Wealth Management – WealthStyle Podcast

How to Strategically Plan for College Costs (Ep.99)

By wealthstylepodcast | April 14, 2025

How do you ensure your child’s education savings strategy is truly future-proof?

Join Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl as they dive into education funding strategies beyond the one-size-fits-all solutions. This episode lends insights into using various financial vehicles like 529 plans, UTMA accounts, and whole life insurance, while evaluating their pros and cons.

Iván and Evan discuss:

The significance of a flexible strategy over a singular financial product [00:05:00]
Comparisons of common education savings accounts, like 529 plans and UTMA accounts [00:18:30]
How to leverage whole life insurance for educational funding [00:25:00]
The importance of maintaining options and controlling opportunity costs [00:30:15]
And more

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Estate Planning Essentials for High-Income Earners with Joe Biondolillo

By WealthStyle Podcast | December 9, 2024

Estate planning is often seen as one of the more intricate aspects of financial management, particularly for high-net-worth individuals who face distinct challenges and opportunities when it comes to transferring wealth effectively.

Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl engage with Joe Biondolillo, president and founder of Biond Financial, to discuss estate planning strategies for high-net-worth individuals. Joe shares practical insights on navigating complex tax laws and leveraging available opportunities.

Joe discusses:

Understanding estate tax liability and why everyone should have an estate plan
Steps to discounting assets and how it impacts your estate
Strategic gifting to maximize the current exemption limits
How freezing growth works and why it’s crucial for high net worth portfolios
Addressing capital gains tax implications and potential solutions
And more

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Connect with Joe Biondolillo:

About Our Guest:

Joseph Biondolillo brings nearly 24 years of expertise to his role as the founder of Biond Financial. Dedicated to helping professionals, executives, and closely held corporations protect, save, and grow their financial wealth, Biond Financial provides tailored guidance amidst today’s volatile economic landscape. Recognizing that many individuals base financial decisions on trends, opinions, emotions, and online advice, Joseph and his team utilize a unique macroeconomic approach to reveal the full financial picture. This process empowers clients to build and safeguard their wealth while taking control of their economic futures.

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Common Tax Mistakes for Business Owners and How to Avoid Them With Mike Nulty

By WealthStyle Podcast | August 10, 2024

How do you keep your tax records clean and avoid those dreaded IRS audits?

This week, Mike Nulty from Matthews & Nulty, Inc. joins Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl to discuss effective tax strategies for individuals and small business owners. They dive into common mistakes, like poor record-keeping, and provide actionable tips on how to avoid them.

So, tune in and learn how to keep your financial records clean and stay ahead of potential IRS audits!

Key episode discussion points include:

Keeping business and personal finances separate for clear record-keeping
The value of using tools like QuickBooks to track business expenses and revenues
How regularly reviewing your financials (on a monthly basis) can help you stay proactive rather than reactive
Timeline on taking tax deductions and understanding their long-term implications

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Connect with Mike Nulty:

About Our Guest:

In early 2015, continuing with the firm’s core values, James Matthews made Michael W. Nulty a partner of the firm. Like James, Michael is also a graduate of Saint Peter’s University, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Before becoming a partner of the firm, Michael spent seven years working under James, polishing his craft in accounting, auditing and tax. Together, James and Michael have a wealth of knowledge and have helped numerous entities both for profit and not for profit, become successful.

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Legacy Planning and Purposeful Living

By WealthStyle Podcast | April 8, 2024

What legacy will you leave behind?

In this installment of WealthStyle, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl discuss the concept of legacy planning and note that legacy planning extends beyond financial contributions and weighs heavily on how individuals choose to have an impact on families, communities, and society through intentional actions and forward-thinking strategies.

They highlight Ruth Gossman, a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine who provided free tuition for future students, and how her gift will transcend through generations. Plus their conversation showcases personal stories and examples of how they are harnessing the power of legacy in their lives.

Iván and Evan touch on:

The concept of legacy and its impact on future generations
The importance of making people feel empowered and valued
Ways to create a lasting impact beyond financial aspects
Charitable giving and trust setups
And more

Resources:

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Leasing or Buying a Car with Alfonso Ruggiero

By wealthstylepodcast | December 18, 2023

Are you looking at buying or leasing a car in the near future? Understanding the questions to consider could make the road a bit smoother for your purchase.

In this episode, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl are joined by Alfonso Ruggiero, a former Audi sales executive to delve into the intricacies of purchasing or leasing a vehicle. Listen as Alfonso offers valuable insights into the negotiation process, the significance of comprehending lease terms, and the various fees associated with such transactions.

Alfonso discusses:

Why is it important to negotiate the car price before discussing lease terms
What fees are involved in leasing a car
His thoughts on putting extra money down on a lease
The importance of considering where your car will be serviced
And more

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How to Make Tomorrow Better Today with Hal Hershfield

By wealthstylepodcast | August 14, 2023

Do you recognize yourself when you imagine who you’ll be in the future?

Or does it feel like you’re looking at a stranger?

In this episode of WealthStyle, Evan Wohl speaks with Hal Hershfield, professor of psychology, marketing, and behavioral decision-making at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management on why it is so hard for most people to envision their future selves.

Listen in as Hal reveals the psychology behind this common mindset and what we can do to alter how we perceive ourselves presently and in the future.

Engage in a few “ah-ha” moments as Hal explains:

Why it’s a struggle to achieve goals, even if they are well planned
How envisioning and connecting with your future self can increase asset accumulation
The power of auto-enrollment for 401k contributions
Why we tend to live in a state of “status quo” versus looking ahead to the future
And more

Resources:

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Connect with Hal Hershfield:

About Our Guest:

Hal Hershfield is a Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology Professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and holds the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors Term Chair in Management. His research, which sits at the intersection of psychology and economics, examines how we can improve our long-term decisions. He earned his Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University.

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How to Stay on Top of Your Fitness Goals with Gideon Akande

By wealthstylepodcast | July 17, 2023

Everyone wants to be healthy and exercise, but it’s a chore to find time and energy to complete the list of activities at the gym. How can you maintain consistency when it comes to reaching health goals?

In this episode, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl interview Gideon Akande, an elite fitness coach and consultant, about creating personal health and wellness consistency. He shares tips to transform exercise and healthy eating from a chore to something enjoyable and ways to trick yourself into being healthy without thinking about it.

Gideon discusses:

How he started his health journey and commits to 15-minutes of movement every day
Ways to transform exercise into something you want to do, and will keep doing
Why and how external pressure is an excellent motivator for reaching your goals
How a professional can help with health the same way advisors help with money
And more

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Connect with Gideon Akande:

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An Eye on Investments with Russ Carpentieri

By wealthstylepodcast | July 3, 2023

What goes into a successful investment deal? Money? Time? Information?

Find out how you can invest with confidence in this episode of WealthStyle where Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl sit down with Russ Carpentieri, Managing Director at OPUS Private Client, LLC to explore their personal insights, practical tips and real-life examples of how you can make profitable investment decisions.

Listen in as Iván, Evan, and Russ discuss:

How their relationship with money impacts their investment decisions
What questions to consider when assessing several deals
How a loss in investments isn’t a loss in the portfolio
Why you should spend time getting familiar with your investments
And more