Designation
Certified Financial Fiduciary® (CF2)
Issued by the National Association of Certified Financial Fiduciaries
Active Dates
May 26, 2026 – May 26, 2027
About Leonardo Gelain
LEONARDO "LEO" GELAIN, AAMS®, CRPC®, CF2®
Founder & Wealth Advisor
Leon Financial Services LLC
Leonardo “Leo” Gelain is the founder of Leon Financial Services, a retirement-focused wealth management and financial planning firm dedicated to helping pre-retirees and retirees make informed financial decisions with confidence.
Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Leo moved permanently to the United States in 1998 after marrying his wife, Michele. Together they have built a life centered on faith, family, and service. Today they reside in Southeast Missouri with their two daughters and remain actively involved in their church and local community.
Before entering financial services, Leo pursued an engineering education and spent years traveling the world as a professional stage technician, working with organizations such as Disney On Ice, Cirque du Soleil, major concert tours, conventions, Formula One events, and other international productions. During this time, he visited more than 50 countries and over 300 cities while developing the analytical, technical, and problem-solving mindset that continues to influence his approach to financial planning today.
Having lived and worked across multiple cultures, Leo speaks five languages and brings a unique global perspective to the relationships he builds with clients. His engineering background, combined with decades of real-world business and financial experience, has shaped a planning philosophy centered on careful analysis, practical solutions, and attention to detail.
For nearly three decades, Leo has worked with individuals, families, business owners, and retirees through some of the most challenging economic environments in modern history, including the Dot-Com Crash, the Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent inflation and interest-rate cycle.
His practice focuses on helping clients navigate the complex financial decisions that accompany retirement, including:
• Retirement Income Planning
• Investment Management
• Tax-Efficient Distribution Strategies
• Social Security Planning
• Medicare and Healthcare Planning
• Wealth Preservation
• Legacy and Estate Planning
• Risk Management Strategies
Leo holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), and Certified Financial Fiduciary (CF2®) designations. He is committed to providing objective guidance designed to place clients' interests first while helping them create strategies aligned with their goals, values, and long-term financial well-being.
Today, Leo primarily serves pre-retirees and retirees ages 59 to 75 who are seeking clarity, organization, and professional guidance as they transition from accumulating wealth to creating sustainable retirement income. His goal is to help clients simplify financial complexity, identify opportunities, avoid costly mistakes, and build a retirement strategy that supports the life they have worked hard to achieve.
Through Leon Financial Services, Leo strives to help families make informed decisions with confidence while remaining faithful to the values of integrity, service, and putting clients first.
