Women's Money Wisdom

Melissa Joy, CFP®
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

You’re working hard, caring for everyone else, and managing a thousand details a day - but when was the last time you focused on your finances?As a woman, you might carry the emotional and logistical weight of caregiving, parenting, career-building, and household management. It’s no wonder financial planning tends to fall to the bottom of your list -yet it’s one of the most important tools you have for protecting your future, your family, and your peace of mind.Women’s Money Wisdom is here to change that.Hosted by Melissa Joy, CFP®, founder of Pearl Planning in Dexter, Michigan, this weekly podcast is your space for practical insights and relatable advice to help you take control of your financial life. From investing and retirement to navigating life transitions and shifting your money mindset, you'll gain the clarity and confidence you need to make empowered decisions.Maybe you’re preparing for retirement, juggling the needs of both kids and aging parents, or growing a business you’ve built from the ground up. You want to build wealth in a way that reflects your values. You want guidance that honors your full life, not just your portfolio. And most of all, you want a trusted partner who sees the whole picture, not just the numbers.If you’re ready to stop putting yourself last - at least financially -this podcast is your starting point.Subscribe to Women’s Money Wisdom and make your financial future a priority. The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only. No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https://pearlplanning.com/

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 343: Giving with Purpose - A Guide to Charitable Planning and Donor Advised Funds with Grace Bernhardt

    Charitable giving can grow your impact, pass your values to the next generation, and lower your tax bill, but only when the intent to give is genuine.  Melissa Joy, CFP®, sits down with Grace Bernhardt, Director of Charitable Solutions and Advisor Experience at Raymond James Trust, for a wide-ranging conversation on charitable giving philosophy and the planning tools available to put it into practice. Melissa and Grace walk through the full spectrum of giving vehicles, from private foundations and charitable lead and remainder trusts to the fast-growing donor advised fund, explaining how each structure works, who it tends to fit best, and the tax and legacy benefits each one offers. The conversation goes beyond the mechanics to explore why families give: using philanthropy to pass down values across generations, preparing heirs to be good stewards of wealth, and building giving strategies around major income events like a business sale, a large bonus year, or an inherited retirement account. Grace and Melissa also share how they each use donor advised funds in their own families, and Melissa reflects on why charitable giving should never be pursued purely for a tax break if the charitable intent isn't genuinely there. What You'll Learn The difference between a private foundation, a donor advised fund, and community foundations, and how to choose among themHow charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts work, and when each one makes senseWhy donor advised funds have become one of the fastest-growing charitable structures in the industryHow donating appreciated stock or other assets, rather than cash, can help you give away a future capital gains tax liabilityHow to use charitable giving strategically around high-income years, bunching deductions, and inherited retirement accountsHow to set up successor donors and legacy giving plans so a donor advised fund can outlast your lifetimeWhy charitable giving should be grounded in genuine intent, not pursued for tax benefits aloneAbout Grace Bernhardt Grace Bernhardt is Director of Charitable Solutions and Advisor Experience at Raymond James Trust, where she works with clients and financial advisors on philanthropic planning strategies, including donor advised funds, private foundations, and charitable trusts. She previously served as Director of Sustainable Investing at Raymond James. Learn more about Raymond James Charitable at raymondjamescharitable.org or connect with Grace on LinkedIn. The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...

    Episode 343: Giving with Purpose - A Guide to Charitable Planning and Donor Advised Funds with Grace Bernhardt

  2. Sep 22

    Episode: 342 Understanding Your Money Behavior: How Identity Drives Financial Decisions with Hugh Massie

    Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Hugh Massie, founder of DNA Behavior International, to explore how our natural, hardwired behavior shapes the way we make financial decisions, especially under pressure.  Hugh traces his path from CPA to behavioral pioneer, explaining how a simple observation, that people revert to their instinctive behavior when money puts them under stress, led him to build an objective measurement system now used in more than 125 countries.  Together, Melissa and Hugh unpack why a strengths-based conversation, rather than a deficit-based one, keeps clients empowered and engaged, and why understanding a person's struggles (their strengths overplayed) is just as important as celebrating their talents. The conversation turns to couples and money, where Hugh shares how opposite behavioral styles often attract each other in early marriages, and how an advisor can serve as a bridge that helps both partners feel heard rather than sidelined. Hugh also introduces DNA Behavior's assessment tools, including the newly launched GoDNA.ai, and explains how identity, not just strategy, is the foundation every sound financial decision should flow from. What You'll Learn Why people revert to their natural, instinctive behavior when money puts them under pressureThe difference between a strengths-based financial planning conversation and a deficit-based one, and why it keeps clients empoweredWhy understanding a client's “struggles” (strengths overplayed) matters as much as celebrating their strengthsHow identity, not just goals or strategy, is the foundation every financial decision should flow fromWhy couples often marry someone with an opposite behavioral style, and how that shows up in money decisionsHow an advisor can act as a neutral bridge that helps both partners in a relationship feel heardHow DNA Behavior's assessment tools, including the new GoDNA.ai platform, measure natural behavior in minutesAbout Hugh Massie Hugh Massie is the Founder and Executive Chairman of DNA Behavior International, “The Behavior and Money Insights Company,” which he founded in 2001 after beginning his career as a CPA and wealth manager in Sydney, Australia. Now based in Atlanta, Hugh has spent more than two decades building behavioral assessment tools that measure people's natural, hardwired behavior, work that today reaches individuals and organizations in more than 125 countries. He is the author of several books, including Financial DNA: Discovering Your Unique Financial Personality for a Quality Life, and is also the co-founder of Boys Without Fathers, a nonprofit mentoring organization. Website: https://www.dnabehavior.com Try GoDNA: https://www.godna.ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughmassie/ The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...

    Episode: 342 Understanding Your Money Behavior: How Identity Drives Financial Decisions with Hugh Massie

  3. Sep 15

    Episode 341: Saving Without Limits: How ABLE Accounts Empower People with Disabilities with Scott de Varona

    Most people have never heard of an ABLE account, but it may be one of the most useful and underused tools in disability financial planning. Melissa Joy, CFP®, is joined by Scott de Varona, division director of MiABLE, Michigan's ABLE savings program, to explain how these accounts let people with disabilities save and invest money without jeopardizing benefits like Medicaid, SSI, and SNAP.  For decades, individuals had to stay under a $2,000 asset limit to keep those benefits. ABLE accounts, modeled after the 529 education savings plan, changed that by giving people with disabilities a legal way to shelter savings, up to $20,000 a year, or $35,650 for those who are employed, while still qualifying for the programs they depend on. Scott and Melissa cover who qualifies (the eligibility window recently expanded from before age 26 to before age 46), what the money can be used for (housing, transportation, technology, health and wellness, and even funeral expenses, among many other categories), and how the accounts work alongside special needs trusts and other estate planning tools.  They also discuss an important open question: the Medicaid clawback provision that currently allows states to recoup funds from an ABLE account after the owner's death, and the pending state and federal legislation aimed at eliminating it. With an estimated one million Michiganders eligible and fewer than one percent enrolled, this conversation is a reminder that ABLE accounts likely apply to more listeners, or their family members, than they might expect. What You'll Learn What an ABLE account is and how it protects eligibility for Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, and other disability benefitsWho qualifies: the recent expansion of the eligibility window from disability onset before age 26 to before age 46The three ways to prove eligibility, including SSI/SSDI status, the compassionate allowances list, or a physician certification2026 contribution limits: $20,000 annually, plus up to $15,650 more for employed account owners under ABLE to WorkThe wide range of qualified disability expenses, from housing and transportation to assistive technology and funeral costsHow authorized individuals can manage an account on behalf of someone who lacks capacityThe current Medicaid clawback provision and the pending state and federal legislation that could eliminate itHow ABLE accounts can coordinate with special needs trusts and other estate planning strategiesAbout Scott de Varona Scott de Varona is the division director of MiABLE, Michigan's ABLE savings program for people with disabilities, and has led the program since its creation. He has worked for the State of Michigan since 1999 in various roles within the Departments of Treasury and Health and Human Services. Scott holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Northwood University and an MBA from the DeVos Graduate School of Management. Learn more or start an account at Michigan.gov/MiABLE. The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...

    Episode 341: Saving Without Limits: How ABLE Accounts Empower People with Disabilities with Scott de Varona

  4. Sep 8

    Ep 340: No One Tells You What to Do First: An Operating System for Life's Hardest Transitions with Samina Bari

    After her husband Doug's sudden death in 2023, Samina Bari discovered that having a will, a trust, and a team of trusted professionals in place made almost no difference in the chaos that followed. What she needed was not a checklist, but a guide, someone or something to tell her what to do first, second, and third while she was too overwhelmed to think clearly. That gap became the foundation for Farewell, the first life admin operating system built to help individuals and families move through loss, divorce, aging parent care, and other major life transitions with clarity instead of chaos. Samina joins Melissa Joy, CFP®, to talk about what she calls life administration, the emotional, legal, financial, and practical work most of us postpone because it is simply too heavy to face. She explains how Farewell uses an empathetic AI to meet people where they are emotionally, break large to-do lists into manageable steps, and walk families through everything from locating vital documents to navigating an aging parent's finances. The conversation also turns personal, as Samina shares what she wishes more people understood about supporting someone through the loss of a spouse, and why she wrote Don't Call Me Widow to help close that gap. What You'll Learn Why Samina calls the tangle of legal, financial, and emotional tasks after a major life event “life administration,” and why no system existed to manage itHow Farewell's empathetic AI checks in on how you're feeling and curates next steps accordinglyWhat to expect when gathering essentials like death certificates, and why timing and sequencing matterHow families can delegate tasks and control what each member can see and doWhy the planning phase, before a crisis hits, is where tools like Farewell add the most valueHow financial advisors can use Farewell to see client progress and offer more integrative supportWhat Samina wishes people understood about showing up for someone who has lost a spouseAbout Samina Bari Samina Bari is the founder and CEO of Farewell, the first life admin operating system for financial advisory firms and their clients. She spent three decades leading more than $40 billion in biotech mergers and acquisitions before the sudden death of her husband, Doug, in 2023 revealed a systemic gap in how individuals and families navigate loss and major life transitions.  Samina is an Operating Partner at How Women Invest and the two-time Amazon bestselling author of Don't Call Me Widow and I Can, I Will and I Did: Lessons on Life, Love, and Leadership.  Learn more at saminabari.com and withfarewell.com.  The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...

    Ep 340: No One Tells You What to Do First: An Operating System for Life's Hardest Transitions with Samina Bari

  5. Sep 1

    Episode 339: Go Ahead: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (and Didn't) with Joseph Moore, PhD

    Historian and investor Joseph Moore, PhD, spent over a decade digging through 300 years of American financial advice to find out what actually worked, and what everyday people, not just the Rockefellers of the world, were told to do with their money. In this conversation with Melissa Joy, CFP®, Joseph explains why Americans used to say “go ahead” instead of “get ahead,” what that shift in language reveals about self-reliance and the American dream, and why perspective on how hard life used to be (one and a half shirts per person in 1870, no flush toilets well into the twentieth century) can reframe how we think about today's challenges. They also dig into a subject close to Melissa's heart: the long, well-documented history of women managing, investing, and building wealth, from Ladies' Home Journal financial columns to Abigail Adams quietly out-investing John Adams. Joseph shares what his own real estate investing taught him about the myths of passive income, makes an unlikely defense of personal finance gurus, and reflects on how his working-class upbringing in rural South Carolina shaped a book that became a national bestseller. What You'll Learn Why Americans historically said “go ahead” instead of “get ahead,” and what that language reveals about self-reliance versus collective pessimismHow dramatically material life has improved in the last 150 years, and why that context matters when comparing today's challenges to the pastWhy the idea of a long history of stay-at-home moms is a myth, and how women's self-employment and part-time income kept most American families afloatThe overlooked history of women investing in mortgages, securities, and real estate going back to the 1700s, including Abigail Adams's investment returnsWhy real estate is not always a passive investment, and what it actually takes to make money owning itA historian's case for what personal finance gurus get right, and where their advice tends to fall shortWhy saving a percentage of every paycheck in the stock market is newer advice than most people realizeThe power of living on one income and investing the other, a strategy with roots stretching back generationsGuest Bio Joseph Moore, PhD, is a national bestselling author, historian, and investor whose self-experimentation with history's wildest financial strategies made him financially independent in his mid-40s. His writing has appeared in The New York Times and through HarperCollins and Oxford University Press. His new book, How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (and Didn't), is an instant USA Today bestseller. You can find his free newsletter and more of his writing at josephmoorebooks.com, and follow him on Instagram. The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...

    Episode 339: Go Ahead: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (and Didn't) with Joseph Moore, PhD

  6. Aug 25

    Ep 338: The Midlife Plot Twist: Rewriting Your Money, Relationships, and Life Story with Lindsay Goldwert

    Midlife comes with plenty of taboo topics that rarely get discussed together: money, sex, and the fantasy of burning it all down. Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Lindsay Goldwert, a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Slate, and MarketWatch, and the author of Bow Down: Lessons from Dominatrixes on How to Be a Boss in Life, Love, and Work, a Glamour Magazine Best Book of 2020. Lindsay is now the co-author of The Midlife Plot Twist: How to Reboot Your Life Without Burning It Down (Even If You Really, Really Want To), out this September. She and Melissa talk about why it is so hard for women to ask for what they want, and why that difficulty tends to build up quietly until it boils over. The conversation covers why financial planning benefits from a therapist's sense of empathy, how couples can use a financial planner as a neutral party for hard conversations, and why proactively involving a financial planner before a relationship ends, not after, tends to lead to better outcomes for everyone. Lindsay and Melissa also get into how small, incremental investments in friendships, hobbies, and curiosity pay off over a lifetime, why knowing what you do not want is just as valuable as knowing what you do want, and why midlife deserves to be treated as a plot twist worth celebrating rather than a crisis to survive. What You'll Learn Why asking for what you want is especially hard for women, and how that difficulty compounds over time if left unaddressed Why a good financial planner should function like a financial therapist, holding space for feelings as well as numbers How bringing a financial planner into a relationship can give every partner's voice a seat at the table, and why that matters most in unequal power dynamics Why getting financial planning support before a relationship ends, rather than after, tends to lead to fairer and faster outcomes How to have tough money conversations with aging parents about wills, executors, and financial oversight before a crisis forces the issue Why small, incremental investments in friendships, hobbies, and curiosity are a legitimate use of money for long term health and longevity Why knowing what you do not want anymore is just as valuable as knowing what you do want Why midlife deserves reframing as a plot twist to celebrate rather than a crisis to survive Guest Bio: Lindsay Goldwert is an editorial director and writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Slate, MarketWatch, and many others. She is the author of Bow Down: Lessons from Dominatrixes on How to Be a Boss in Life, Love, and Work (Simon & Schuster, 2020), a Glamour Magazine Best Book of 2020, and the co-author, with Gabrielle Moss, of The Midlife Plot Twist: How to Reboot Your Life Without Burning It Down (Even If You Really, Really Want To) (Running Press, September 2026). Connect with Lindsay: Website: lindsaygoldwert.com Instagram: instagram.com/lindsay_goldwert Melissa Joy, CFP®, is the founder and president of Pearl Planning, a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm based in Dexter, Michigan. Pearl Planning is a registered investment advisor with the Securities Exchange Commission. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities. This podcast offers news, commentary, and generalized research, not personalized investment advice. Nothing on this podcast should be interpreted to state or imply that past performance is an indication of future performance. All investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to consult with a tax professional before implementing any investment strategy. Mellissa Joy hosts the Women's Money Wisdom podcast, where she talks with experts and everyday women about the real financial questions and challenges women face. Lindsay Goldwert is not a client of Pearl Planning and is not being compensated for sharing her opinion and experience with our firm. The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...

    Ep 338: The Midlife Plot Twist: Rewriting Your Money, Relationships, and Life Story with Lindsay Goldwert

  7. Aug 18

    Ep 337: Retirement Myths, Busted: What Financial Planners Really Think About Retirement with Stephanie McCullough

    Retirement talk tends to fixate on a magic number, but Melissa Joy, CFP®, and fellow financial planner and podcaster Stephanie McCullough argue the real work happens well before and long after that number is reached. In this candid conversation, the two planners compare notes on what they see in their own practices: clients who retire on a fixed rule of thumb only to discover it doesn't flex with real life, retirees who under-spend out of fear even when the plan says they can afford more, and families quietly overwhelmed by aging parents' finances, unspoken inheritances, and adult children who haven't yet launched. Melissa and Stephanie also dig into the myths that shape how people think about retirement long before they get there, from the outdated idea that retirement equals age sixty-five, to the belief that a portfolio should get more conservative simply because a client is getting older.  They close with a rapid-fire round covering the most overrated retirement rule of thumb, the most underestimated expense, and what people should and shouldn't be losing sleep over, before reflecting on how their own work with retirees has shaped how they each plan to retire themselves. What You'll Learn Why the idea that retirement equals age sixty-five is outdated, and how ageism, layoffs, and longer lifespans complicate that mathWhy Melissa and Stephanie now encourage many clients to spend more, not less, in the early years of retirementThe difference between a plan “failing” and a plan needing adjustment, and why that framing mattersWhy the four percent rule and age-based portfolio allocation are two of the most overrated pieces of retirement conventional wisdomThe most underestimated retirement expenses, including Medicare surcharges (IRMAA) and dental careHow to navigate family conversations about aging parents' finances, inheritance, and adult children who still rely on financial supportWhy having a plan for aging in place, or choosing not to, is one of the most overlooked parts of retirement planningWhy even confident self-managed investors need a transition plan for handing off financial management as they age The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...

    Ep 337: Retirement Myths, Busted: What Financial Planners Really Think About Retirement with Stephanie McCullough

  8. Aug 11

    Episode 336: Even More Than Money: Designing a Financial Life on Your Own Terms with Shanna Due

    What is money actually for? On this episode of Women's Money Wisdom, Melissa Joy, CFP®, welcomes Shanna Due, CFP®, founder of Due Financial and editor of the book series More Than Money and Even More Than Money, back to the podcast to talk about her newest project.  Shanna walks through how a group of advisors turned an idea into a traditionally published book, why the follow-up book needed to go further than the first, and how the five-purposes framework, living, changing, dreaming, giving, and enduring, reframes money as a tool for a meaningful life rather than an end in itself. The conversation also digs into how readers can use the book to find and vet a financial advisor, from understanding the alphabet soup of credentials to knowing what questions to ask and what a real advisor relationship looks like over time.  Melissa and Shanna talk candidly about permission to spend versus permission to save, giving during your lifetime, and why finding an advisor you genuinely like and trust matters just as much as their credentials. All proceeds from the book benefit Third Decade, a nonprofit that provides long-term financial coaching to people rebuilding their financial lives. What You'll Learn How a group of financial advisors turned an idea into a traditionally published book, twiceWhy Even More Than Money was built around a five-purposes framework: living, changing, dreaming, giving, and enduringThe difference between a must-save mindset and giving yourself permission to spendWhy giving during your lifetime can be as meaningful as giving through an estateHow to decode financial advisor credentials and know what questions to ask before hiring oneWhat a real financial advisor relationship looks like, from one-time projects to ongoing partnershipsWhy liking and trusting your advisor matters as much as their technical expertiseHow the book's proceeds support Third Decade, a nonprofit providing long-term financial coachingThe previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...

    Episode 336: Even More Than Money: Designing a Financial Life on Your Own Terms with Shanna Due
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22 Ratings

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You’re working hard, caring for everyone else, and managing a thousand details a day - but when was the last time you focused on your finances?As a woman, you might carry the emotional and logistical weight of caregiving, parenting, career-building, and household management. It’s no wonder financial planning tends to fall to the bottom of your list -yet it’s one of the most important tools you have for protecting your future, your family, and your peace of mind.Women’s Money Wisdom is here to change that.Hosted by Melissa Joy, CFP®, founder of Pearl Planning in Dexter, Michigan, this weekly podcast is your space for practical insights and relatable advice to help you take control of your financial life. From investing and retirement to navigating life transitions and shifting your money mindset, you'll gain the clarity and confidence you need to make empowered decisions.Maybe you’re preparing for retirement, juggling the needs of both kids and aging parents, or growing a business you’ve built from the ground up. You want to build wealth in a way that reflects your values. You want guidance that honors your full life, not just your portfolio. And most of all, you want a trusted partner who sees the whole picture, not just the numbers.If you’re ready to stop putting yourself last - at least financially -this podcast is your starting point.Subscribe to Women’s Money Wisdom and make your financial future a priority. The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only. No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https://pearlplanning.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Joy, CFP®
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    340
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Women's Money Wisdom
  • Show Website
    Women's Money Wisdom

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