Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years

Епізоди

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  What You Can Learn From an NFL Player's Salary 29.09.2026 13хв

  What can you learn from an NFL player's salary? Despite the huge numbers, a lot actually! Logan Ryan earned over $80 million during his 11 seasons in the NFL, and by his own account barely spent a dime of it. Matt shares Ryan's unusual financial story from a league where short-lived careers often end up with short-lived financial prosperity. Matt points out that, once you get past the large numbers that Ryan made from his playing salary, there are a number of lessons you can learn from him about understanding the nature of retirement and what we are all trying to do with our money during our working lives.   Ryan spent very little of his earnings during his career, but that doesn't mean he lived on nothing. What he understood early on is that while his paycheck was very high, his career would be very short (11 years is not a long career, and even then it's 3 times longer than the average NFL career!). Therefore, he needed to invest his earnings in a portfolio that would provide him with income when he was no longer working. And that's exactly what he did, working with a financial advisor and asking lots of questions throughout the investment process. With his high earnings, he had the flexibilty to invest in a wide variety of assets beyond stocks and bonds, such as private credit and technology startups like OpenAI. While these may not be prudent investment choices for regular working folks, it shows that he understood the game -- he needed a mix of investments to provide income now and income later in life, while also providing the opportunity for long-term growth since he would retire from football while still a young man.   Logan Ryan is an unusual story, but we can learn a lot of lessons from him. While most of us will have much longer working careers -- 30 or more years, perhaps -- we are still operating under the same circumstances. Someday the paychecks will stop, and we must accumulate enough capital during our working years to live on in retirement. This means we need to invest our money, but also we need to understand our expenses and our lifestyle. Ryan wasn't interested in expensive jewelry or ostentatious clothing, and he lived on a budget during his career. He honed in on what he wanted out of life, and spent his money on that. In doing so, he prepared himself to understand what he would need in retirement. Matt often gives the example of two people with the same portfolio value of $5 million, same age and circumstances, yet one person needs $120,000 a year to live on and the other $300,000. Though they have the same amount of money, their financial positions in retirement are drastically different.   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  What Every Dollar Represents 22.09.2026 17хв

  Every dollar in your portfolio has a story behind it -- a struggle or sacrifice, a triumph, or perhaps just a consistent habit of saving and living on less than you earn. It's easy to get lost in the comparision game, thinking about your portfolio as merely a number, a measuring stick, and wonder whether you measure up to your peers. Recalling The Gap and the Gain book from episode 47,  Matt encourages you to see your portfolio as a success, a hard won record of your life's journey.   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  Inside the Planning Room: Investing with a Personal Touch 15.09.2026 35хв

  In the second installment of the series, Matt Murphy sits down again with Matt Reynolds to discuss all the factors and decisions that go into selecting investmetns for a client. Just like the financial plan in general, investments are tailored to each individual's unique circumstances and needs -- there are no cookie cutter investment allocations. Matt selects investments and investment allocations based not only on a client's risk tolerance, but also their risk capacity, that is, both their emotional ability to tolerate fluctuations in the value of their portfolio as well as their broader financial plan's ability to withstand market fluctuations and still meet the client's goals.     Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  The Corvette and the Pickup 08.09.2026 10хв

  Which is better, a corvette or a pickup? Kind of a hard question to answer, right? If you want to go fast, a corvette is the obvious choice. If you need to haul a ton of dirt, the pickup wins easily. "Better" depends on context, and what the vehicle needs to do for you. When discussing investments, Matt Murphy likes to make analogies like these to help his clients understand where each of their investments fits into their financial plan, and what role it plays in making that plan happen. When you look at plan in this way, there is no "better" between stocks, bonds, and other investments.   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  What Are the Wisdom Years, Anyway? 01.09.2026 9хв

  Matt takes a moment to reflect on what the "wisdom years" part of the podcast actually mean. Many people assume that wisdom comes with age, but in Matt's experience that's not the case. Wisdom comes with actively grappling with change, and working through the new roles and responsibilities and focus that different chapters of life present. Many people get to retirement age having saved and prepared well, only to find they have trouble actually spending their money in retirement. Decades of habits -- delaying gratification, maximizing savings, taking on extra work -- don't turn off just like that. Wisdom, then, is more of a stage than an age. It's hard earned from experience moving through life, and working past the sticking points, the periods of life that feel messy, uncertain, or uncomfortable.   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  What "Fee-Only" Fiduciary Actually Means 25.08.2026 12хв

  Matt ran across an interesting statistic recently, that only about five percent of financial advisors operate on a fee-only basis. This is not an official SEC or FINRA statistic, but it does highlight something important about the industry of financial advice. Most advisors are getting paid fees for assets under management and commissions from selling certain products like mutual funds, annuities, or insurance policies. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this business model, it does create different incentives for the advisor, and that is what Matt focuses on in this episode.   Broadly speaking, there are two ways that advisors get paid. "Fee-based" advisors charge a fee for the money they manage, usually a small annual percentage. This fee is paid by the client. They may also collect commissions from investing a client in certain investment products. Commissions are paid by the companies selling the financial products. "Fee-only" advisors, on the other hand, charge a fee for their planning and advice services, and may charge a fee for the assets under management. They do not receive kickbacks or compensation for steering their clients toward certain investments.   Then there's the term fiduciary, which does not describe compensation but the responsibility an advisor has to his client. A fiduciary is legally bound to always act in the best interest of their client, regardless of which investment products they choose.   It's not hard to see that commission based advisors have an incentive to push certain products. They may be good products, or may not, but the incentive to sell them is there, and it's important to be aware of, especially given that the majority of the industry is still compensated in this way. Fee-only fiduciaries also have incentives -- they make more money if you invest more money with them, versus using your money to pay off debt, for instance -- so it's not about making a moral judgment of which business model is right. It's about understanding what the incentives are, so that you know where the biases of your advisor lies, and how you can choose the best advisor for your needs.   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  The Best Investment Question I've Ever Heard 18.08.2026 8хв

  Matt reflects on a question Warren Buffet posed in a talk from the early 2000's: if you could own 10% of any person's lifetime earnings, who would you pick? And why? Conversely, if you had to short any one person's lifetime earnings -- that is, you had to pay out 10% of their earnings -- who would you pick? Buffet set out a few rules: it has to be someone you know, and it has to be their earnings, not money they stand to inherit.   Matt points out that, in the long run, it's the people with integrity, humility, and willingness to learn that make the cut for whose earnings you'd like to own. In the world of financial planning, there is much discussion of investments -- stocks and bonds, funds, etc -- but even more importantly, about the investment managers. Behind every investment is a person making decisions, and ultimately you want people with integrity, that make more good than bad decisions consistently over the long run, to help you allocate capital and build your savings for retirement   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.       Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  Everything You Need to Know About Trump Accounts 11.08.2026 8хв

  Matt breaks down the mechanics of the new Trump Accounts, which are savings vehicles for kids. He discusses the tax deferred status of the accounts, what the funds can be used for, how they can be invested, who owns the account, and how the account can be divested, spent, or tranferred into an invidividual retirement account (IRA) when the child turns 18. Matt also discusses how these accounts differ from 529 accounts, and why you might choose one or the other.   And don't forget, children born between 1/1/2025 and 12/31/2028 receive $1,000 in seed money in their Trump Accounts, but you have to claim it!   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.       Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  Lessons from Pinehurst: Moments That Become Memories 04.08.2026 7хв

  Matt recently returned from a family trip to Pinehurst, an iconic golf resort in North Carolina and the home of US Kids Golf World Championship, which his daughters have competed in, and as always with such trips, with a fresh point of view. In today's episode, Matt shares his perspective on life, memories, and the moments and phases that we often don't appreciate until they are in the rear view mirror. Life is a journey of change, and serving as a financial planner is an honor and witness to the changes and moments and memories of everyone that walks through the doors of Benetas Wealth.   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  The Most Important Number in Retirement Is Not Your Rate of Return 28.07.2026 6хв

  Most people when they think about investment portfolios and retirement are concerned with the rate of return of the portfolio. How much does it earn every year, how much will it grow over time, is it matching or beating the market (i.e. the performance of a broad stock market index)? While these are reasonable questions to ask, they miss an important point. What matters is not how much your portfolio is returning against the market, or abstractly in a vacuum, but how much your portfolio returns compared to how much income you need it to generate in retirement. This number will vary, because each person's lifestyle, goals, and unique family, tax, and legal situations are different. It is known as the withdrawal burden.   You can also look at this concept as a question of how much pressure you are putting on your investments to achieve your required rate of return. Imagine two investors with the exact same $2 million portfolio, invested in exactly the same way. One investor needs to withdraw $40,000 per year, however, while the other investor needs $180,000 per year. Who's taking more risk in this situation? Remember, the investments are identical. However the second investor is placing a much higher burden on his portfolio and is more likely to draw down the value of his portfolio more quickly, especially in years where market returns are soft.   This example highligths an important point about investing. As Matt says, it's not about the account balances, it's about the demands placed on those account balances. Looking at retirement investing through this lens helps you better understand what job your portfolio needs to do for you. In some cases, you may need to be more conservative with your investment choices; however, you may discover that you can, and should, be more aggressive with your investments so that you can capture more growth over your investment horizon.   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  Inside the Planning Room: How a Financial Plan Gets Made with Matt Reynolds 21.07.2026 43хв

  Before you sit down at the conference table to with Matt, many hours of work go into your financial plan -- gathering information, reviewing your accounts, optimizing your tax situation, coordinating with accountants and attorneys, and much more. In today's episode, Matt Murphy invites the newest advisor at Benetas Wealth, Matt Reynolds, to talk through everything he's learned in his first year about how Benetas helps clients put together a financial plan. Matt Reynolds is deeply involved in the back office operations, combing through all the facts and details that get considered long before a client meeting happens. Take a look behind the scenes at everything that happens in the planning room before you sit down with Matt Murphy and Matt Reynolds to discuss your vision for retirement and the road map to get there -- it's a lot more than just managing investments!   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  Life Comes In Seasons, Your Financial Plan Should Too 14.07.2026 7хв

  Life moves through seasons, and one characteristic of a season is you often don't realize you're in it until it has passed. You grow up, start working, kids come along, all of a sudden you're in the thick of parenting. Then, as children grow the nature of parenting changes, along with your schedule. And then, they're gone, and you are supporting them from afar. At each stage of the process, there are new challenges and new problems to solve. As Matt points out, one of the easiest traps to fall into is solving yesterday's problems and failing to recognize and adapt to the new phases of life.   There's a clear analogy to retirement planning. Retirement is, after all, another season of life. People often focus on the wrong questions and problems of retirement -- accumulating long after their portfolio is sufficient, rather than visualizing life in retirement and what kinds of things they want to do or roles they'd like to take on. Or perhaps they are worried about working longer, when planning for taxes may be more impactful to their retirement.   A good financial plan has seasons, just like life... because it is your life.   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  Why Emotion Is the Enemy of Good Financial Decisions 07.07.2026 9хв

  Matt draws an analogy between the movie Man on Fire and the character of Crecy, who teaches a young protege how to think under pressure -- to solve a puzzle, not react emotionally -- and the process of investing. One of the most dangerous things an investor can do is get emotionally invested (pardon the pun) in the securities they are evaluating, looking for ways to confirm why they should buy them rather than reasons to not buy them. A good investor understands the risks of what he is buying, how an investment fits into his or her unique portoflio needs, and what the investment horizon is.   Stock market turmoil often leads to emotional turmoil, and when emotion enters into the picture, we stop asking questions. Instead of looking for a puzzle to solve, we start believing in certain approaches and, inevitably, drifting from our original investment plan.     Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  The Retirement Questions Your Portfolio Can't Answer 30.06.2026 8хв

        Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  The Gap and The Gain 23.06.2026 10хв

  Your life's journey is full of wins and losses, and however lumpy, it is a journey, a movement toward something, which means it is also full of gains. One common trait of successful people is they set goals and, having achieved them, move onto the a new goal, the next thing. Wherever they perceive a gap -- in their knowledge, experience, their financial position, etc. -- they seek to close that gap. Along the way they generate great gains, but their focus remains mostly on the gaps.   It's easy for investors to get caught in this line of thinking too. Matt reminds us that in the journey toward retirement, we often see the gaps in our preparation and fail to appreciate how far we've come.   This episode was inspired by the book The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  How AI Is Changing Investing 16.06.2026 10хв

  Matt tackles a common question from clients: will traditional investing work with AI? AI is changing how businesses operate, with explosive increases in scope and scale over the past couple years. There is enormous hype around AI technologies, with some people comparing it to the advent of the internet or even the invention of electricity. Naturally, many retail investors are wondering how to invest on the precipice of great technological change. Matt separates two important questions here: 1.) what companies will win in the AI race, and 2.) how should long term investors behave to make durable investments for their families and retirement?   The second question is what Matt focuses on today. It's very difficult to determine what companies will "win" over the long-term. The dot com bubble was littered with highly promising companies that are now forgotten, while some of the winners were far from obvious picks at the time. Besides, Matt encourages clients to invest for the long-term, with a diversified portfolio that's designed to help achieve the financial plan no matter what the market does. It shouldn't matter what any individual company does — the plan and it's investments should be durable and flexible enough to capture the broad market performance.   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  Why Simplicity Becomes More Valuable With Age 09.06.2026 12хв

  Simplicity isn't just a nice feature of plans and documents, it carries real value. When things are complex, whether it's your investment allocation (or the investments themselves) or your estate plan documents, it costs you more than just money to maintain and administrate. It also costs brainpower and attention. As you age, your energy for managing these things may decrease. Inevitability, your ability to manage complexity will decrease.   When you setup a financial plan and create new accounts, draft new documents, purchase new insurance policies -- don't just think about whether you can manage those things today, think about how they will accumulate in 10-20 years or more. Keeping things simple over the long term will not only save your sanity in your later years, it will accrue some real financial value!   Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  The Hidden Cost of Working One More Year 02.06.2026 15хв

      Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  Before You Buy Gold, Ask Yourself This Question 26.05.2026 6хв

  Gold and other precious metals have been used as stores of value for thousands of years, so naturally investors are curious about adding them to their portfolio. Curiosity typically peaks not when the markets are quiet and things are going well, but when things are volatile and the future is uncertain. Whereas common investment classes like stocks and bonds generate growth and income for a portfolio, and provide liquidity, gold provides none of these. It doesn't produce income, it doesn't compound, and is not as liquid. As Matt says, gold is not a plan, it's a compliment to a plan.   Before you buy, it's important to ask yourself what the actual problem is you are trying to solve. Adding gold to a good financial plan doesn't necessarily improve the plan, it just changes it. If anything it adds more complexity to the plan, which carries its own risk. Moreover, buying gold carries opportunity cost, shifting assets away from growth and income production. So ask yourself, what are you trying to do by buying precious metals? Are you looking for stability, protection, diversification, or something else? Most of these questions point to structural issues that you may need to address elsewhere in your plan before buying gold.     Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.  
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  What to Do When You Have a Windfall 19.05.2026 7хв

      Follow Matt Murphy  Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp   Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser. This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation. Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly into an index. Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying holdings. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative investments based on its respective target date. The performance of an investment in a target-date fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets, and diversification cannot guarantee that any objective or goal will be achieved. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.