Matthew Crum

I joined 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, Brian, and I live in Orlando, FL with our two young boys. I grew up watching my parents balance a W2 job, with steady income, a commission role, and managing a portfolio of real estate that included single family homes, multi-unit properties and an apartment complex. From that, I absorbed a mindset that there was more than one way to provide for yourself. That you could manage yourself and your time and that the idea of having multiple streams of income is a feasible strategy. A year after graduating from college, I purchased my first home, lived in one room and rented out another one of the rooms. From there the journey to create multiple sources of income began. Now, as the parents of 2 young boys, my husband, Brian, and I are trying to demonstrate the same entrepreneurial spirit to our boys as we manage our rental property and our peer-to-peer car sharing business. We are enjoying the journey and our experiences flow over into my work with clients as their financial coach and business coach. I have worked 17 years in the financial services industry. Real Life Planning works with clients virtually from anywhere. Interested in the real (estate) life? Book a discovery call today.

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.