Emerald Retirement Planning Group

06/17/2026

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Today we're celebrating our founder, Matthew Clement — and the steady, optimistic spirit he's brought to this work for more than two decades.

Anyone who's sat across the table from Matthew knows the feeling of leaving calmer and more confident than when they arrived. That's no accident. It comes from his belief that good planning isn't about predicting what's next — it's about being prepared for it and staying focused on what you can control.

Matthew, thank you for the calm, clarity, and confidence you bring to our clients, our team, and this work every day. Your leadership continues to shape the culture and values that make our firm special.

Here's to celebrating you today and to many more years of making a difference in the lives of everyone around you.

06/08/2026

This Sunday, Matthew, Melissa, and Matthew's wife, Gail, took part in the 21st Annual North Rockland Community 5K Run/Walk, benefiting three children in the community with medical needs.

Congratulations to all three for finishing in the top four of their respective age groups (and no, we're not revealing who's in which age 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.