Finance With Factor

Darren Lee, board member of Friends of Boston’s Homeless, shares his powerful story of resilience. At 7 years old, Darren became unhoused when his mother courageously escaped an abusive spouse. With the support of community organizations and advocates, he found stability and went on to achieve personal and professional success.

We talk about the realities of childhood homelessness, domestic violence, and the critical role of community support in breaking cycles of hardship. Darren’s journey is heartbreaking and hopeful, but not unfamiliar.  He shares the impact that nonprofits like Friends of Boston’s Homeless can make for our community.

Listen now to hear Darren’s inspiring story—and learn how you can get involved to help vulnerable neighbors facing homelessness and housing insecurity.

***Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, homelessness, and substance abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

Back-to-school isn’t just for kids—real estate pros need engaging education too. Marisa Suescun of the Boston Debate League shares strategies to design workshops, panels, and seminars that captivate well-seasoned colleagues and first-time learners alike.

Adam Shulman, Realtor with Leading Edge, reflects on how his background as a social worker shaped the way he approaches real estate. He shares how listening skills, patience, and adaptable communication have helped him serve clients more effectively. Through relatable stories and practical advice, Adam reveals how to consciously draw lessons from your own life experiences to grow both personally and professionally.

In a fast-moving, competitive market, writing a winning offer is as much an art as it is a science. Angela Zullo, Realtor with Lamacchia Realty and YPN GBAR Committee Board Member, joins the podcast to break down the most effective strategies we discussed at GBAR’s recent panel "The Art of the Offer" to share our key takeaways. Tune in to learn the tips and stratagies some of Boston’s best agents are using to get their homebuyers to the closing table.

Bea Murphy, Realtor with Lamacchia Realty, shares insights from both her own experiences and teaming with her real estate investor clients. She breaks down how to evaluate short-term vs. long-term rental opportunities and what factors to consider before making an offer. Bea also offers practical tips on preparing for and managing the unique challenges of short-term rentals. Whether you're a first-time investor or growing your portfolio, this episode is packed with valuable advice and real life stories.

Jim Major, Realtor at Lamacchia Real Estate & Director of the Greater Boston Association of Realtors and Director of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, joins Debbie Sousa, Director of the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association, to break down the key legislation and policy debates shaping the future of housing in Massachusetts. As leaders and local experts, they offer insider insights on what’s at stake for hopeful homebuyers, current homeowners, and future sellers. Tune in to understand how these changes could impact you—and how you can help your local experts advocate for your best interests.

To be clear, nobody actually calls Adam Shulman, Realtor with Leading Edge Real Estate, "Malden Man" or any version of that. But, Adam has invested time to become a go to local expert, advocate, and resource within the Malden business community. He leverages his connections to promote and platform local small businesses and small business owners while creating genuine off camera relationships that help him better serve his customers and partners. Real estate professionals and business owners, enjoy this episode for tips and advice on how to deepen your community involvement and community engagement. Listen to how easy it is to learn from his success and customize it to fit your business.

More than 6,800 residential real estate agents switched brokerages this spring, a 66% increase from the same quarter last year. Jeremy Poock Esq, founder of Senior Attorney Match, dives into business transition and acquisition planning, offering guidance on how to sell, pass down, or grow your business. With market volume still tight and an aging workforce, many lenders, realtors, and attorneys are asking: what's next? Jeremy shares how to evaluate your options and prepare for a smooth transition and/or strategic growth. No matter what type of business, service, or practice you run, Jermey provide tips and advice for your business's next step.

Jeremy Vaille, Financial Advisor at Arsenal Financial and host of The Arsenal Money Clip Podcast, to debunk one of the most common investing myths: timing the market. Jeremy explains why trying to outsmart market cycles is more risk than reward—and how consistency often beats prediction. Whether you're in real estate or traditional investing, timing may seem like everything, but in reality, it’s anything but predictable. Tune in for practical insights on building long-term wealth without the guesswork.