Category Archives: Bryan Bibbo

Episode 49: Transforming Health & Community with Pickleball Part 2



Ready to take your pickleball game to the next level? Join host Bryan Bibbo as he continues our conversation with Verna Griffin, the “Pickleball Queen of Neptune Beach.”  In part two, we dive deep into the strategy and technique that separates recreational players from competitive ones. 

With over 15 years of experience playing and teaching sport, Verna has a lot to share. She also reveals her inspiring journey from retirement uncertainty to finding renewed purpose as a certified instructor, proving that it’s never too late to discover a passion that transforms your physical and mental well-being. 

Key Topics: 

  • Game Strategy: Learn how modern pickleball strategy has evolved and what separates recreational from competitive play. 
  • Essential Techniques: Discover the key shots every player should master and common mistakes to avoid. 
  • Mental Benefits: Understand how pickleball keeps your mind sharp and improves cognitive function at any age. 
  • Getting Started: Practical advice for beginners and insights into the future of this rapidly growing sport. 

Episode 48: Transforming Health & Community with Pickleball Part 1



What happens when a simple introduction to a “silly game with a plastic ball” transforms into a lifelong passion that builds community and transforms health? In this energetic conversation, host Bryan Bibbo sits down with Verna Griffin, a Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) certified instructor, affectionately known as the “Pickleball Queen of Neptune Beach,” who has been teaching and promoting pickleball since 2009—long before most of us knew it existed. 

Verna shares her remarkable journey from that first hour of play that got her “hooked” to building a local community that grew from four players to 45 people within just one month. Through candid stories about chalk-lining courts every Saturday morning, teaching players from age 5 to 92, and witnessing the sport explode in popularity nationwide, Verna reveals how pickleball offers something no other sport does: a perfect combination of physical fitness, mental engagement, and genuine social connection that welcomes “all walks of life.” 

Key Topics: 

  • The Social Revolution: Discover why pickleball’s unique protocol of introducing yourself at the net creates lasting friendships and supportive communities unlike any other sport. 
  • Health Benefits at Any Age: Learn how this low-impact sport provides excellent cardiovascular exercise, muscle engagement, and mobility improvement for players from children to seniors in their 90s. 
  • From Tennis to Pickleball: Understand the key differences and why former tennis players need to “stop playing tennis on the pickleball court” to truly excel at this growing sport. 
  • Practical Playing Tips: Get professional advice on paddle grip techniques, the differences between indoor and outdoor balls, and strategic moves like “playing dodgeball” to improve your game. 

Episode 47: Year-Round Tax Strategies for Wealth Building



Tax season doesn’t end on April 15th. If you want to build and protect your wealth, consider it a year-round opportunity and practice. Join host Bryan Bibbo as he sits down with Seth Meisler, CPA, CFP, and Chief Investment Officer from JL Smith’s Minnesota office, to explore why the traditional strategy of just pushing taxes to future years is obsolete and how effective tax planning now requires thinking like “3D chess” – considering multiple variables across time. 

With 17 years of experience spanning public accounting, corporate finance, and wealth management, Seth reveals the strategic moves you can make right now to help minimize your tax burden and maximize your wealth. 

Key Topics: 

  • Why Tax Planning Never Ends: How modern tax strategy has evolved beyond the old “defer everything” approach into year-round wealth management 
  • Market Opportunities for Tax Savings: Using market volatility to your advantage through Roth conversions and tax-loss harvesting 
  • Smart Charitable Giving Strategies: Maximizing tax benefits through donor-advised funds and strategic charitable distributions 
  • Avoiding Common Tax Pitfalls: Why dual-income households and job changers often get surprised at tax time and how to prevent it 
  • Business Owner Considerations: Advanced tax planning strategies for business owners and the importance of early exit planning 

Episode 45: Faith, Family & Financial Freedom with Fred Taylor Part 2



In this deeply personal continuation of our conversation with NFL legend Fred Taylor, host Bryan Bibbo explores mental health, parenting wisdom, and financial education that extends far beyond the gridiron. Discover how a Hall of Fame-bound running back transformed from party mode to purposeful living while building a legacy that transcends football. 

Through candid discussions about gaps in education—from financial literacy to parenting skills—Fred shares how he’s breaking generational cycles while teaching his children to find their own purpose.  

Key Topics: 

  • Financial Education Crisis: Why financial literacy isn’t taught in schools and how this systematic gap perpetuates cycles of financial struggle, especially among student-athletes and young professionals. 
  • Parenting Without Entitlement: Strategies for raising grounded, respectful children despite wealth and fame, including the importance of exposing kids to different paths rather than choosing their journey for them. 
  • Mental Health & Athlete Identity: Anxiety, depression, and the unique challenges athletes face when their physical capabilities begin to change, plus holistic approaches to mental health management. 
  • The Power of Routine & Commitment: How establishing and maintaining disciplined routines—whether in sports, finances, or life—creates the foundation for long-term success and helps overcome the monotony that can derail progress. 
  • Living Present vs. Past/Future: The transformative power of staying grounded in the present moment rather than being trapped by past regrets or future anxieties. 

Episode 44: Faith, Family & Financial Freedom with Fred Taylor Part 1



What happens when an NFL legend transitions from the gridiron to building generational wealth? In this deeply personal conversation, host Bryan Bibbo sits down with Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Gators icon Fred Taylor to discuss faith, family legacy, and the financial lessons learned through both triumph and adversity. 

Fred opens up about his journey from growing up financially illiterate to becoming a sophisticated investor who understands that professional athletes are essentially business entities. Through candid stories about business partnerships gone wrong, the power of proper documentation, and the profound influence of his grandmother who raised him, Fred reveals how setbacks became steppingstones to building lasting wealth and wisdom that he now passes on to the next generation. 

Key Topics: 

  • Athlete as Business Entity: Understand how professional athletes must view themselves as businesses, managing brand, contracts, and long-term financial planning beyond their playing careers. 
  • Learning from Financial Setbacks: Discover how Fred turned early financial mistakes and “handshake deals” into valuable lessons about proper documentation and fiduciary responsibility. 
  • Asset Protection Strategies: Learn about the sophisticated wealth protection vehicles Fred employs, including various life insurance policies, trusts, and limited liability structures. 
  • Generational Wealth Building: Explore how Fred is breaking the cycle of financial illiteracy by educating his children and building a legacy that extends beyond his playing career.

Episode 41: Wealth Planning for Legacy, Lifestyle, & Taxes



You’ve worked hard all your life to build significant wealth but now face the challenge of protecting what you’ve built while creating a meaningful legacy. Join Bryan Bibbo as he welcomes Chad Weigl, CFF, BPC, NSSA, a seasoned retirement planning professional and lead advisor at JL Smith, to explore comprehensive asset management strategies designed specifically for affluent families. 

Drawing on years of experience helping clients navigate financial and estate planning decisions, Chad breaks down how The Bucket Plan® philosophy addresses the sophisticated needs of high-net-worth individuals and incorporates them all into one holistic plan. 

Key Topics: 

  • Strategic Tax Optimization: Sophisticated approaches to preserve wealth through proper asset positioning and timing. 
  • Elevated Charitable Planning: Maximizing philanthropic impact while creating significant tax advantages. 
  • Multi-Generational Wealth Transfer: Sophisticated estate planning strategies that protect and perpetuate your family legacy. 
  • Portfolio Protection Philosophy: How The Bucket Plan® methodology safeguards your assets during market volatility without sacrificing growth potential. 
  • Advanced Healthcare Planning: Intelligent strategies for healthcare coverage that complement your wealth management approach. 

Episode 39: Weathering Market Volatility in Uncertain Times



Market volatility is an inevitable part of your investment journey—but how should you respond when your portfolio value fluctuates? In this insightful episode, Bryan Bibbo sits down with Seth Meisler, CFA, CFP, CPA, BPC, a Senior Wealth Manager at JL Smith, to provide timeless wisdom for weathering market uncertainty. 

Drawing from decades of experience in strategic financial planning, Seth cuts through the noise of headlines and market predictions to offer clear guidance on managing your investments during turbulent times. You’ll discover why having a well-structured financial plan is your best defense against making emotional decisions that could derail your long-term goals, regardless of what’s currently happening in the market. 

Key Topics: 

  • Managing Your Investment Emotions: Practical techniques to stay disciplined when market headlines trigger anxiety and uncertainty. 
  • The Power of Diversification: Why strategic asset allocation matters during market fluctuations and sector rotations. 
  • Market Volatility in Your Planning: How The Bucket Plan® approach can help protect your retirement from inevitable market downturns. 
  • Opportunities in Downturns: Strategic moves to consider during market corrections that could enhance your long-term wealth. 
  • Historical Context: What past market corrections teach us about the difference between temporary losses and permanent ones. 

Episode 37: How to Prepare for Tax Season with Less Stress



Learn how to prepare for tax season with less stress with insights directly from JL Smith Holistic Wealth Managements’ experienced tax team. This episode, hosted by Bryan Bibbo, features Jeff Warnkin, CFP, CPA, NSSA, BPC, Senior Wealth Management Advisor, with over 25 years of experience and a master’s in taxation, and Kelli Knudsen, EA, Controller and Enrolled Agent at JL Smith who leads the tax division. 

Listen as Warnkin and Knudsen share practical strategies to simplify your tax preparation process and help you make informed decisions about your filing. They’ll walk you through how JL Smith’s holistic approach to wealth management helps prevent tax-time surprises while keeping you on track with your financial goals. 

Key Topics: 

  • Document Organization: Discover effective ways to gather and submit your tax documents using both digital portals and traditional methods 
  • Filing Status Benefits: Understand how to choose the best filing status for your situation, including special considerations for life changes and dependent claims 
  • Security Measures: Discover important steps to protect yourself from tax-related identity theft, including the value of IRS Identity Protection PINs 
  • Strategic Planning: Learn how incorporating tax planning into your wealth management strategy helps you prepare better and save more throughout the year 

Episode 36: Protecting Your Wealth from Cybercrime with Identity Fraud Investigator, Carrie Kerskie



As technology like AI advances, so do the methods criminals use to compromise your financial security. This essential episode, hosted by Jason L Smith, features the return of Carrie Kerskie, a certified identity fraud investigator and author, who shares proactive, sophisticated strategies to protect your wealth today.  

Listen as Carrie Kerskie, founder of the Kerskie Group, provides actionable strategies to protect your wealth from emerging cyber threats while maintaining the convenience of modern financial tools. 

Key Topics: 

  • AI Security Protocols: Learn how to safely leverage AI tools for business productivity while protecting sensitive financial information and maintaining data privacy 
  • Modern Identity Protection: Master the three-part framework of prevention, awareness, and recovery to safeguard your wealth from sophisticated cyber threats 
  • Digital Privacy Management: Understand critical vulnerabilities in everyday technology, from smart vehicles to mobile applications, that could compromise your financial security 
  • Fraud Prevention Strategies: Implement the “privacy pause” methodology to prevent financial fraud and protect against social engineering attacks enhanced by artificial intelligence

Episode 35: Making Financial Education Accessible: Free, Trusted Retirement Learning Through AFEA



As you plan for retirement, finding trustworthy, unbiased financial education becomes essential for making informed decisions. At JL Smith Group, we’ve partnered with the American Financial Education Alliance (AFEA) for nearly a decade, serving as chapter presidents across Northeast Ohio and Jacksonville, Florida, to help provide this education. 

In this illuminating episode, Bryan Bibbo welcomes Katherine Lesch and Kaeleen Bruce, AFEA’s dynamic co-CEOs, to share how their nationwide network of vetted financial professionals helps you master essential retirement concepts in a comfortable, pressure-free environment.  

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Community Financial Education: Learn how AFEA and local advisors like JL Smith Group deliver unbiased retirement education through trusted venues, focusing on essential topics like Social Security and Medicare  
  • Educational Excellence: Understand the rigorous vetting process ensuring only qualified professionals teach courses, maintaining the highest standards of unbiased education  
  • Practical Learning Experience: Discover how 2-2.5 hour courses in comfortable community settings make complex retirement topics accessible and actionable  
  • Beyond the Classroom: Explore how this educational approach helps you build confidence in your retirement planning decisions, whether or not you choose to work with an advisor