Month: September 2025
Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Scott Leonardi on Retirement & Change (Ep. 96)

Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Scott Leonardi on Retirement & Change (Ep. 96)

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Change can feel uncomfortable, but it often opens the door to growth.

How do you adapt your business, embrace new tools, and still stay true to building strong client relationships? How do you bring awareness to crucial issues like long-term care while running a thriving practice?

In this episode of the Advisor Mentorship Podcast, Jeremy Houser sits down with Scott Leonardi, Founder and President of Complete Solutions, to talk about embracing change, building a recognizable brand, and helping clients prepare for the financial challenges of retirement. Scott shares how he’s grown his business, the role of long-term care planning, and his unique way of framing retirement as “The Great Adventure.”

Key points:

  • The story behind Scott’s “ducks in a row” branding and how it builds awareness
  • Why embracing change, from logos to technology, has fueled a 40% business growth
  • How hiring staff and building a “not-to-do” list shifted his focus to revenue-generating activities
  • Why asset-based long-term care solutions are essential for protecting both wealth and families
  • How Scott reframes retirement as “The Great Adventure” and equips clients with guidebooks to prepare
  • And more!

Resources: 

Connect With Scott Leonardi:

Connect with Jeremy Houser:

About Our Guest:

Scott Leonardi is the President and Owner of Complete Solutions and a Certified Financial Fiduciary who has dedicated his career to educating individuals about retirement. For over 25 years, he has helped pre-retirees get their ducks in a row by focusing on key areas such as making the money they’ve worked their whole lives to obtain work for them in retirement, maximizing Social Security benefits through tailored claiming strategies, and finding medical or prescription coverage that fits their unique needs and budget.

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Redefining Index Design and Value Creation with Alan Grissom (Ep. 95)

Redefining Index Design and Value Creation with Alan Grissom (Ep. 95)

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Innovation in indexing is reshaping the way advisors deliver value to clients.

What happens when you blend insurance insight with market index design? How can efficiency and transparency create stronger outcomes for clients and advisors alike?

In this episode, Jeremy Houser speaks with Alan Grissom, CEO of 12 South Capital and founding partner of Brooklyn Investment Group, about his journey from building annuity products to designing disruptive indices like the 500 IQ. He shares how his approach to index design is helping advisors align expectations, manage volatility, and unlock meaningful value in fixed index annuities.

Alan discusses:

  • His career path from AIG to leading the S&P index business for insurance and founding Brooklyn Investment Group
  • The design of the 500 IQ index and how it delivers transparency, efficiency, and stronger outcomes for clients
  • Why many volatility-controlled indices underperform and the importance of intraday pricing
  • How interest rate environments impact fixed index annuities and advisor expectations
  • The future of disruptive index design and upcoming innovations from 12 South Capital
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Alan Grissom:

Connect with Jeremy Houser:

About Our Guest:

Alan Grissom is the CEO of 12 South Capital, an independent firm focused on creating index-based investment strategies for financial products, and a founding stage partner with the direct indexing firm, The Brooklyn Investment Group.

Prior to founding 12 South Capital in 2022, Alan spent the previous 12 years with S&P Dow Jones Indices, culminating as the Head of Business North America and the Global Head of Insurance with a remit covering over $15 Trillion of assets.

Before joining S&P Dow Jones Indices, Alan held several positions within AIG, including head of annuity products, and was instrumental in establishing the Independent Distribution Channel for life and annuity sales in the US.

Alan has a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama, where he is a member of the Board of Visitors for the Culverhouse College of Business.

4755305 – 0825

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