Celebrating One Year: A Journey of Growth, Legacy, and New Beginnings

What an extraordinary year it has been! Today marks the first anniversary since we transformed Guy Leone CPA into Leone & Company Wealth Management. As I reflect on these past 365 days, I’m filled with immense pride—not only for what our company has become, but for the exciting future that lies ahead.

A Leap of Faith

I still vividly remember the day that I decided to make the leap. It was my wife’s first official day back at work—the start of a new school year, as she’s a teacher. At the time I was working as an advisor at another firm, but I had been contemplating my future more seriously than ever, especially with our first child due in just one month.

The decision to resign was incredibly difficult because I genuinely enjoyed working with my colleagues. I’ll never forget having to call my wife to tell her I had officially decided to quit and that the time had come to finally take the plunge. With that phone call, Leone & Company Wealth Management was born.

A month later, our daughter arrived—truly a time of new beginnings and challenges. Alongside these major life changes, we decided it would benefit both our family and the business to relocate from Virginia back to New Jersey, our home state.

Looking back, I can’t help but laugh at all the major life transitions we navigated in such a compressed time frame. These changes certainly came with significant stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights. But now, watching both my daughter and our business celebrate their first birthdays, I’m amazed by how far we’ve traveled.

Remarkable Growth

Since the beginning of this year, we’ve experienced substantial growth—our business has expanded fivefold. At our recent client event I discussed the inherent challenges of starting in this industry and how difficult those initial years can be. Building trust takes time, particularly when it involves people’s financial security and future.

The growth we’ve achieved is uncommon, and I believe it stems from two fundamental factors:

The Last Name

My last name carries weight, and I credit my grandparents, Guy and Jill Leone, for establishing the foundation of trust we build upon today. Their genuine care for clients and exceptional work quality created countless relationships and touched numerous lives throughout their careers. I’m deeply humbled to call myself their grandson.

Preserving their legacy is an honor I don’t take lightly. We’re committed to not only honoring the relationships my family held sacred but also cultivating new connections within our community and with the next generation.

Our Educational Mission

The second pillar of our success is our unwavering commitment to client education. Our goal is to provide comprehensive financial education so we can work collaboratively with our clients. When clients develop a deeper understanding of their financial situations and life goals, they naturally recognize the value of our work.

We invest minimal resources in traditional advertising because we believe in investing directly in our clients and their families. This approach has proven far more effective than any marketing campaign could ever be.

Beautiful Things Don’t Ask for Attention

When I envision how I want our firm to be perceived, I’m reminded of a powerful scene from the film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” Ben Stiller’s character finally meets Sean O’Connell, a world-renowned photographer played by Sean Penn. They’re positioned on a mountain when they encounter the elusive snow leopard—something O’Connell has waited years to photograph.

Before taking the shot, O’Connell pauses in awe and explains why the snow leopard is so magnificent: because it rarely shows or flaunts itself, only leaving the mountain when necessary. He looks at Stiller and says, “Beautiful things don’t ask for attention.”

When Stiller asks when he’ll photograph it, Penn replies, “Sometimes I don’t. If I like a moment personally, I don’t want the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.”

This philosophy perfectly captures not only a metaphor for life but also my vision for our firm. The beauty of what we do isn’t advertised. Instead, it exists in the meaningful conversations we have with our clients about their lives, the guidance we provide to improve their situations, and the lasting relationships we treasure and never take for granted.

Looking Forward

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re filled with gratitude for every client who has placed their trust in our firm. Your confidence in us drives our commitment to excellence and fuels our passion for helping you achieve your financial goals.

We look forward to continuing to serve our community for generations to come, building upon the solid foundation my grandparents established while creating new traditions of trust, education, and genuine care.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of the Leone & Company family. Here’s to many more years of growth, success, and meaningful relationships together.

Advisory services are offered through Leone and Company Wealth Management LLC, a DBA of Forefront Advisor Network. Securities are offered through Calton & Associates, Inc., a member FINRA and SIPC. Forefront is not owned or controlled by Calton & Associates, Inc. Investing in securities involves risks, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment plan or strategy will be successful.