Leah has been with GBU Life since 2019. She previously worked in customer service and agent support before moving to her current role as a Home Office Agent 4 years ago. She’s helped thousands of members over the years make the best choices for their financial futures and can help you, too. Her focus has always been member-first, keeping financial jargon simple. Leah is licensed in 38 states and holds a Certified Annuity Specialist designation. She resides in Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband, daughter, and dog. She is available to meet clients both in-person and virtually.
Spring Clean Your Finances
Each year, we set aside time to deep clean and organize our homes. But when was the last time you set aside time to organize your finances? We sat down with GBU Life Home Office agents Leah Teahl and Dominic Nicciai to learn about the benefits of an annual financial review and how you can get started.
Leah Grabiak Teahl
You can contact Leah at 412-884-9824 or
Dominic Nicciai
You can contact Dom at 412-822-9787 or
What are the benefits of an annual financial review?
Leah: An annual financial review ensures that your needs are still being met. It’s a time to look at your overall financial picture from a current and future perspective. This allows you time to ask questions, ensure all your information and beneficiaries are correct, and make any
changes, such as investment options or account consolidation.
Dom: You can feel more confident that your financial house is in good order. You also get to re-evaluate your goals and ensure you are investing in a way that serves them.
What do I need to get started?
Leah: You’ll want to gather all your investments, contact your agent (or the GBU Life Home Office), set an appointment either in-person or over the phone, and then make a list of initial questions.
Dom: Any recent statements, a brief summary of your expenses, income, and assets. You will want to plan for at least an hour to meet with an advisor/agent.
What questions should I ask at an annual review?
Leah: Consider asking a variety of questions, such as: “How did my investments perform this year?” “Are my long-term goals, such as retirement, still on track?” “Who are my beneficiaries, and what contact information do you have?” “Are there any other products that may suit me better?”
Dom:
- What changes regarding taxes, interest rates or the economy could affect my money positively or negatively?
- Am I protecting my income?
- Am I saving in a tax-efficient manner?
Can your life insurance needs change over time? How do I know if I have enough or too much coverage?
Leah: Yes. Life insurance is purchased to cover things such as income loss, debts (such as mortgages), and final expenses. Your agent can help you complete a life insurance needs analysis that will determine if you are over or under-insured.
Dom: Life insurance can help serve two goals: helping protect against a loss of income or assets, and it may assist with payment of death benefit proceeds to beneficiaries in a generally tax efficient manner. Your
circumstances can change over time, and one goal may become more important than the other. That’s why having an annual conversation can be valuable.
Should you review your annuity accounts annually? If so, what should I look for?
Dom: It depends on the type of annuity. For example, a fixed index annuity allows allocations to be changed each year, so it should be reviewed. In other cases, there may be a reason to take money out to earn more for a new investment. All of this can be discussed during an annual meeting that looks at your entire portfolio.
Contact your agent or advisor to set up your annual review. If you don’t have an agent, don’t hesitate to contact Leah or Dominic to get started.
Insurance and annuity product discussions in this article are intended for general educational purposes and should not be considered a recommendation to purchase, replace or modify any product. Any decisions regarding insurance or annuity contracts should be based on your financial situation, objectives and needs. GBU Life and its representatives do not provide legal or tax advice. You should consult with a qualified and independent tax advisor or attorney for guidance specific to your circumstances. Product features, benefits and guarantees are subject to the terms and conditions of the contract. Advisory or investment services offered by Dominic Nicciai through his independent practice are separate and not affiliated with GBU Life.









