S2 E13: Building a Business Beyond Yourself with Brad Cohen

S2 E13: Building a Business Beyond Yourself with Brad Cohen

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 starting Connexa. He highlights the grind of the first year, leaving significant income, hiring his first full-time employee, adding agents, and buying an office in 2024. He discusses unexpected management demands, mentorship, turnover, and balancing marriage with business ownership. Stay tuned at the end for his brief thoughts on the value of a college education based on his life experience! 00:38 Meet Brad Cohen 01:38 Brad’s Origin Story 03:16 First-Year Breakthrough 06:41 Brokerages and Models 12:01 Why Build a Team 17:45 Crunching the Numbers 20:45 Scrappy Startup Year One 24:49 Expected vs Unexpected 27:15 Learning to Lead People 30:55 Marriage Amid the Grind 32:25 Work Life Counterbalance 35:18 Team Turnover and Rebuild 36:56 Boutique Vision and Equity 40:39 Survive to Thrive Stage 41:47 Advice for New Owners 45:21 Is College Necessary? 48:17 Hiring for Grit and Network 49:15 Where to Connect and Wrap Resources Brad Cohen https://connexare.com/agents/brad-cohen Matthew Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-cfp%C2%AE-5a2144134/ https://schrockfin.com/ Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA [https://www.finra.org/]/SIPC  [https://www.sipc.org/]

S2 E12: Biblically-Based Investing with Josh Hanna

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, pornography, exploitation, LGBT activism, cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, and gambling—with a no-tolerance exclusion approach, plus a positive scoring system that rewards best-in-class ethical practices. He also details corporate engagement via proxy voting and advocacy, citing Costco’s decision not to stock mifepristone after extended engagement.  00:38 Meet Josh and Inspire 04:28 Stewardship and Ownership 05:42 Biblical Screens vs ESG 10:05 Inspire Three Part Approach 12:02 Embrace Good and Engage 16:13 Impact Score and Exclusions 17:42 Consumer vs Investor Choices 20:27 Building Diversified ETFs 22:58 Common Objections Answered 27:12 Returns and Real Impact 30:11 How to Learn More Resources Josh Hanna and Inspire ETFs InspireInsight.com InspireETF.com Matthew Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-cfp%C2%AE-5a2144134/ https://schrockfin.com/ Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA [https://www.finra.org/]/SIPC  [https://www.sipc.org/]

S2 E11: Teaching Your Kids About Money with Rebecca Irey

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 to cook for the family.  They discuss why many adults lack basic financial skills due to limited schooling and busy households. Rebecca emphasizes making money tangible with envelope systems and teaching “money is a game,” including playing Robert Kiyosaki’s Cashflow game. Rebecca stresses high expectations, letting kids try and fail at home to build resilience, and listening to teens’ perspectives. She also notes kids may still form different economic views as adults. 00:38 Meet Rebecca Irey 01:48 First Business at 12 04:09 Early Finance Career 05:18 My Size Barbie Lesson 08:55 Why Kids Miss Money Skills 11:55 Practical Money Training 15:15 Cashflow Game Mindset 17:29 Raising Capable Adults 24:22 Let Kids Fail Safely 26:43 Building Resilience Mindset 30:40 Generations And Money Beliefs 32:42 When Kids Reject Your Values 41:00 First Steps And Resources 43:04 Seeing Through Their Eyes Resources Cash Flow Game [https://store.richdad.com/collections/board-games?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20065921866&gbraid=0AAAAADtuwcc4wnAX1pq7G_9KQcmkE3EY8&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh-HPBhCIARIsAC0p3ccsacqjsbLAyhYM7YDl7zel4QhKUA9g28176-gpo_ZF84kIYB15ZyoaAq6VEALw_wcB] The Coddling of the American Mind [https://www.thecoddling.com/] Antifragile [https://www.amazon.com/Antifragile-Things-That-Disorder-Incerto/dp/0812979680] The Anxious Generation [https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book] Socratic Circles [https://www.amazon.com/Socratic-Circles-Fostering-Critical-Creative/dp/1571103945] Rebecca Irey https://blueskyefinancial.com/ LPL Financial and Blue Skye Financial are separate entities.  Matthew Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-cfp%C2%AE-5a2144134/ https://schrockfin.com/ Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA [https://www.finra.org/]/SIPC  [https://www.sipc.org/]

S2 E10: Money Matters in Marriage with Carine & Joe Keenan

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 values like status or future security.  Communication breaks down through avoidance, poor timing, and stress (HALTS: hungry, angry, lonely, tired, stressed), which amplifies anxiety. Tools include building self-awareness, using I-statements, scheduling regular “money talks,” creating a fun routine, and using timeouts with a commitment to resume within a day. They distinguish coaching (forward-focused planning and mindset) from therapy (healing deeper, compulsive or impairing behaviors) and describe their Keenan Financial Coaching work with couples across life transitions. 00:37 Meet the Guests 04:46 Why Money Peace Matters 07:00 Why Couples Fight About Money 08:38 Savers vs Spenders Explained 10:56 Why Communication Breaks Down 14:24 Avoidance and Better Timing 16:44 Owning Your Money Fears 20:22 Early Money Classroom Exercise 22:45 Retail Therapy and Awareness Hacks 24:16 Money Talks and Timeouts 32:17 Make Meetings Fun 33:47 Agenda And Prep System 36:10 Keep Growing Together 40:00 When To Get Help 42:55 Coaching Vs Counseling 46:30 Who Their Coaching Serves 50:05 Final Takeaways And Wrap Resources Carine & Joe Keenan https://keenanfinancialcoaching.com/ Matthew Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-cfp%C2%AE-5a2144134/ https://schrockfin.com/ Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA [https://www.finra.org/]/SIPC  [https://www.sipc.org/]

S2 E9: Money Talk for Couples with Sarah Carr

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 barriers that block follow-through on financial plans.  They explore why money is a top source of conflict, how it can represent many different piece of our identity, and how subconscious “money scripts” formed in childhood shape behavior. The discussion emphasizes shared goals, curiosity, and creating emotional safety, using values-based planning to align spending with what matters. Also covered in the conversation are regular money check-ins, worksheets, and the Financial Therapy Association directory to find help. 00:38 Meet Sarah Carr 02:33 What Is Financial Therapy 05:18 Emotions Block Action 07:16 Why Money Talks Are Hard 09:26 Money Scripts And Origins 13:23 Healthy Couple Communication 26:48 Finding Your Values 27:48 Reconciling Different Values 30:16 Curiosity Over Conflict 33:28 Creating Safety in Money Talks 36:03 Internal Scripts and Trauma 45:58 Practical Tools and Money Check Ins 49:44 When to Seek Financial Therapy Resources Sarah Carr Money Histories Worksheet [file:///S:/Shared%20Files/Podcast/Sarah%20Carr/Money%20Histories%20Sarah%20Carr%20Financial.pdf] (file:///S:/Shared%20Files/Podcast/Sarah%20Carr/Money%20Histories%20Sarah%20Carr%20Financial.pdf)  https://sarahcarrfinancial.com/  Matthew Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-cfp%C2%AE-5a2144134/ https://schrockfin.com/ Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA [https://www.finra.org/]/SIPC  [https://www.sipc.org/]