The Financially Fit Couple

Matthew Gray, a certified financial planner, interviews Scott Yamamura—author of Financial Epiphany, financial coach, and TEDx speaker—about helping the next generation talk about money and build financial literacy. Scott shares his “Power of 16” rule of thumb: assuming money doubles about every 10 years, investing early can multiply initial contributions up to 16x over a roughly 40-year career, a...

Host Matthew Gray interviews college admissions consultant Shellee Howard of CollegeReady about preparing children for college amid AI-driven change. Howard shares her origin story helping her son earn full-ride offers (USC Presidential Scholarship; Harvard match) and argues AI will shift and expand jobs, making communication, leadership, and strategic thinking essential; she notes computer scienc...

Host Matthew Gray interviews Batsheva Goldstein, an Israel-based member of a multigenerational “financial family,” about why couples’ money conversations often break down and how to improve them. They discuss how financial decisions reflect deeper values, identity, and past experiences, illustrated by personal stories about buying a new car and spending on a sports jersey.  Goldstein explains that...

Host Matthew Gray interviews investor Lane Kawaoka about his path from buying a Seattle home in 2007 to building 11 out-of-state rentals by 2015, and later moving into multifamily value-add syndications and private placements. The conversation highlights why cash flow matters, including using the 1% rent-to-price rule as a quick screen and budgeting for maintenance and CapEx. Lane also addresses h...

Matthew Gray hosts The Financially Fit Couple and interviews Kyle Glenn, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and Certified Exit Planning Advisor, about selling a business as part of retirement planning. Glenn explains common triggers for selling—retirement, margin pressure from inflation, employee turnover, and burnout. He also notes research showing roughly 80% of listed businesses don’t sell, making e...

Matthew Gray interviews mortgage banker Sol Skolnik (“Professor Home Loan”) about financing residential investment properties. Skolnik explains his background entering lending in 2006 and why sustainable loan fit matters after seeing risky pre-crash products. They cover who should consider rentals, including portfolio diversification, landlord responsibilities, and using managing agents.  Skolnik...

Matthew Gray interviews Harrisonburg/Shenandoah Valley REALTOR ® Brad Cohen about moving from solo agent to building Connexa, a boutique brokerage. Brad shares his early start in real estate as a college student, selling 27 homes his first year by networking, taking undesirable leads, and learning business-building skills not taught in licensing.  Brad explains the necessity and vision behind star...

Matthew Gray interviews Josh Hanna, of Inspire Investing, about faith-based, biblically responsible investing. Josh explains his shift from broad index funds after discovering exposure to abortion and pornography, and describes stewardship as owning part of a business and profiting from its activities.  Inspire uses a proprietary Inspire Impact Score with eight negative screens—abortion, pornograp...

Matthew Gray interviews Rebecca Irey, founder and CEO of Blue Sky Financial and a mother of seven, about raising financially independent kids through practical, hands-on experiences. Rebecca shares early lessons like having her daughter earn money for a “My Size Barbie,” using savings interest as incentive, and teaching budgeting by assigning kids responsibility for planning and buying groceries t...

Host Matthew Gray welcomes Carine Keenan, a marriage and family therapist, and Joe Keenan, a CFP and CPA, to discuss why money commonly fuels conflict in busy marriages and how couples can turn disagreements into growth. They explain that money issues often connect to safety and security, with saver–spender differences frequently rooted in childhood “money classroom” experiences and personal value...

Matthew Gray hosts an episode of the Financially Fit Couple with guest Sarah Carr, a CFP® and certified financial therapist, to discuss how couples communicate about money. Sarah explains financial therapy as the convergence of financial planning and mental health, clarifying she is not a licensed mental health clinician and does not diagnose or create treatment plans, but helps identify emotional...

Matthew Gray hosts and welcomes repeat guest Rick Williams, a licensed Virginia realtor with Kline May Realty, to explain the home-selling process. Rick emphasizes that selling is more than listing and waiting, and outlines common seller mistakes such as doing major renovations without advice, waiting for “perfect timing,” and leaning on friends instead of professionals.  He describes how he price...

Matthew Gray interviews attorney Michael Sharp about the risks and process of leaving stable employment to start a business while married with young children. Sharp, owner of Sharp Litigation, PLC in Harrisonburg, Virginia, describes moving from associate to partner and managing partner at a larger firm, then realizing partnership has a different vision of ownership, values, teamwork, and strategi...

Host Matthew Gray, welcomes personal finance professor and behavioral economist Jeff Hulett to discuss why people struggle to make good financial decisions even when they know what they should do. Jeff contrasts objective business decision-making with common consumer behavior and explains three drivers of poor decisions: human neurobiology, short-term thinking, and an American “buy now, pay later”...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple, host Matthew Gray, a certified financial planner, is joined by Jordan Tucker from Impax Asset Management to discuss ethically screened investing. The conversation covers the history, principles, and current practices of sustainable investing, emphasizing how investors can align their investments with their values without sacrificing performance.  Jord...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple podcast, host and certified financial planner Matthew Gray welcomes financial coach Lindsey Scott to discuss the practical and emotional aspects of financial coaching and planning. The conversation explores their different yet complementary roles, with Lindsey emphasizing the importance of understanding personal finance basics and building good habits,...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple podcast, host Matthew Gray interviews John and Alexis Stevens, a married couple from Harrisonburg, Virginia, who share their unique career journeys and the financial implications of making significant career changes. John recounts his transition from a high school math teacher to a meteorologist and then to an IT trainer, while Alexis discusses her sta...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple podcast, host Matthew Gray, a certified financial planner, speaks with Mackensie Ellis from Grad Fin about financing education through student loans. The discussion covers key points such as the difference between federal and private student loans, the application process, and various repayment and forgiveness options.  The episode also delves into upc...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple podcast, host Matthew Gray welcomes Teri Janes from LD&B Insurance to discuss essential insurance policies for married couples. They delve into the intricacies of home and auto insurance, including dwelling coverage, personal property, liability, comprehensive, and collision coverages.  Teri explains various endorsements like guaranteed replacement...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple, Matthew Gray welcomes Raymond Brown to discuss the importance of consistency and community in achieving fitness and financial goals. Raymond shares his personal journey growing up in an unhealthy environment and how he turned to sports and fitness as a vital outlet. Now, as a dedicated husband and father, Raymond emphasizes integrating movement into d...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple, host Matthew Gray is joined by Josiah Rider from Atlantic Union Bank. They discuss the value of building a strong relationship with your banker, especially for busy married couples managing their finances.  Key topics include the significance of having a personal banker, the advantages of home equity lines of credit, how major life events should promp...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple, Matthew Gray is joined by Beth Driver, an attorney specializing in estate planning at Evans Driver in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Together, they explore the importance of estate planning for married couples aged 30 to 50 with children at home.  Beth shares her personal journey into estate planning and discusses key elements such as wills, power of attorne...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple podcast, host Matthew Gray welcomes Billy Hay to discuss the latest changes in tax legislation and what they mean for busy married couples with kids.  They dive deep into key topics such as adjustments in charitable giving, state and local taxes (SALT), auto loan interest deductions, clean energy credits, tip and overtime taxation, bonus depreciation,...

In this episode of the Financially Fit Couple, Matthew Gray engages with Tessa Von Lossberg from LD&B Financial to delve into the often-overlooked yet crucial topic of life insurance. Tessa shares her unexpected journey into life insurance and emphasizes its importance in a comprehensive financial plan.  They discuss the basics of life insurance, distinguish between term and permanent policies...

In this episode, host Matthew Gray speaks with Aaron Cosner, Upper School Principal at Redeemer Classical School in Harrisonburg, Virginia. They delve into the complex topic of investing in education, both primary and secondary, discussing the nuances between public and private schooling. Aaron shares his personal journey through different educational landscapes and provides insights on how variou...