Great Points

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about the impact credit card debt can have on your financial plan.  With interest rates rising over the last couple years, the variable rates on credit cards have risen even faster.  Take a few minutes to review your current credit card balances and see what if any interest you are currently paying.  If you have balances you are currently carryin...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt speaks with personal stylist, Mary McRae.  As a men's stylist for J. Hilburn, Mary offers some insights on ways you can reduce your environmental impact by being intentional with your clothing choices.  Between buying higher quality, longer-lasting pieces, choosing ethically manufactured products, or donating unneeded clothes, there are many ways...

On today's Earth Day themed episode of Great Points, Matt interviews Janelle Rolke, the Waste Reduction Coordinator for the city of Salem, MA.  They discuss the various programs in Salem designed to reduce the impact of waste on the environment.  Between refillable products and containers, composting, and effective recycling, learn more about what how you can do to help protect our planet.

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt interviews licensed acupuncturist, Christine Almeida of Salem Acupuncture Therapy.  Learn how Christine discovered acupuncture through a debilitating injury at a young age, and how it changed the way she looks at both pain relief and preventive health care.  Originating in Eastern medical practices, acupuncture has been around for millennia, but there...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks gives some practical tips for turning Financial Literacy principles into healthy habits.  Just like with any skill, the concepts of Financial Literacy will only become ingrained with practice.  If you're wondering how to teach a student, young adult, or even yourself how to manage day to day finances, repetition and real life examples will h...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt speaks with  Physical Therapist and Personal Trainer, Mike Stare.  They talk about aging and how we can all add qualify of life to our years rather than just years to our life.  Whether you are in your 40s, 70s, or 90s, Mike shares tips and advice for how to maintain and improve your physical fitness.

On today's episode, Matt talks with Stephen DiGregorio, the founder and owner of "Protecting your Assets LLC," a legal firm focused on Estate Planning.  Matt and Steve talk about what it means to have an estate plan, and they take on some misconceptions people frequently have.  What is a Health Care Proxy or a Springing Power of Attorney? Whether you have $50 in the bank or $10 mill...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about whether college is worth the cost and he gives some examples of the right questions to ask. What are some things to consider before deciding to enroll in an expensive college education?  What are the other options?  As with many financial decisions, there is not just one right answer, but having a plan and doing some calculations can help y...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt reacts to an article he read on LinkedIn about supporting local by paying in cash.  Is paying in cash actually better for a business? And more importantly, what makes more sense for you?  Matt talks through the psychology of using cash versus credit and some tips for making the most of both approaches.

On today's episode of Great Points, fresh off re-watching Schitt's Creek, Matt talks through some of the money lessons that came to mind.  How can you raise your kids to understand money? Matt shares some tips for helping your children understand the value of a dollar.  Whether they are young kids, recent graduates, or mid-career professionals who may inherit some money, communication is...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about some of the financial planning lessons he learned from watching Bye Bye Barry, the documentary about the life and career of Barry Sanders.  While one of the best running backs of all time, Barry Sanders is perhaps most famous for retiring while still in his prime.  Why did Barry give up the game when he was the peak of his earning power? Li...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt Schroeder and Brandon Parker talk about the giving season and how you can include charitable giving in your plan.  The holiday season is a great time of year to give back to your community, so listen in for some tips to maximize the impact of your contribution, whether monetary or otherwise! 

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks to Bill Hooper, who recently sold his  business after 20+ years.  They talk about Bill's experience as a business owner, and ultimately what made him decide to sell.  They also talk in depth about the sale process, owner financing, and what comes after "retiring" from your business .  If you are a business owner, or even just consi...

On today's episode, Matt talks about how Certificates of Deposit work and some of the pros and cons of buying them.  While an annual yield of 5% sounds attractive in a vacuum, what are some of the things to consider before buying CDs?

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt and his colleague Brandon discuss some tips and ideas for helping to stay within your budget during the holiday season.  It's tricky to say no to family, friends, and charities, but what are some ways you can still manage to be generous without breaking the bank?

On today's episode, Matt records in front of a live audience to talk about a few conversations he's overheard in the Barber shop.  First he discusses a case where a couple is moving in together and trying to decide whether they should rent out their second condo versus sell it.  Next, Matt talks about a man who moved his whole portfolio to CDs this year.  Did these folks do the right thi...

On today's episode, Matt and Brandon discuss "Open Enrollment" and how to decide which benefits to enroll in through your employer.  While insurance may not be the most exciting topic, enrolling in the right coverage for you can pay huge dividends down the road.  Learn about deductibles, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), disability insurance, and more to help decide what benefits fit...

On today's episode, Matt and Brandon discuss what to look for when changing jobs.  Whether you are hoping for a pay raise, thinking of getting an advanced degree, or looking to do something entirely different, what are some of the key things to consider?

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about how to make the most of the time you spend working on your personal finances.  Is it on investment returns, cash flow, or something else?

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt and Brandon discuss goal setting and how you can create an actionable plan to reach those goals.  Whether you have existing goals you've let lapse a bit, or you want to set new ones, creating accountability will help you stay on track.

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks a little about deferred compensation, fringe benefits, and other employee benefits that are designed to "lock you in" to your current employer.  When is it time to walk away from a job, and how should we think about leaving money on the table when we do?

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about a fairly common challenge for very future oriented people...how can they actually spend their money and not feel guilty about it?  By bucketing out "fun money", you or your thrifty loved one can enjoy some responsible spending without putting long-term goals at risk.

On this episode of Great Points, Matt and Brandon discuss some books they've recently read that you can take to the beach or wherever you do your reading.  They discuss a couple lighter options, and also a few for those who want to go deeper on their financial learning.   "Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel "Your Money and Your Brain" by Jason Zweig "Your Money or...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt answers three questions from his friend and former colleague Jason Roberts of Oracle.  Jason is wondering how he can possibly manage to pay for 4 kids to go to college, what he should do with his Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and whether a Roth conversion would be right for him?

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about some of the traditional assumptions we make about retirement, and what are some other options available.  What if retirement isn't just about working until 65 and then stopping cold turkey?