Women's Money Wisdom

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’r

Women's Money Wisdom is a business podcast hosted by Melissa Joy, CFP®, with 339 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Melissa Joy, CFP® hosts Women's Money Wisdom, a business show with 339 episodes published.

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  Episode #343

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

  Sep 29, 202643 min

  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 them How charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts work, and when each one makes sense Why donor advised funds have become one of the fastest-growing charitable structures in the industry How donating appreciated stock or other assets, rather than cash, can help you give away a future capital gains tax liability How to use charitable giving strategically around high-income years, bunching deductions, and inherited retirement accounts How to set up successor donors and legacy giving plans so a donor advised fund can outlast your lifetime Why charitable giving should be grounded in genuine intent, not pursued for tax benefits alone About 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...

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  Episode #342

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

  Sep 22, 202635 min

  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 pressure The difference between a strengths-based financial planning conversation and a deficit-based one, and why it keeps clients empowered Why understanding a client's “struggles” (strengths overplayed) matters as much as celebrating their strengths How identity, not just goals or strategy, is the foundation every financial decision should flow from Why couples often marry someone with an opposite behavioral style, and how that shows up in money decisions How an advisor can act as a neutral bridge that helps both partners in a relationship feel heard How DNA Behavior's assessment tools, including the new GoDNA.ai platform, measure natural behavior in minutes About 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...

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  Episode #341

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

  Sep 15, 202647 min

  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 benefits Who qualifies: the recent expansion of the eligibility window from disability onset before age 26 to before age 46 The three ways to prove eligibility, including SSI/SSDI status, the compassionate allowances list, or a physician certification 2026 contribution limits: $20,000 annually, plus up to $15,650 more for employed account owners under ABLE to Work The wide range of qualified disability expenses, from housing and transportation to assistive technology and funeral costs How authorized individuals can manage an account on behalf of someone who lacks capacity The current Medicaid clawback provision and the pending state and federal legislation that could eliminate it How ABLE accounts can coordinate with special needs trusts and other estate planning strategies About 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...

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  Episode #340

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

  Sep 8, 202631 min

  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 it How Farewell's empathetic AI checks in on how you're feeling and curates next steps accordingly What to expect when gathering essentials like death certificates, and why timing and sequencing matter How families can delegate tasks and control what each member can see and do Why the planning phase, before a crisis hits, is where tools like Farewell add the most value How financial advisors can use Farewell to see client progress and offer more integrative support What Samina wishes people understood about showing up for someone who has lost a spouse About 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...

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  Episode #339

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

  Sep 1, 202646 min

  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 pessimism How dramatically material life has improved in the last 150 years, and why that context matters when comparing today's challenges to the past Why 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 afloat The overlooked history of women investing in mortgages, securities, and real estate going back to the 1700s, including Abigail Adams's investment returns Why real estate is not always a passive investment, and what it actually takes to make money owning it A historian's case for what personal finance gurus get right, and where their advice tends to fall short Why saving a percentage of every paycheck in the stock market is newer advice than most people realize The power of living on one income and investing the other, a strategy with roots stretching back generations Guest 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...

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