On today's episode of Great Points, Matt starts with an anecdote from his own personal life about buying a new car. As with any financial decision, there are a lot of things to consider as you decide the right path for you. Is it a want or a need? Should you buy the car outright or lease it? What about cash versus taking a loan? Thinking through a few of these questions up front can help you make the right choice for you and your family.

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks with Nicole Pichette about wellness, longevity, and how Live Well Collaborative aims to truly customize caring for her clients' health. From the six pillars of wellness, to listening to the messages your body is sending you, Nicole describes her approach to helping people feel their best. Whether you are just beginning your wellness journey or are looking to refine your approach to self-care, there is something for you in this episode.

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt goes back to fundamentals by talking in depth about bank accounts and cash management overall. What are the different account types you can open? What are their purposes, features, and how should they be used? From Checking accounts, to CDs, to Money Markets, and everywhere in between, this episode is a good primer or reminder for how make the best use out of Bank accounts as part of your larger financial picture.

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt relays a few conversations he overheard in the Barber shop, and his takeaways as a financial planner. While many people spend hours researching purchases, such as a new TV or a new car, fewer take that same amount of time to think about their whole financial picture. What if we all spent that same amount of time thinking about our financial future? In another conversation, Matt observed that the outward signs of someone's finances can be misleading. Fear of Missing Out is hard to resist, but creating your own priorities and avoiding "Keeping up with the Joneses" is a good practice to manage your own healthy money mindset.

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about what to do when the kids "leave the nest." The time between kids leaving the house and reaching retirement is a time of change for most couples. How do you make sure your kids are prepared for adulthood? What type of financial help, if any, should you give them if you are able? What should you do with all of your newfound time and money? Matt offers some perspective and some examples that can help you navigate the Empty Nest.

On today's episode, Matt talks about planning for longevity. As financial planners, we are trained to create plans through age 95 or 100. There are a lot of nuances to doing so, but there is also a lesson buried in the exercise: you can have higher quality of living through age 95 or 100 by thinking through some key pieces of the puzzle. What are the things you want to do and people you want to spend time with? What can you do today to prioritize health and wellness? What type of impact do you want to have with your money, whether that's family, charity, or community? Money is a piece of the puzzle, but it does not need to be the driving force of your longevity plan.

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about building financial competence. Much like improving your physical fitness, knowledge only goes so far. Turning your financial literacy into a weekly habit is a great way to nudge yourself into making progress. Whether it's just checking your weekly spending, making recurring savings or investments, or anything else you've been meaning to do but "just haven't gotten to," making a commitment to yourself and telling someone else about it is a great step towards accountability.

On today's episode of Great Points, Matt talks about the four fundamental rules of investing and how to invest effectively over the long-term. With the vast amount of news and financial media inundating us daily, it's easy to get lost in the noise. Whether you are a new investor, have relatives who are just getting started, or just need a quick refresher, this episode is a great baseline to build on. The principles of investing are deceptively simple, but remembering these four rules will help you overcome common pitfalls that even professionals can succumb to in times of stress.