Matthew Crum

Welcome! I'm Cynthia Meyer, CFA®, CFP®, ChFC®, a real estate investor, financial planner, and real estate business coach. I founded Real Life Planning to mentor a new generation of real estate investors. We help real estate investors take practical steps to build financial freedom, create multiple sources of income, and make working for someone else optional. At Real Life Planning, we speak both real estate and financial planning. Whether you're adding to your properties, contemplating a 1031 exchange, listing your place on Airbnb, getting started as a landlord, or looking to buy a home overseas, we'll help you create a realistic plan for your financial life goals. As you build your investment property portfolio, we will help you plan to optimize taxes and diversify risks, manage total cash flow, and prepare for new opportunities. Our clients are - Rental property investors looking for a comprehensive financial plan - Professionals considering a real estate side hustle to create an additional source of income - People with inherited rental property - Homeowners maximizing opportunities for income - Americans looking to buy property overseas - Expats buying homes in the U.S. We're a Fee-Only fiduciary firm, so we work for you, not for Wall Street. That's why our fees are inclusive and transparent. My husband Steve and I have three kids and live in central NJ, in the NYC metro area. We are both first-generation real estate investors with small multifamily properties, single-family homes, and a small apartment complex. We invest out of state and use a property manager. A financial advisor since 1997, I founded Real Life Planning and co-founded the Real Estate Financial Coach Course, Real Estate For Generations, and the You Unlimited coaching program. Real Life Planning works with clients virtually from anywhere and in-person in the NYC area. Interested in the real (estate) life? Book a discovery call today.

John Guyet is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He leads an advisory team focused on helping high net worth families and individuals manage their wealth and achieve their long-term financial objectives. John brings over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, beginning his career in 1997 with asset management firms including Lord Abbett, Nuveen Investments, and Lazard Asset Management. He joined Merrill in 2021, transitioning to wealth management. His expertise encompasses a wide range of client focus areas such as college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, philanthropic planning, retirement income, and services tailored for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. John holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a bachelor's degree from Stockton University. John is engaged in community service and volunteers with the Our House Foundation. Outside of work, he enjoys fishing, golfing, hiking, reading, skiing, traveling, and spending time with his family. His approach involves working one-on-one with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aligned with their long-term goals.

Gerald Dowling is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, and retirement income. With a career spanning over 45 years, he works primarily with self-employed business owners and professionals to help them achieve their investment goals through retirement. Gerald’s expertise includes the selection of individual equities, municipal bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. He entered the securities industry in 1979 and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2005 following the acquisition of his previous firm. He holds multiple FINRA registrations, including Series 3, 7, 8, 63, and 65, as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He earned a bachelor's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MBA from Seton Hall University. Gerald resides in Madison, NJ with his wife, Dori, and they have three grown children. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, watching movies, and writing.

Thomas Tishman is a Wealth Management Advisor and First Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In October 2024, he co-founded the Tishman-Dunst Wealth Management Group with Bryan Dunst. Tom supports clients by developing personalized financial approaches, focusing on family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. He incorporates alternative investments alongside traditional stock and bond portfolios to help clients pursue their financial goals. Tom has more than 40 years of experience on Wall Street, including roles as a financial forecaster, government bond trader, and financial advisor. He joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in May 2005 and has earned several professional designations, such as Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He holds FINRA securities registrations, CFTC commodities licenses, and life and health insurance licenses. He attained the Wealth Management Advisor functional title in 2012, was promoted to Vice President in 2013, earned his Portfolio Manager designation in 2017, and became First Vice President in 2023. His background includes an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Computer Science, and Mathematics from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Beyond his professional career, Tom is bilingual in English and Spanish. He has contributed to the community by serving as Head Fencing Coach at Mendham High School from 2007 to 2011 and as Volunteer Chairman of USA Fencing’s New Jersey Division from 2010 to 2016. He resides in Mendham with his wife, a residential real estate broker, and has three children pursuing careers in fields including robotics sales, urban planning, and metal sculpture. Tom's personal interests include genealogy, soccer, and yoga.

Zamira Sanchez is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in personalized wealth management strategies tailored to help clients pursue their long-term financial goals. She works closely with families, professionals, and small business owners, collaborating with other trusted professionals such as attorneys and accountants to provide a comprehensive view of each client's financial situation. Her approach emphasizes customized solutions that go beyond portfolio management to include wealth transfer and estate planning. With over 15 years of experience in the finance industry, Zamira holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She maintains a range of securities registrations through FINRA, including Series 7, 9, 10, 63, and 65, as well as multiple insurance licenses such as Life, Accident and Health, Variable Life, Variable Annuity, Property and Casualty, and certification in Long Term Care. Her background also includes experience in human resources and accounting, and she is well-versed in Medicare, assisting clients in navigating related complexities. Zamira holds the professional designations of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of her professional career, Zamira lives in Randolph, NJ with her husband David and their two children. She spends her free time gardening, running for charitable causes, volunteering in her children's activities, hiking, skiing, enjoying music, and traveling. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Zamira brings a broad perspective to her client relationships.

Erika Zuluaga serves as a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, she provides advisory and wealth management services to a diverse client base that includes affluent families, professionals, business owners, and corporate executives and employees. Her experience encompasses a wide range of financial planning areas, including retirement income strategies, portfolio management, and services tailored for defined benefit plans, endowments, foundations, and non-profits. Erika's expertise supports clients through various stages of their financial journeys, including divorce transition planning. Erika's professional background is complemented by her education and credentials. She holds a Master's degree from Saint Joseph's University and a Bachelor's degree from LaSalle University. Additionally, she has earned multiple professional designations, such as Certified 401(k) Professional, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™, and Personal Investment Advisor. Erika is also involved in community activities, supporting organizations including the Christopher Doto Memorial Scholarship Foundation and participating with the Delaware Valley Youth Athletic Association and Saint Pio Catholic School.