UNH Finance Alums Are Reimagining Retirement Advice
Kyle Hurley ’18, left, and Jon Coughlin ’17 record an episode of The Retirement Playbook, their weekly radio show and podcast.
Retirement planning is one of those topics many people know they should think about — but often put off until later. Jon Coughlin '17 and Kyle Hurley '18 are trying to change that.
The two wealth advisors at Munroe Morrow Wealth Management in Boston started building an audience online — Hurley writing blogs that break down common retirement questions and misconceptions, Coughlin creating fun, informative videos about personal finance on Instagram.
Their growing online presence caught the attention of company founder Greg Munroe, who saw an opportunity for the pair to host the company's weekly radio show and podcast, The Retirement Playbook.
Each week on WRKO-AM in Boston, Coughlin and Hurley tackle retirement topics that often overwhelm people — from Social Security and Medicare to taxes and investment strategies — and turn them into practical conversations for everyday listeners.
"We try to strip away the classic finance jargon, use real-life examples, and focus on the decisions people actually need to make instead of trying to teach every technical detail," Hurley says.
"The simplicity is the highest form of sophistication," Coughlin says. "Being able to take a complicated topic and make it digestible and relatable is much harder than just throwing a bunch of information and numbers at people."
Coughlin and Hurley plan topics weeks in advance, and then refine each episode with current events, listener questions, and examples that make retirement concepts easier to understand.
The process has challenged both hosts to become better communicators — not only for listeners but also for the clients they work with every day.
"It's made me much more intentional about using plain English instead of industry language," Hurley says. "Storytelling is huge. When someone hears a story that they relate to, similar job, similar pain point, similar background; the lightbulb goes off, and they lean in."
Why Financial Education Shouldn't Stop at the Office
By putting themselves on social media and the radio, Coughlin and Hurley hope to reach people who may never have considered speaking with a financial advisor.
"These platforms let us educate people before they ever become clients and show them what's actually possible with thoughtful financial planning," Hurley says. "If someone learns something valuable and makes a better decision, even if they never work with us, to me that's a huge win."
Coughlin also hopes the content helps reshape how people think about the profession itself.
"Financial advisors sometimes get a bad rap. People see them as salespeople who are trying to sell a product and earn a commission, and the industry hasn't always been transparent about how advisors are compensated," Coughlin says. "We want to be an open book, make financial planning more accessible and encourage people to at least explore working with a professional because I think a lot of people can benefit from that guidance."
Finance is More Than Numbers
For students considering a career in finance, both alumni say the role extends far beyond managing investments. Coughlin, who studied finance, says much of his work centers on building long-term relationships with clients and helping them navigate major financial decisions throughout life.
Jon Coughlin ’17
"Finance is such a broad field, and if you're someone who enjoys building relationships, it can be an incredibly rewarding career," Coughlin says. "A lot of what I do is connecting people with the right resources and helping them solve problems. Whether it's an individual client or an institution, those relationships are what make the job interesting."
Hurley, who studied finance and accounting, says he learned at UNH how to “become comfortable being uncomfortable," something he urges current finance students to embrace as they forge their own paths through the industry.
"Putting yourself out there can be uncomfortable, but growth usually happens outside your comfort zone," Hurley says. "Don't focus on sounding smart or being perfect. Become relentless at bringing value to people. Some of the best opportunities come from sharing what you know in a way that's simple and approachable. Whether it's writing, speaking, creating videos, or starting a podcast, put yourself out there. Your knowledge creates value only when people can understand it and use it."
Both alumni also credit the network they built at UNH with helping launch their careers.
"I am where I am today because of UNH and the friends I met there. I have this job because of another UNH friend, and I met Kyle at UNH," Coughlin says. "Those relationships were absolutely invaluable — you can't put a price on that."