Convert HEIC to JPEG

There are so many answers! On your Mac you can use a Quick Action. You control click an image (or several images) and you get the menu shown below. After choosing Convert Image, you can choose jpg among others, and you can even choose to change the size if you like. The Metadata is not changed.

On your iPhone you can export jpgs instead of HEIC by changing the settings:

Settings>Camera>Formats should be set to Most Compatible

Settings>Photos>Transfer should be set to Automatic

You can also use Photos to export its pictures in jpg. Use "File>Export>Export nn Photos" and you get a dialog box that asks you what format you want to export in.

In the app Preview you can use File>Export to choose different formats.

The image capture date is unchanged, but the Finder reports the creation date of the File, not the picture itself. Most image viewers display the capture date. I imported a file to Photos, and it showed the correct capture date.

If you want Finder to display the capture date, you may have to use a 3rd Party app. I use GraphicConverter which lets you batch copy the capture date to the file date.

I am yet to take all of the images from my phone. Is there a way to export as jpeg with the original time and date as opposed to exporting and then converting?

That's what

Settings>Photos>Transfer should be set to Automatic

does. That should work way easier than converting.