Matthew Gray interviews mortgage banker Sol Skolnik (“Professor Home Loan”) about financing residential investment properties. Skolnik explains his background entering lending in 2006 and why sustainable loan fit matters after seeing risky pre-crash products. They cover who should consider rentals, including portfolio diversification, landlord responsibilities, and using managing agents.

Skolnik outlines key financing options, evaluating areas and rental markets, using inspections, lender qualification factors, and pre-approvals vs TBD commitment letters. Sol also goes through the differences between brokers, mortgage banks, and depository banks. Stay tuned to the end to learn how to contact Skolnik for a free book and lending coverage.

00:37 Meet Professor Home Loan
01:36 Saul’s Mortgage Journey
04:08 Why Sustainability Matters
06:31 Should You Buy Rentals?
08:23 Financing Options Overview
13:33 Rates Terms and Down Payments
15:21 Picking Markets and Pros
17:14 Inspections and Risk Checks
18:34 What Lenders Evaluate
20:33 Picking the Right Market
21:26 Financing and Preapproval Limits
23:25 TBD Commitment Letters
26:02 Choosing Lenders and Brokers
32:18 Refinancing and Doing the Math
33:41 Landlord Responsibilities Reality
37:01 Wrap Up and Disclosures

Resources

Sol Skolnick

914-380-0600

sskolnick@unitedmortgage.com

https://solskolnick2.book.live/mortgage-lenders-buyers-book

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/SIPC

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/SIPC

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/SIPC

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

The Coddling of the American Mind

Antifragile

The Anxious Generation

Socratic Circles

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/SIPC

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/SIPC

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)

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/SIPC

Matthew Gray hosts and welcomes repeat guest Rick Williams, a licensed Virginia realtor with Kline May Realty, to explain the home-selling process. Rick emphasizes that selling is more than listing and waiting, and outlines common seller mistakes such as doing major renovations without advice, waiting for “perfect timing,” and leaning on friends instead of professionals.

He describes how he prices homes using comparative market analysis with AI tools plus manual MLS review and broker input, and why pricing too high or too low can deter buyers. They discuss preparing a home, listing steps, evaluating offers beyond price, and how AI helps communications and marketing. They also touch on how AI can’t replace local expertise, judgment, or negotiation.

00:38 Meet Rick Williams
03:07 Why Selling Is Complex
05:22 Common Seller Mistakes
10:32 Goals and Strategy Fit
13:32 How to Price Right
18:11 Prep and Repairs
23:52 Listing and Marketing Plan
27:09 Evaluating Offers
30:01 Contingencies Explained
35:31 From Contract to Closing
38:45 AI Tools and Pitfalls
43:23 Final Advice and Wrap Up

Resources

Rick Williams

http://realestatewithrick.net/

Rick.Williams@KlineMay.com

540-416-1040

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/SIPC

Matthew Gray interviews attorney Michael Sharp about the risks and process of leaving stable employment to start a business while married with young children. Sharp, owner of Sharp Litigation, PLC in Harrisonburg, Virginia, describes moving from associate to partner and managing partner at a larger firm, then realizing partnership has a different vision of ownership, values, teamwork, and strategic business focus he expected.

After clarifying essentials such as connected teamwork, a narrowed civil-litigation focus, and a supportive culture, he planned the transition with his wife—including a detailed financial/time presentation—and launched his firm in January 2024 with two colleagues. He discusses early infrastructure challenges, managing time with family, hiring operational support to free him for revenue-generating legal work, building and formalizing systems as the team grows, unexpected community support, and a client-as-hero philosophy applied to intake and communication.

00:37 Meet Michael Sharp
02:20 From Associate to Partner
05:05 What Partnership Really Means
08:22 Essentialism and Values
11:18 Building a Team Vision
13:53 The Leap and Family Buy In
18:35 First Months in Business
21:02 Time Freedom and Hiring Help
23:49 Systems Growth Pains
27:49 Unexpected Wins and Advice
32:25 Client as the Hero
37:19 Who They Serve and Wrap Up

Resources

Michael Sharp

https://www.sharplitigation.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-sharp-279013288/

https://www.amazon.com/Essentialism-Disciplined-Pursuit-Greg-McKeown/dp/0804137382

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/SIPC