan Bibbo and special guest Don Graves, RICP®, CLTC®, CSA® Certified Senior Advisor, president and founder of the Housing Wealth Institute and an Adjunct Instructor of Retirement Income at the American College of Financial Services, as they explore the often misunderstood world of reverse mortgages and their potential role in retirement planning. 

Together, Bibbo and Graves discuss how these financial instruments can provide increased flexibility, improve cash flow, and potentially enhance overall retirement outcomes when used strategically. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Beyond the Stigma: Don explains how reverse mortgages have evolved and why they’re now being considered by financial planners for clients across the wealth spectrum. 
  • The Mechanics of Reverse Mortgages: A breakdown of how these loans work, including the growing line of credit feature. 
  • Strategic Applications: Various ways reverse mortgages can be used, from eliminating monthly mortgage payments to funding estate planning strategies. 
  • Protecting Homeownership: Discussion on the safeguards in place and common misconceptions about losing one’s home. 

Listen as Graves dispels common myths and shares insights on how reverse mortgages are “just another mortgage” and can be a valuable tool for retirees across various financial situations.  


Episode 25: Beyond the Gym – Boosting Mental & Physical Health Through Daily Habits



Join host Bryan Bibbo and special guest Heather Hausenblas, PhD, founder and CEO of Wellness Discovery Labs, as they explore practical ways to boost mental and physical health beyond traditional gym workouts and its importance.  

With her exercise psychology and health behavior expertise, Hausenblas shares her insights on why it’s so hard to maintain regular physical activity and how small, consistent habits can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being. Together, Bibbo and Hausenblas discuss how integrating movement, social connections, and positive mindset into daily life can contribute to improved health, longevity, and quality of life. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Beyond the Gym: Heather explains how to incorporate movement into everyday activities, emphasizing that exercise doesn’t have to mean going to the gym. 
  • The Power of Mindset: The crucial role of positive thinking and how it can impact physical health and behavior changes. 
  • 24-Hour Movement Guidelines: A holistic approach to health that considers all daily activities, including sleep and light movement. 
  • Social Connections and Longevity: Discussion on the surprising impact of social relationships on overall health and lifespan. 

Learn how small, consistent changes in daily habits and mindset can lead to significant improvements in physical and mental health, regardless of age or fitness level. 


Episode 24: The Key to Holistic Wealth on National Financial Awareness Day



Join co-host Bryan Bibbo for this special episode of the Holistic Wealth and Health Podcast where he explores the critical importance of financial literacy today.  

Bryan shares his personal and professional insights into the rising consumer debt crisis and offers practical tips on budgeting, saving, and goal setting to help individuals secure their financial future. 

Key topics discussed: 

  • National Financial Awareness Day: The significance of this day and why financial literacy is more important than ever. 
  • Consumer Debt Crisis: Understanding the impact of rising debt levels and how to manage financial stress. 
  • Paying Yourself First: The importance of saving a portion of your income and taking advantage of employer 401(k) matches. 
  • Budgeting Basics: Practical tips for creating a budget that accommodates unexpected expenses and long-term financial goals. 
  • Financial Education: The need for better financial literacy in schools and how to instill good financial habits in the next generation. 

Learn how to take control of your financial future by implementing these essential strategies and discover the importance of educating yourself and your loved ones about money management. 


Episode 22: Grasping your Financial Needs, Step 3: Deliver



Join hosts Jason L Smith and Bryan Bibbo with special guest, Dave Alison, as they continue breaking down The Bucket Plan® financial planning process. 

This episode covers step three of The Bucket Plan® process, the “Deliver” phase, where we present and deliver the personalized, holistic financial plan we’ve developed for you.  

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Your Family Estate Organizer: Discover how we’ll help you organize all your financial information in one place, making it easily accessible for you and your loved ones. 
  • Understanding Your Risk Tolerance: Learn about our Volatility Tolerance Analysis, which will help assess your comfort with risk across different time horizons. 
  • Creating Your Custom Plan: We’ll explain how we take all the information from our previous meetings to engineer a financial plan tailored just for you. 
  • Presenting Your Financial Blueprint: Find out how we’ll walk you through your comprehensive plan, addressing your specific concerns and priorities for retirement. 
  • Planning for Your Retirement Phases: Understand the three phases of retirement – your “go years,” “slow go years,” and “no go years” – and how we’ll help you plan for each. 
  • Maximizing Your Retirement Income: Learn about our strategies for tax-efficient distribution planning to help you keep more of your hard-earned money. 
  • The Power of Tax Planning: Discover how proper tax planning could potentially save you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. 
  • Optimizing Your Savings and Withdrawals: We’ll introduce you to our “funnel” concept for managing your money tax-efficiently during both your saving and spending years.

Episode 21: Grasping your Financial Needs, Step 2: Design



Join our hosts Jason L Smith and Bryan Bibbo with special guest, Dave Alison, CFP®, EA, BPC, President and Founding Partner of C2P and Alison Wealth Management, as they continue breaking down The Bucket Plan® financial planning process step by step.  

This episode covers step two of The Bucket Plan® process, known as the “Design” phase, where we analyze all your assets and how they come together to formulate your holistic plan.  

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Overview of The Bucket Plan® Process: A recap of the previous episode on “Discovery,” phase and each step of the planning process: Discovery, Design, Deliver, Dedicated. 
  • Document Analysis: Carefully reviewing your financial documents to gain a complete understanding of your current situation. 
  • Organization: Helping you structure your financial information using our Family Estate Organizer, ensuring everything is accessible and clear to preserve your legacy.  
  • Risk Assessment: Using our proprietary Volatility Tolerance Analysis to determine your comfort level with risk across different time horizons. 
  • Asset Categorization: Introducing you to our Bucket Plan philosophy, showing you how to categorize your assets for Now, Soon, and Later needs. 
  • Investment Education: Guiding you through our Pyramid of Risk, helping you understand various investment types and reflect on your past experiences. 
  • Visual Planning: Creating a personalized sketch of your Bucket Plan, giving you a clear visual representation of your financial strategy. 

Discover how our Design phase creates the blueprint for your customized holistic plan and sets the stage for the next phase of the process.  


Episode 20: Elevate your Life & Consciousness – Hal Elrod on the Miracle Morning



In this episode of the Holistic Wealth and Health Podcast, guest host Matt Seitz, Chief Marketing Officer at JL Smith, sits down with Hal Elrod, the renowned author, keynote speaker, and creator of The Miracle Morning book and philosophy.  

Hal shares his inspiring journey, from overcoming personal tragedies to developing The Miracle Morning routine. They discuss the transformative power of morning rituals and how starting your day with intentional practices can elevate your consciousness and set a positive tone for the rest of your day. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Hal Elrod’s Inspirational Journey: Overcoming personal tragedies and the creation of The Miracle Morning. 
  • The Power of Morning Routines: How starting your day with intention sets the tone for success. 
  • SAVERS Acronym: Breakdown of Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing. 
  • Personal Development Techniques: Enhancing productivity, mindset, and overall well-being. 
  • Impact on Relationships: How morning routines positively influence personal and professional relationships. 

Tune in to discover practical strategies and motivational insights that can help you transform your mornings and your life. 


Episode 19: Managing Wealth Wisely: Insights from Tax & Estate Planning Whiz, Chris Woehrle



In this episode of the Holistic Wealth and Health Podcast, host Jason L Smith is joined by esteemed tax planning professional and professor, Christopher P. Woehrle, JD, LL.M (Tax).  

With a background in tax and estate planning and as a professor at Villanova Law School and former chair of the tax and estate planning department at the College of Financial Planning, Chris shares his expertise on holistic wealth management and the critical role of tax planning. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Holistic Wealth Management: Understanding the comprehensive approach to financial planning that integrates all aspects of your financial life. 
  • Importance of Tax Planning: Exploring the critical role of tax strategies in holistic wealth management. 
  • Effective Tax Strategies: Discussion of specific tax planning techniques, including the 83(b) election, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), and the benefits of gifting appreciated securities to charity. 
  • Navigating Retirement Planning: Strategies for ensuring a secure and comfortable retirement, including the importance of having a diversified income stream. 
  • Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Goals: How to save for immediate needs while planning for future financial stability. 
  • Risk Management: Understanding and mitigating risks such as mortality, longevity, and disability. 
  • Behavioral Finance: The importance of behavior modification in investment decisions and financial planning. 
  • The Role of Financial Advisors: How professional guidance can help you stay on track and make informed financial decisions. 

Tune in to learn how to manage your wealth holistically, make informed tax decisions, and plan effectively for your future. Whether you are preparing for retirement or looking to optimize your current financial strategy, this episode offers valuable insights to help you achieve your goals.