Emerald Retirement Planning Group

06/01/2026

AI Will Create More Jobs, Not Fewer

https://www.apollo.com/wealth/the-daily-spark/ai-will-create-more-jobs-not-fewer

05/14/2026

We are pleased to be sponsoring this year's Annual Women's Distance Festival. There's plenty of time to get involved if you happen to be in the Rockland area!

05/12/2026

I readily admit that not every billionaire has “earned” every dollar of wealth in the same moral or economic sense. Some get lucky through speculation, leverage, inheritance, timing, or a few fortunate bets strung together.

But real value creation comes from building or owning enterprises that produce unique, useful, and scalable goods and services—or from patiently investing over long periods into those same productive companies.

To suggest that no one who has amassed a net worth of a billion dollars has earned it is simply false. More importantly, it is a sentiment deeply hostile to the liberties and incentives that make capital markets work in the first place. People pursue big ideas, often at significant personal and financial risk, and sometimes those ideas become companies that create new products, new services, new jobs, new efficiencies, and new opportunities for millions of others.

That does not make every fortune noble, and it does not excuse fraud, cronyism, or abuse. But in a free economy, wealth created by serving customers, attracting voluntary capital, employing people, and building something valuable is not a systemic failure. It is the system working exactly as intended.

“The struggle is real and it’s not your fault,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez said, arguing that no one can truly “earn” a billion dollars.

05/05/2026

Last month, we had the honor of celebrating Matthew S. Clement, CFP®, AIF® and 22 years of leadership, dedication, and vision behind Emerald Retirement.

His hard work, focus, and commitment have built more than a business—he’s built a team, a culture, and a lasting impact on so many lives. We’re grateful to be part of the journey and proud to support him every step of the way.

We hope you enjoyed your well-deserved time in Hawaii with your family—an incredible trip earned through Cetera’s Circle of Excellence, recognizing outstanding achievement among top advisors. A truly well-earned honor.

Click here to take a closer look at the team and Emerald Retirement today: https://www.emeraldretirement.com/newsletter

*The Cetera Financial Group's Circle of Excellence recognition is not a guarantee of future investment success and should not be construed as an endorsement of by any client.

01/01/2026

As we welcome the new year, we’re grateful for the trust, support, and relationships that made the past year meaningful. Wishing our clients, friends, and family a joyful and successful year ahead.

12/02/2025

07/01/2025

📣 Community Outreach Highlight – Financial Fundamentals

Last month, our founder and lead planner Matthew Clement, CFP®, had the privilege of speaking at Atonement Lutheran Church in Stony Point during the June birthday celebration and coffee hour hosted by the Ladies Guild.

Matthew delivered an encouraging message on the fundamentals of financial planning—emphasizing that financial success isn’t reserved for the wealthy, but for those who are patient, disciplined, and willing to learn. The talk covered essential topics like budgeting, investing, healthcare planning, and how to make appropriate decisions about things like insurance, estate transfer, gifting and retirement transitions.

An extended Q&A session reflected the specific interests and concerns of the congregation. From questions about Social Security and long-term care to mortgages and college funding, the discussion affirmed what we believe at Emerald: everyone deserves clarity and confidence about their financial future, with information delivered in a way that is simple and actionable.

We’re grateful to the Ladies Guild and Atonement Lutheran Church community for the warm welcome and meaningful conversation.

💬 If your community group, nonprofit, or church would benefit from an accessible, empowering financial planning presentation, we’d love to help. Reach out to schedule a session.

06/17/2025

Emerald Retirement is a proud sponsor of the 38th Annual Women's Distance Festival 5K.

If you are in the Rockland County area Sunday July 13th, please consider joining us to help CHASE THE CHANGE!

04/19/2025

Some good may come from the rapidly shifting nature of today's federal governance. Long-term business growth and profit is best achieved through long-term planning, and quarterly prognostication has never been particularly effective for the companies that you and we own.

Time will tell, but if retail store hours can permanently change as a result of COVID, it's not far fetched to believe that this too could be permanent, or at least long lasting.

Also: New tech tariffs are coming. Again. But polls show the public isn’t happy over expected higher prices.

12/05/2024

Exciting News!

We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to the Clement family!

Please join us in welcoming Ethan Matthew Clement, born on Tuesday, November 26th, at 5:37 PM. He weighed 6lbs 7oz and measured 19.5 inches.

Matthew, Gail, and proud big brothers Andrew (age 8) and Colin (age 4) are overjoyed and doing well.

Thank you for sharing in our joy as we celebrate this wonderful blessing!