Great Points

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt lays out the steps to calculate your Net Worth, and the value of making it a regular habit.  Just knowing your Net Worth is a good start to be able to make informed financial decisions.  But it will also help you to set meaningful goals, and track progress over time.  What small changes can you make over the coming year that will put you in a better po...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt speaks with custom construction professional Ken Kumph of Premier Builders in Georgetown, MA.  What are some of the things you might do to make your current house more livable, even as you age?  What are the challenges that come along with these projects?  What is the timeline?  And how can you use your current financial assets to make the projects a r...

On today's episode of Great Points, continuing with the theme of Real Estate, Matt speaks with Shawn Grenier.  Shawn is the founder of Real Property Management Reliance, specializing in helping clients manage rental properties in the North Shore of Massachusetts.  Matt and Shawn talk about some of the challenges of managing your own rental property, especially when it's a second home or...

On today's episode, Matt speaks with realtors Shea and Matt Munson of Munson Realty Group.  Inspired by the TV show "Love it or List it", Matt speaks with his guests about some of the reasons people might make a housing change, especially in or near retirement age.  From relocating, to adding an in-law suite, to downsizing, there is no one size fits all approach.  But a bit of foret...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about what it's like to work as a Financial Advisor.  If you are a college student or young professional considering a career in Financial Planning or Advice, this episode is a must listen.  From career path, to skills needed, to compensation, Matt covers a lot of the questions you may ask about the profession.

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt makes an analogy about how the process of merging onto the highway relates to planning for retirement.  If getting to cruising speed is the equivalent of a smooth retirement, how would you approach the process of getting there?  Are you adequately using the onramp to build momentum while also planning where you want to slot it?  Or are you accelerating...

On today's episode, Matt takes his inspiration from conversations overheard while at the Barber Shop.  The first situation involves whether or not to buy a car.  What are the considerations and what does the math say?  On the second, Matt reflects on how using just a small amount of your recreation time towards personal finances or earning income could significantly change your trajectory.

On today's episode, Matt talks about how articles and reporting can use numerical "facts" or predictions to elicit a reaction.  Tapping into your SAT skills, reading these articles critically can help you determine whether there is any actionable information therein, or if your plan already has you covered.  In a world where there is more content than in the past, determining the ri...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks with Boston University sophomore, Benjamin Brosnahan.  Ben is an Economics major at BU, and also runs workshops for fellow students on improving financial literacy.  In this wide ranging conversation, Matt and Ben talk about some practical tips for teaching financial literacy, the power of starting early, the importance of budgeting as a foundati...

On today's episode, Matt talks with the president of Great Point Wealth Advisors and Chief Investment Officer, Peter Disch.  They talk about why prices have risen so much in the past few years and what it means for the economy and individuals.  They also cover why prices coming down might not be as good as it sounds.  Finally, they cover what it all means for you as an investor, and how you c...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about how to get off to a fast start in your personal finances or help your loved ones do the same.  In finances, much like an Olympic race, getting off to a fast start can put you in a great position to reach a successful outcome.  As a newer investor, investing more now can give you a huge leg up for the future.  Or if you are looking to set up...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt speaks with Ashley Ganem, Director of Development at the North Shore CDC.  Community Development Corporations (CDCs) are non-government organizations focused on advocating for underrepresented communities.  To date, the North Shore CDC has put $90 million into affordable housing in the area, in addition to programs for public art, business consulting,...

On today's episode, Matt talks about how to get more intentional and effective with your charitable giving.  For many, giving is a part of their budget, even if it's not necessarily pre-planned.  What if you were to focus on making charitable giving part of your financial plan? How much can you afford to give and how can you narrow down which causes to support?  While many people feel th...

On today's podcast, Matt talks about nutrition with his repeat guest, Dr. Mike Stare of Spectrum Fitness Consulting in Beverly, MA.  Mike has an impressive background, including working with Paralympic athletes and attaining his doctorate in Physical Therapy.  This episode is chock full of methods and information to help you make good food choices.  Mike discusses some common myths on dieting...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about renting versus buying a vacation home.  If you have a favorite place that you plan to go for many years, what do the numbers tell us about renting a property versus buying?  What are some of the major economic considerations?  Matt also covers some of the non-monetary parts of the decision making process so that you can make the right decis...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks with Ken Kumph, owner of Premier Builders.  They discuss different options for making home modifications to enable aging in your current home rather than downsizing in this difficult housing market.  From small modifications such as adding safety railings or access ramps, to modifying an existing floor plan to enable easier "one floor living...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt speaks with Marcos Baugh, the President of Urban Golf Club.  Marcos started Urban Golf Club as a non-profit aiming to help urban kids learn golf and financial literacy through the core values of patience, humility, and accountability.  While Marcos started as a caddy at The Country Club in Brookline, he is now brining new people to golf through Boys an...

On today's episode, Matt has a great conversation with Eric Brotman, the CEO of BFG Financial Advisors based in Maryland.  Eric and Matt talk about a wide array of topics.   They discuss why Financial Literacy is still chronically underprioritized, how retirement doesn't have to be the end of meaningful work, and what is the future of college education.  In addition to his career as a Fi...

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt reacts to a recent ad he saw that said, "Does your portfolio need a 180?"  What are some of the questions you should be asking yourself when you see such an ad?  It may be tempting to make a snap decision when things change, but Matt lays out some ideas to help sift through the noise and resist making changes for the wrong reasons.

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.