What if planning now could be the greatest act of care?

Journalist and MarketWatch columnist Beth Pinsker joins Melissa Joy, CFP® for a compassionate, practical conversation on financial caregiving—the real work we do for the people we love (and our future selves). Beth opens up about the whirlwind that followed her mom’s surgery: hospital stays, paperwork marathons, and a long-term care scare that nearly derailed benefits. Through her new book, My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving, she lays out a simple roadmap—documents to have before a crisis, a one-page medical “cheat sheet,” and why simplifying accounts and beneficiaries might be the most loving step you take this year.

Together, Beth and Melissa unpack how to connect the legal, medical, and financial lanes so caregivers can act quickly (and confidently). From the $100 POA that can save $18,000+ and a year of guardianship hassles, to making sure trusted contacts and online access are current, this episode turns overwhelm into a plan.

This is your nudge: fear and uncertainty are inevitable—but you can still take control of the plan.

💡 Key Themes Covered

• How a simple medical + contacts cheat sheet can save precious time in emergencies
• The “$100 vs. $18,000” reality: POA/healthcare proxy/HIPAA before a crisis vs. guardianship later
• Why women often shoulder caregiving—and how to prepare even if you’re not the household “money person”
• Long-term care pitfalls (missed paperwork, past-due notices) and how to prevent coverage lapses
• Simplify to protect: consolidate old 401(k)s, confirm beneficiaries/TODs, set legacy/phone access
• The caregiver wallet: cash-flowing expenses, reimbursement timelines, and organizing receipts
• Conversation starters with parents, partners, and siblings to align on roles and next steps

Connect with Beth Pinsker

🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bpinsker

🌐 Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/bethpinsker.bsky.social

📸 Instagram: @bethpinsker_ny

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:...

Fall isn’t just for cider mills, football games, and cozy sweaters—it’s also the perfect season to reset your financial life. In this solo episode, Melissa Joy shares seven practical tips to help you take advantage of seasonal opportunities and set yourself up for success before the year ends.

From open enrollment decisions and maximizing workplace benefits to planning for holiday spending, reviewing your investments, and checking in on your estate plan—Melissa walks through the steps that can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

You’ll learn how to:

• Make the most of your employer benefits and avoid last-minute enrollment stress
• Use remaining 2025 benefits wisely, from FSA dollars to legal perks
• Take proactive steps on taxes before December 31
• Plan and budget for the holidays to avoid year-end financial regret
• Rebalance your portfolio and revisit investment opportunities
• Update beneficiaries, life insurance, and estate planning documents
• Conduct a fall financial health check and set goals for the new year

As Melissa reminds us, progress is always more important than perfection. Pick one or two of these seasonal money tasks, get them done, and set the tone for a stronger financial future.

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:...

What if fear could become the framework for your strength?

Chiropractor, business owner, and TEDx speaker Dr. Rubina Tahir joins Melissa Joy, CFP® for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation on navigating fear, health, and money with courage and clarity.

Rubina shares her journey as a BRCA1 carrier, her shocking breast cancer diagnosis just weeks before delivering her TEDx talk, and how she built a practical framework—Honesty, Options, Decisions—to move from paralysis to empowerment. Along the way, she reveals why self-talk can be life-saving, how body autonomy shaped her medical choices, and what financial lessons she learned from facing the unexpected costs of cancer treatment.

Together, Rubina and Melissa unpack the intersections of health and money: why knowing your deductible is essential, the role of disability insurance, and how emergency reserves protect you from both everyday curveballs and life-altering diagnoses.

This episode is a reminder that while fear is inevitable, you do have power over your plan.

💡 Key Themes Covered:

• How “financial scar tissue” from past experiences shapes both money and health choices
• Why self-talk and inner dialogue are powerful tools for resilience
• The importance of body autonomy and choosing what’s right for you in medical decisions
• Knowing your medical deductible and building cash reserves as part of financial self-care
• Disability insurance, business continuity, and other protections for life’s “what-ifs”
• How community, advocacy, and the Making Strides Walk fuel hope and healing

🔗 Connect with Dr. Rubina Tahir
🎥 TEDx Talk

💗 Fundraising page (Making Strides Walk, October)

📸 Instagram & Instagram (Positivity & Truth)

Facebook

💼 LinkedIn

🌐 Website

Twitter/X

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:...