Category Archives: JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management

Episode 57: Financial Readiness in Times of Uncertainty

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

What happens when your paycheck suddenly stops? In this conversation, guest host Matt Seitz, Chief Marketing Officer at C2P and JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, sits down with Joe Voellm, CFF, ChFC®, CLU®, Senior Wealth Manager at JL Smith and former U.S. Marine, to discuss building financial resilience when income gets disrupted. 

Whether you’re a federal employee facing potential shutdowns or anyone concerned about income stability, Joe offers practical strategies for strengthening your safety net. He explains how The Bucket Plan® protects you when uncertainty strikes and reveals why financial disruptions often become catalysts for smarter, more intentional planning. 

Key Topics Discussed: 

  • Cash Flow as the Foundation: Why access to liquid cash matters more than account balances when income stops, and how to avoid penalties when you need money before age 59½. 
  • Emergency Funds vs. Comfort Funds: The difference between academic emergency fund recommendations and determining your personal “sleep at night” number based on your guaranteed income sources. 
  • The Bucket Plan® in Action: How the Now, Soon, and Later bucket strategy protects you during shutdowns while positioning you to capitalize on market opportunities when they arise. 
  • Federal Employee Benefits Optimization: Navigating pensions, TSP decisions, survivor benefits, and the current uncertainty around contribution rates and Social Security supplements. 
  • Emotional Discipline in Uncertain Times: Why the best investors stick to their financial plans during chaos, and how proactive planning prevents reactionary decisions that cost you in the long run. 

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Episode 55: The 3-Part Tax Approach That Protects Your Wealth

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, , , , , , , , , , ,

What’s the difference between tax planning, management, and preparation? Why does it matter? In this conversation, host Bryan Bibbo sits down with Jeff Warnkin, CPA, CFP®, Senior Wealth Manager, with over 30 years of experience, to reveal why countless Americans are unknowingly stuck in the government’s “default tax plan.” 

Together they reveal the costly gap between receiving tax advice and implementing it, exploring overlooked pitfalls like Medicare premium spikes, and why the recent tax law changes create unprecedented Roth conversion opportunities. 

Key Topics: 

  • The Three Components: Understanding the distinct roles of planning, management, and preparation. 
  • The Default Tax Plan: Why accepting the government’s approach could cost you significantly over your lifetime. 
  • The CPA Gap: What traditional tax preparers often can’t do for you, and why forward-looking strategy requires a different approach. 
  • Current Roth Opportunities: Why Jeff considers this one of the best tax planning windows he’s seen in 30 years.

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Episode 54: Tax Management Strategies for Retirement Part 2

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, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ever wondered how billionaires like Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos often pay lower tax rates—and what strategies you might be able to apply to your own situation? In this second part of their conversation, host Bryan Bibbo and Dave Alison, CFP, EA, BPC, dive deeper into practical tax management strategies that can help you reduce your lifetime tax burden. 

Dave reveals why tax management isn’t a one-time event but an ongoing process that adapts to your changing life circumstances and evolving tax laws.  Listen for actionable insights on how to smooth out income peaks and valleys, capitalize on low-tax years, and keep more money in your family instead of unnecessarily giving it to the government. 

Key Topics: 

  • Smoothing Income Peaks and Valleys: Strategic ways to level out your income across tax years to avoid higher marginal rates and capitalize on lower brackets 
  • Hidden Tax Traps: Common mistakes that can turn a 22% tax withdrawal into a 50% tax hit—and how to avoid them 
  • Coordinating Asset Management and Tax Planning: Why working in silos costs you money and how integrated planning creates tax-saving opportunities 
  • The Billionaire Tax Strategy: Understanding why the ultra-wealthy pay lower tax rates and how you can apply similar principles to your own retirement planning 

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Episode 53: Tax Management Strategies for Retirement Part 1

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What if your biggest lifetime expense isn’t your mortgage or healthcare, but taxes? In part 1 of this conversation, host Bryan Bibbo sits down with Dave Alison, CFP®, EA, BPC, President and Founding Partner of C2P, Prosperity Capital Advisors, and Alison Wealth Management. Together they discuss the concept of tax management through The Tax Management Journey® — a revolutionary framework we use at JL Smith to help our clients keep more of what they’ve worked so hard to build by reducing their lifetime tax burden. 

Dave reveals critical planning principles like “it’s not what you make, it’s what you keep,” and why not all money is taxed the same, and how this understanding can transform your approach to both saving and spending in retirement. 

Key Topics: 

  • Lifetime Tax Burden: Why taxes may be your largest lifetime expense and how they impact wealth building at every stage 
  • Gross vs. Net Returns: Understanding the difference between what you make and what you actually keep after taxes 
  • The Order of Money: How different types of accounts are taxed and why this knowledge is critical for financial planning 
  • Tax Management vs. Tax Planning: Moving beyond annual tax filing to year-round strategic tax management

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Episode 50: How to Make the Most of Your Social Security Benefits

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In this eye-opening conversation, host Bryan Bibbo sits down with Social Security specialist, Ash Ahluwalia, CFP ®, MBA, head of Social Security Planning at OneTeam Financial, to uncover the complex world of Social Security optimization that many Americans never fully understand. 

Through real client stories and practical examples, he demonstrates how proper Social Security planning can help many couples make the most of their benefits and provide a significant source of income in retirement. Ash also addresses recent tax law confusion and explains why even high-net-worth individuals worth $80 million shouldn’t overlook their Social Security strategy. 

Key Topics: 

  • The Social Security Knowledge Gap: Why most financial professionals don’t understand the complexities of Social Security optimization and how this creates opportunities for significant benefit increases. 
  • Claiming Strategy Fundamentals: Understanding the impact of claiming anywhere from age 62 to 70, including how benefits can double and the critical role of earnings limits for early claimers. 
  • Couples Planning Strategies: How married couples, divorced individuals, and widows can maximize benefits through coordinated filing strategies that consider spousal and survivor benefits. 
  • Tax Implications and Recent Changes: Clarifying confusion around recent tax law changes and how Social Security taxation works within overall retirement income planning. 
  • High-Net-Worth Planning: Why wealthy individuals shouldn’t ignore Social Security benefits and how to convert Social Security into estate tax-free assets through strategic planning.

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Episode 47: Year-Round Tax Strategies for Wealth Building

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, , , , , , , , , ,

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 

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

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

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. 

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

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

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Episode 43: Caring for Your Wealth with Annual Financial Health Checkups

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

Just as you schedule a yearly physical to maintain your health, your financial well-being deserves the same thoughtful attention. In this episode, guest host Matt Seitz, Chief Marketing Officer at JLS and C2P, sits down with Jeff Warnkin, Senior Wealth Manager at JL Smith, to explore how annual financial reviews serve as critical checkups for your financial health and long-term prosperity.

With 25+ years of experience and credentials as a CPA, CFP®, and National Social Security Advisor, Jeff reveals how these reviews go far beyond simply checking account balances. Learn how The Bucket Plan® philosophy creates a simple framework for meaningful financial conversations, while discovering how proper preparation and the right questions can transform these annual meetings into powerful opportunities for goal setting, tax optimization, and peace of mind during market volatility.

Key Topics:

  • Meeting Structure: Understand the three-part framework that makes annual reviews productive through reconnection, progress measurement, and future planning.
  • Preparation Essentials: Learn which key documents to gather before your meeting to help ensure your advisor has everything needed for meaningful analysis.
  • Question Strategy: Discover the specific questions that unlock the most value during your review, including tax planning opportunities and plan confidence assessment.
  • Milestone Management: Identify the important age thresholds and life events that should trigger financial adjustments to maximize benefits and minimize taxes.
  • Goal-Setting Process: Jeff’s practical approach to meaningful goal-setting that creates accountability and purpose in every stage of life.

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

Benefits of Strength Training, Bryan Bibbo, CPA, Education, Financial, Financial Education, Fitness, Health Management, Holistic Financial Planning, Holistic Health Management, holistic wealth and health, Holistic Wealth Management, insurance, Jason L Smith, Jeff Tomaszewski, JL Smith Group, JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management, life insurance, Max Strength Fitness, Proactive Tax Management, Strategies for Proactive Tax Management, Strength, Strength Fitness, Strength Training, Tax Management, Tax Management with Ed Slott, Tips and Strategies for Proactive Tax, Tips and Strategies for Proactive Tax Management, Tips for Proactive Tax Management, Wealth and Health, wealth and health podcast, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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. 

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