Dollars & Sense

Renting vs. buying a home is about more than deciding whether you would rather pay rent or a mortgage. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Marion and Christian discuss the costs of renting and homeownership, common misconceptions, market conditions, and the personal factors that can help determine which option makes sense for your financial plan.

There is a tendency to hear “renting” and immediately think you are throwing money away. But buying a home comes with expenses of its own, including some you may not see coming until something breaks. Because apparently the house did not get the memo that you already had plans for that money.

Together they look at the pros and cons of renting an apartment, condo, or house compared with buying a home. They also discuss why housing market conditions, financial circumstances, lifestyle needs, and future plans deserve a seat at the table when you are making the decision.

Ultimately, renting versus buying is not a question with one universal answer. It is about understanding the trade-offs, looking at the bigger financial picture, and choosing the option that makes sense for you. That is what financial planning should be: Financial Advice in a Language You Can Understand.

Key Takeaways:

• Renting is not automatically a bad financial decision
• Unexpected expenses should be part of the homeownership conversation
• Current market conditions can influence the rent-versus-buy equation
• The role of financial goals, priorities, and long-term plan
• Mortgage payment is not the only cost associated with owning a home

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Learn more about Freedman Financial by visiting our website and following us on Facebook & LinkedIn.  

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LPL Tracking #: 1198337

Disclosures:

During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial a registered investment advisor, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you.

Personalized financial planning begins with understanding the person behind the numbers. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Marc and Marion explain why financial advisors need to learn about a client’s spending habits, investment accounts, family circumstances, and financial goals before making recommendations.

A financial plan should not be assembled from a stack of statements and a few checked boxes. Your decisions are shaped by how you use money, what responsibilities you carry, and what you want your future to look like. Those details help turn general financial advice into guidance that is more relevant to your life.

Marc and Marion share how asking thoughtful questions can create a clearer picture of a client’s needs. They also discuss the role that trust, communication, and perspective play in retirement planning, investment planning, and other important financial decisions.

After all, knowing which accounts you have is helpful. Knowing why you have them, how they fit together, and what you need them to do is where the real planning begins. It is financial advice in a language you can understand, built around a relationship rather than a formula.

Key Takeaways:

• Why good advisors ask detailed questions before offering advice
• How spending habits can influence financial recommendations
• A strong financial plan connects your resources with your real-world goals
• The role of financial goals, priorities, and personal preferences
• How trust and communication strengthen the planning relationship

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Learn more about Freedman Financial by visiting our website and following us on Facebook & LinkedIn.  

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LPL Tracking #: 1193920

Disclosures:

During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial a registered investment advisor, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you.

Taxes are one of those topics that seem more complicated than they really are, and they're often the subject of some lively discussions around the office. 

In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Marc and Christian break down how taxes actually work and why getting a refund or owing money at tax time isn't necessarily a reflection of your accountant's work. They explain how tax withholding throughout the year plays a major role in determining your final tax outcome and why the tax system is essentially designed as a checks-and-balances process. 

Whether you're celebrating a refund, writing a check to the IRS, or simply trying to better understand where your money goes, Marc and Christian offer practical insights to help make tax season a little less confusing. 

#DollarsAndSense #FinancialPlanning #Retirement Planning #PersonalFinance #FinancialAdvisor #FinancialServices #MeetTheTeam 

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A full complement of Dollars & Sense broadcasts found here: https://freedmanfinancial.podbean.com/ 

You can also find our Dollars & Sense episodes streaming on:  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freedmanfinancial/id605811046 
TuneIn + Alexa: http://tun.in/pkkKg 
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/dollars-and-sense/PC:67502 

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LPL Tracking #: 1190270 

Disclosures: 

During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations. 

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you. 

Roth conversions have become one of the most common topics Marc and Christian discuss with clients today. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, they break down what a Roth conversion is, why it can be a powerful tax-planning strategy, and the situations where it may or may not make sense.

Marc and Christian explain the key differences between traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 401(k)s, while helping listeners understand the tax implications in plain, easy-to-follow language. Whether you're considering a Roth conversion or simply looking to make more informed retirement planning decisions, this episode offers practical insights to help you evaluate your options with confidence.

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LPL Tracking #: 1186727

Disclosures:

During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you.

Fall is in the air, which means it's time for one of Marc and Marion's favorite local traditions: the Topsfield Fair!

In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Marc and Marion sit down to talk about this year's fair, where Freedman Financial is a proud sponsor. They share what visitors can expect at various booths, highlight some of the contests, food, and attractions they're most looking forward to, and discuss the free giveaways available throughout the event.

They also shift gears to cover an important topic for older adults: transportation. As they explore alternative ways to stay mobile and connected, Marc and Marion share practical tips for navigating transportation safely and confidently as we age.

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LPL Tracking #: 1182569

Disclosures:

During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you.

Remember when we headed to FOCUS back in July? We brought along a special guest: our newest team member, Corey! 

In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Marc sits down with Corey, who is currently in training to become an associate financial advisor with our team, to talk about his role on the team, the skills and perspectives he brings to the firm, and why building meaningful client relationships and incorporating care into all we do remain at the heart of our work. 

As the third generation of Freedman’s to join the firm, Corey offers a unique perspective on where we've been, where we're headed, and what continues to make Freedman Financial special. 

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LPL Tracking #:1182175

Disclosures: 

During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations. 

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you. 

Remember that financial plan you created 10 or 15 years ago?

There's a good chance your life looks different today than it did when you first put that plan on paper.

In this week's episode of Dollars & Sense, Marc and Christian discuss why financial planning isn't a one-time event. Through real client stories, they explore how changing careers, growing families, unexpected opportunities, and shifting priorities can all influence your financial future.

Join Marc and Christian as they share why revisiting your financial plan from time to time can help ensure it keeps up with the life you're living today, not the one you imagined years ago.

A full complement of Dollars & Sense broadcasts found here.

 

DISCLOSURES:
During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you.

 

Tracking #: 1175098

 

 

Dollars & Sense podcast now streaming on:
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Apple Podcasts, previously known as iTunes
Google Podcasts
TuneIn + Alexa
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In this week's episode, Marc sits down with Christian to discuss his journey into the financial services industry, how he got started with Freedman Financial, and the experiences that have shaped his career. They also discuss Christian's recent promotion and reflect on the growth and evolution of the firm, the values that continue to drive its success, and what lies ahead for the future.

Join Marc and Christian for an inside look at the people, growth, and vision behind Freedman Financial in this week's episode.

 

A full complement of Dollars & Sense broadcasts found here.

 

DISCLOSURES:
During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you.

 

Tracking #: 1172890

 

Dollars & Sense podcast now streaming on:
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Apple Podcasts, previously known as iTunes
Google Podcasts
TuneIn + Alexa
Pandora
PodBean

 

Gold. Cryptocurrency. Buying a new home.

These are some of the most common questions Marc and Marion hear, and for good reason. With so much information coming at us every day, it can be hard to know what's worth paying attention to and what's just noise. In this week's episode, they discuss how they approach these big financial decisions, drawing on years of experience, real-world lessons, and thoughtful planning. It's an inside look at how smart strategies are built, not from predictions or headlines, but from a clear process and a long-term perspective.

Join Marc and Marion as they break down these timely topics and share practical insights to help you make smarter, more confident financial decisions in this week's episode.

 

 

A full complement of Dollars & Sense broadcasts found here.

 

DISCLOSURES:
During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you.

 

Tracking #: 1156913

 

Dollars & Sense podcast now streaming on:
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Apple Podcasts, previously known as iTunes
Google Podcasts
TuneIn + Alexa
Pandora
PodBean

Would you recognize a financial scam before it's too late?

In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Marc and Marion share a story of a client who came alarmingly close to becoming victims of a sophisticated scam. Fortunately, a few warning signs, some quick action, and the experience that comes from helping families navigate situations like these helped stop the fraud before real damage was done.

The reality is that scammers are getting more convincing every day. That's why knowing what to look for can make all the difference. Listen in as the team walks through what happened, the lessons learned, and a few practical ways to help protect yourself and the people you care about.

A full complement of Dollars & Sense broadcasts found here.

 

 

DISCLOSURES:
During Dollars & Sense with Freedman Financial, your host, Marc Freedman, may discuss specific financial planning and investment ideas. These discussions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a Member of FINRA and SIPC. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner professional, qualified attorney, or tax advisor prior to investing to determine what is appropriate for you.

 

Tracking #: 1163958

 

Dollars & Sense podcast now streaming on:
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2ZyZWVkbWFuZmluYW5jaWFsL2ZlZWQueG1s

TuneIn + Alexa
Pandora