Matthew Carbray CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®
Managing Member/Certified Financial Planner
Matthew Carbray offers comprehensive financial planning advice to individuals, families, and small business owners. Partnering with clients to define their financial priorities, short-term goals, and long-term aspirations, Matthew designs comprehensive, customized, and flexible financial plans to help them achieve their desired financial futures. A core focus of Matt's practice is helping business owners and entrepreneurs to figure out how to successfully exit their business.
Prior to founding Ridgeline Financial Partners, Matthew began his career as a financial planner with New England Financial in 2002 and co-founded Carbray Staunton Financial Planners, LLC, in 2006. Matthew earned a BS in financial services with a dual minor concentration in law and taxation from Bryant University in 2002 and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Chartered Financial Consultant® and Chartered Life Underwriter® designation. Currently Matt is finalizing his accreditation for the Certified Exit Planner (CExP™) designation through the Business Exit Institute.
Matthew has earned numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. New England Financial selected Matthew as its Best New Agent in 2002, and in 2006 awarded him an Outstanding Achievement Award and the title of Advisor of the Year. In addition, Matthew was named a Five Star Wealth Manager for overall customer satisfaction in 2012-2023* by Connecticut Magazine. He was named a winner of best Financial Advisor in the Best of Hartford Magazine 2016, 2017, 2018, as well as best financial management company in 2020. In 2013, Matthew was selected by Hartford Business Journal for inclusion in the 40 Under Forty, an honor bestowed on outstanding business leaders in the community. Matt is highly sought after for his expertise in the media and is a frequent contributor on FOX News, Fox Business, CT Fox 61, WFSB Channel 3, WTNH Channel 8 and WVIT Channel 30. Recently, he has been looked to as a resource for his expertise in helping individuals and businesses navigate the COVID-19 stimulus programs. A frequent contributor to CT's most watched weekend show, "This Week in CT with Dennis House", Matt provides updates on the local economy and markets.
Matthew is a Registered Representative with Kestra Investment Services, LLC and an Investment Advisor Representative with Kestra Advisory Services, LLC.
Outside of the professional sphere, Matthew stays actively involved in his community through a number of leadership and mentorship positions. He serves or has served as a member of the Board or Trustees for several organizations, including the Greater Hartford Boys and Girls Club, St. Thomas More School, and the 21st Century Tolland Fund, which raises money and awareness for athletes with disabilities. Matthew coached for the city of Hartford's Saturday Hoopsters basketball program, founded Hartford High School's High Hopes College Ladder program, and was a participant in Leadership Greater Hartford's Quest program. He also has served as the secretary of the West End Civic Association and was co-chairman of the Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade. In addition, Matthew is a past president of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Irish American Home in Glastonbury, CT and a volunteer baseball and softball coach for the Avon Little League. Charity continues to be a core characteristic of our philosophy.
Matthew married his wife, Shannon, on New Year's Eve 2010, and they currently reside in Avon with their three children Michaela, Nathan, and Rory.
*To receive the 2018 Five Star Wealth Manager award, researched and managed by Five Star Professional, a wealth manager must meet 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria associated with wealth managers who provide quality services to their clients. 3178 Connecticut area wealth managers were considered for the award; 293 (9 percent of candidates) were named 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers, which represents less than 2% of the total wealth managers in the area. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of the 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance.