Make it Make Cents

Is renting really throwing money away, or could it actually be the smarter financial decision? With home prices and mortgage rates remaining high, the traditional advice to buy a home as soon as possible may no longer make sense for everyone. In this episode of Make It Make Sense, host Michele Copley welcomes Cash Armstrong of Armstrong Advisory Group to discuss the financial trade-offs between re...

If you were suddenly hospitalized or unable to manage your finances, would your family know where to find your bank accounts, insurance policies, legal documents, and other important information? An emergency binder can help eliminate confusion and give loved ones a clear plan when they need it most. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michele Cropley sits down with Armstrong Advisory Group fin...

Investment risk is about much more than watching the stock market rise and fall. Some of the biggest threats to a financial plan can come from inflation, emotional decisions, concentrated investments, poor timing in retirement, or simply not having enough access to your money.  Michele Cropley and financial advisor Paul Lane explore the different types of risk investors should consider and why und...

Money can be one of the hardest subjects to discuss with family, but the right questions can turn an uncomfortable topic into a meaningful conversation. Family gatherings can offer a rare opportunity for different generations to share financial lessons, experiences, goals, and even mistakes. Michele Cropley and financial advisor Brendan Hayes explore ways to start productive conversations about mo...

Interest rates affect more than Fed headlines. They shape borrowing costs, savings yields, mortgage rates, bond returns, and the decisions investors make with their money. In this episode of Make It Make Cents , Michele Cropley is joined by Cash Armstrong of Armstrong Advisory Group to explain how the federal funds rate works, why the Fed raises or lowers rates, and how those decisions ripple thro...

Michael Bradley joins Make It Make Sense to share how his path from Newton, Stonehill, and early career uncertainty led him to become a financial advisor with Armstrong Advisory Group. In this episode, Michele Cropley talks with Michael about his background, his decision to pursue finance, the professional risk he took by leaving Armstrong before eventually returning, and how his own relationship...

What shapes the way a financial advisor thinks about money, relationships, success, and the people who trust them with their financial future?  In this episode of Make It Make Cents , Michele Cropley sits down with Armstrong Advisory Group financial advisor Paul Lane for a more personal conversation about the experiences that shaped his life and career. Paul shares how his upbringing, family, love...

Small purchases get a lot of attention, but the biggest impact on long term wealth usually comes from major financial decisions around housing, investing, taxes, retirement timing, and big ticket purchases. In this episode of Make It Make Sense , Michele Cropley is joined by Brendan Hayes, financial advisor with the Armstrong Advisory Group, to discuss why decisions like how much house to buy, whe...

Financial success rarely happens overnight. For financial advisor Scott Wilson, the same principle that applies to investing also applies to life: meaningful progress comes from discipline, consistency, and doing the difficult things even when motivation fades. In this special episode of Make It Make Sense , Michelle Cropley sits down with Scott to learn more about his life inside and outside the...

Before becoming a financial advisor, Cash Armstrong took a very different path. He taught English in South Korea, waited tables in New Zealand, worked on a strawberry farm in Australia, and traveled throughout Southeast Asia. But his interest in money and investing began much earlier, growing up in the Armstrong family and learning the value of hard work, teamwork, and saving from a young age. In...

For financial advisor Brendan Hayes, an interest in money started long before it became a career. From counting coins with his grandmother at five years old to investing money from paper routes and odd jobs as a teenager, some of his earliest experiences helped shape the way he thinks about money today. In this special episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley sits down with Brendan for a mo...

A stock's share price tells you almost nothing about whether it's actually a good investment. Understanding what a business is worth requires looking beyond the headline number and evaluating the company's fundamentals, growth potential, and financial health.  Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Paul Lane break down the basics of stock valuation, explaining the metrics professional investors us...

Certain birthdays carry far more financial significance than others. From retirement accounts and Social Security to Medicare and required minimum distributions, understanding these milestone ages can help you avoid costly mistakes and make more informed financial decisions.   Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Scott Wilson explain the key retirement milestones that can shape your financial fu...

Where you choose to live in retirement can have a bigger impact on your finances and your quality of life than almost any other decision you'll make.  In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Michael Bradley explore the financial, practical, and emotional factors involved in relocating during retirement. Whether you're considering moving to a tax friendly state...

Not all debt is created equal. Some forms of borrowing can help build long-term wealth, while others can quietly erode your financial future if left unchecked. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Cash Armstrong break down the differences between good debt and bad debt, explain how to evaluate whether borrowing makes financial sense, and share practical str...

The investment world is full of terminology that can feel overwhelming—but understanding the basics is the first step toward becoming a more confident investor. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Brendan Hayes break down the most common investment vehicles, explain how each one works, and discuss why different investments serve different purposes dependin...

Many professionals reach a point where the paycheck no longer feels worth the stress. But how do you know if you're financially ready to step away from a demanding, high-paying career without putting your long-term goals at risk? In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Scott Wilson discuss how to evaluate the financial and emotional tradeoffs of leaving a high...

Most people think of a 401(k) or IRA when they hear the term tax-advantaged account. But there may be an even more powerful option hiding in your employee benefits package. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Cash Armstrong break down the differences between Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), why one of them offers a uniq...

Bringing home a new baby changes just about everything—including your finances. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Michael Bradley discuss the financial decisions that often come with a growing family and how parents can build a strong foundation for the years ahead.  They cover: ●    Why life insurance should be one of the first financial priorities for...

When it comes to investing, young people have one advantage that no one can buy: time.  In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Brendan Hayes discuss the different ways parents, grandparents, and guardians can help children and young adults begin building wealth—and why starting early can make such a dramatic difference over time.  They cover: ●    Why investi...

Most people focus on growing their wealth—but one unexpected event can derail years of financial progress. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Scott Wilson discuss the often-overlooked side of financial planning: protecting your income, assets, and family from life's biggest financial risks. They cover: ●    Why income protection may be more important than...

Most people claim Social Security at age 62—but that decision could reduce your lifetime benefits by far more than you realize. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Cash Armstrong break down the biggest factors to consider before deciding when to claim Social Security—and why fear often leads people to make costly mistakes. They cover: ●    How Social Secur...

Cash feels safe—but holding too much of it could quietly cost you over time. In this episode of Make It Make Cents, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Paul Lane explore the role cash should play in a financial plan, the emotional comfort it provides, and the risks investors often overlook. They cover: ●    Why cash isn’t as risk-free as many people assume ●    The impact of inflation and lost...

Your financial priorities should change as you move through different stages of life—but many people never adjust their strategy. In this episode of Make It Make Sense, Michelle Cropley and financial advisor Michael Bradley break down the key financial goals and mistakes to watch for in every decade leading up to retirement. They cover: ●    What people in their 30s should prioritize beyond just s...

Most financial planning mistakes don’t show up until it’s too late—after someone passes away. In this episode of Make It Make Cents , Michele Cropley and financial advisor Brendan Hayes break down the most common (and costly) planning mistakes families make—and how to avoid them before they create real problems. They cover: ●      Why account ownership and titling matter more than most people real...