Category Archives: Holistic Financial Planning

Episode 31: Investment Fundamentals – Understanding Market Dynamics and Portfolio Diversification with Apollo Lupescu

Financial, Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, Investing, Jason L Smith, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are you worried about making the right investment choices for your retirement? Join host Jason L Smith, and special guest Apollo Lupescu from Dimensional Fund Advisors, for a conversation that takes the mystery out of investing.  

Whether you’re already enjoying retirement or planning for it in the next few years, this episode breaks down what you really need to know about protecting and growing your nest egg in today’s complex market environment. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Investment Fundamentals: Learn why having a comprehensive financial plan is crucial before selecting specific investments 
  • Risk Management: Understand the difference between “smart risks” and “dumb risks” in investing 
  • Global Diversification: Discover why international exposure matters, with the U.S. representing 61% of global market value 
  • Market Timing: Why “time in the market” beats “timing the market” – supported by 50 years of market data 
  • The Bucket Plan® Strategy: How The Bucket Plan® philosophy of separating investments into Now, Soon, and Later buckets helps create peace of mind for retirement 

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Episode 30: Meditation, Breathwork & Living Life Fully: Insights & Advice from Aneta Kuzma

Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Jason L Smith, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , ,

Join host Jason L Smith and special guest, Aneta Kuzma, a meditation and wellness coach, and CEO and Founder of Ardelian Kuzma Group, LLC.

With her transformative approach to mindfulness and breathwork, Kuzma shares how creating moments of stillness can protect your wealth by improving decision-making, reducing stress, and enhancing your overall wellbeing.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • Morning Routine Success: Learn how to build a sustainable meditation practice using the Atomic Habits framework, starting with just 3 minutes a day and simple steps like “feet on the floor.”
  • Breathwork Benefits: Discover how specific breathing techniques can release stored trauma, reduce stress, and create profound transformative experiences comparable to therapeutic breakthroughs.
  • Meditation Myths: Understand why you don’t need to “quiet your mind” to meditate successfully, and how even busy professionals can incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives.
  • Gratitude Practice: Find out how starting each day with gratitude, including sending one meaningful text to someone you appreciate, can transform your mindset and relationships.
  • Community Support: Learn about free virtual meditation sessions available every weekday at 7am and Saturdays at 9am, perfect for establishing a consistent practice with guidance.

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

Bryan Bibbo, Financial, Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , , ,

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. 

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

Bryan Bibbo, Financial, Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.  

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

Bryan Bibbo, Financial, Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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. 

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

Bryan Bibbo, Financial, Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, Investing, Jason L Smith, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

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

Bryan Bibbo, Financial, Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, Jason L Smith, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.  

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

Bryan Bibbo, Financial, Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, Jason L Smith, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , ,

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. 

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

Financial, Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, Jason L Smith, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , , , , , ,

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. 

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Episode 18: Safeguarding Your Wealth & Wellbeing: Carrie Kerskie’s Identity Theft, Fraud, & Cybersecurity Protection Tips

Financial, Holistic Financial Planning, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, Jason L Smith, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, host Jason L Smith interviews Carrie Kerskie, a certified identity fraud investigator, speaker, author, and consultant on identity theft, privacy, and cybersecurity. 

Carrie shares her expertise on protecting against identity theft, fraud, and cyber threats in the digital age. Jason also discusses the stress and financial impacts these crimes can have on victims. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Common Mistakes Leading to Identity Theft: Not securing online accounts, failing to ask for help with technology, and believing one is safe from threats by avoiding the internet. 
  • Best Practices for Prevention: Getting credit freezes, using privacy-focused browsers/search engines, enabling two-factor authentication, and validating information from supposed official sources. 
  • Evolving Threat Landscape: How identity theft, fraud, and cyber threats have converged, with criminals using sophisticated tactics like remote access malware. 
  • Recognizing Scams: Red flags like unsolicited requests for sensitive data, urgency to transfer money, and implausible scenarios crafted with convincing details. 
  • Securing Mobile Devices: Using longer passwords/passcodes, being cautious about app installations, and adjusting privacy settings on smartphones. 
  • Approach to AI Tools: Maintaining prudence by fact-checking outputs, as AI models can perpetuate misinformation based on their training data. 

Learn how understanding your body and incorporating proactive holistic health habits can lead to a richer, more productive life.

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