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 position this time next year?

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 reality?  Listen in to learn about single-floor living, garage conversion, primary suite creation, and more.

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 your only property.  While it may seem easy to manage one property, it can be hard to deal with vacancies, repairs, and legal concerns.  Even if you are a "Snow Bird" considering renting one or both of your residences, this episode will help you consider the risk and trade-offs.

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 forethought can drastically reduce the chance of buyer's or seller's remorse.

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 blindly?  While you may "get away with" taking an unorthodox route to merge on the highway or to plan for retirement, following a good process will maximize your chances of success.

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 right information to take on board is as important as ever.

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 foundational skill, and much more.  If you are interested in learning more for yourself, or you are looking to teach others about personal finances, this episode is a great resource to get started.

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 can position yourself well for whatever comes next.