Financially Ever After Widowhood

A house can be full of wonderful memories and still no longer make sense for your finances, lifestyle, or future. But deciding to leave isn't exactly easy, especially after a major life change. In this episode, Stacy sits down with real estate expert Alexandra Gupta to talk about the emotional and financial sides of staying, selling, downsizing, or renting. From the true cost of homeownership to t...

Who’s going to care for you when you’ve spent years caring for everyone else? Long-term care is one of those topics that’s easy to put off until you're left with no easy choices. In this episode, Stacy talks with long-term care specialist Denise Kligman about what care can really cost, what Medicare doesn’t cover, how insurance options have changed, and why planning early can give you and your fam...

Scammers don’t need you to be careless. They just need you to be rushed, distracted, lonely, or convinced that someone you trust needs help right now. In this episode, Stacy sits down with Donna Olah-Reiken to unpack how today’s scams are becoming harder to spot, from AI voice cloning and hacked emails to romance fraud, fake investments, and financial abuse by people close to you. They also share...

How do you keep showing up for someone you love when grief has already started, and the bills, taxes, legal decisions, and everyday money stuff suddenly land on your shoulders too? Suzy McNamara joins Stacy for a conversation about caring for her husband through early-onset Alzheimer’s, losing both her husband and sister in the same year, and finding her footing again through grief. They talk abou...

You can have the will, the beneficiaries, the trust, and still get blindsided when someone dies. Bank accounts can freeze, automatic payments can stop, and suddenly the grieving person is also trying to keep the financial wheels turning. Stacy sits down with accountant Evan Gilder to unpack the practical money issues families often don’t hear about during estate planning, from frozen accounts and...

How do you honor a loved one’s wish to stay at home while also making sure they are safe, supported, and able to thrive? In this episode, Stacy sits down with gerontologist and care manager Rebecca Lippel to unpack the emotional, practical, and financial realities of caring for an aging family member. They talk about the many care options available, the hidden costs families often overlook, and wh...

Why are so many capable, successful women still hesitant to call themselves investors? In this conversation with Stacy, Samina Bari shares how women can move beyond saving and budgeting, take greater ownership of their money, and start building wealth with confidence. She also opens up about losing her husband suddenly and how that experience exposed a major gap in the support available during lif...

Estate planning isn't just about legal documents. It's also the conversations families avoid until it's too late. From second marriages and blended families to unequal inheritances and caregiver children, the choices you make today can shape your family's relationships for years to come. Stacy Francis sits down with estate planning attorney Stella King to unpack the emotional side of estate planni...

Your phone knows where you’ve been, who you’ve talked to, what you’ve searched for, and sometimes even more than you realize. So how much of your digital life could someone else see if they had access? In this eye-opening conversation, Stacy sits down with digital forensic investigator Corey Davis to discuss cybercrime, hidden digital evidence, cryptocurrency, and the surprising ways people can ac...

Marriage comes with a lot of assumptions. Your spouse will inherit everything. They can make decisions for you if something happens. The house automatically stays in the family. Sounds straightforward, right? Not so fast. In this episode, Stacy sits down with estate planning attorney Lauren Klein to unpack six of the biggest legal myths that catch families, widows, and even financially savvy coupl...

Selling a home can bring up way more than numbers and paperwork. Stacy and real estate expert Melissa Rubenstein unpack the financial realities and emotional side of buying, selling, downsizing, and renting - especially during major life changes like widowhood, divorce, or starting over somewhere new. You’ll hear them discuss: Why timing your life matters more than trying to time the real estate m...

Losing a spouse is already life-altering. Losing a spouse in the line of duty brings an entirely different level of grief, pressure, and financial complexity that most people never fully understand. In this episode, Stacy Francis talks with Air Force veteran, widower, financial therapist, and fee-only advisor Daniel Kopp about the unique challenges Gold Star spouses face after loss. Daniel breaks...

A business can be one of the most meaningful things you build in your lifetime. But without the right plan, it can also become one of the most complicated things your family has to untangle. In this episode, Stacy sits down with estate planning attorney Katya Sverdlov to talk about the real-life decisions business owners need to make before a crisis hits. From buy-sell agreements and key person in...

Nobody wants to think about their own death, but the greatest gift you can give the people you love is making sure they're not left scrambling when you're gone. In this episode, Stacy Francis and Sunaina Mehra get into the practical, often overlooked steps you can take right now to make sure your wishes are documented, your assets are protected, and your family has everything they need. You'll hea...

Money can feel overwhelming, especially after loss… but what if the real starting point is your own story, instead of spreadsheets or strategies? In this first part of a powerful live “Money Circle,” Stacy and Sunaina slow everything down and guide you somewhere most financial conversations never go: inward. This episode is all about getting honest with where you’ve been, where you are right now,...

Could the most overlooked part of your estate plan be sitting right in your living room? Jewelry tucked away in a drawer, artwork on the wall, a shelf full of old books, family pieces everyone assumes are “just sentimental”. Some of these items may be worth far more than anyone realizes, while others may not hold the value your family expects. In this episode, Stacy sits down with Peter Costanzo o...

Could one outdated beneficiary form completely override your will, your divorce agreement, and everything you thought you had buttoned up? It sounds small. Administrative. Boring, even. But beneficiary designations are one of the most powerful and most overlooked pieces of your financial life. In this episode, Stacy and Natalie break down why updating beneficiaries after divorce (or any major life...

Taxes. Filing status. Adjusted gross income. Capital gains. Just reading those words can make you want to close the tab and deal with it “later.” But here’s the truth: taxes change after widowhood. Sometimes in ways no one warns you about. Filing status shifts. Income is calculated differently. Survivor benefits can become taxable. And all of it is happening while you’re navigating one of the hard...

Nobody wants to talk about death - until they’re sitting in a funeral home, numb, grieving, and trying to guess what their loved one would have wanted. This episode pulls back the curtain on a topic most families avoid, even though avoiding it often creates more pain, confusion, and guilt later. Stacy sits down with Frances Cangero, director of advanced planning at the Frank Campbell Funeral Chape...

Is your money really going where you want it to when you’re gone, or are taxes, outdated documents, and lack of planning quietly deciding for you? In this episode, I sit down with CPA and estate planning expert Shamisa Zvoma to unpack the truths most people miss about trusts, gifting, tax strategy, and why estate planning isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy. We talk about control, protection, legacy,...

How do you rebuild a life when everything you planned disappears overnight — and you’re suddenly responsible for three children, major financial decisions, and a future you never asked for? In this deeply moving conversation, Stacy sits down with Merritt Minnemeyer to talk about widowhood, intuition, money, and the quiet courage it takes to start again. Merritt shares her journey of losing her hus...

Cognitive Behavioral and Grief Coach Jordan Schwartz Hendin joins host Stacy Francis to discuss navigating the holidays after losing a spouse. Jordan draws from her personal experiences with grief, having lost her own mother at a young age and supporting her widowed grandmother through multiple losses. Now a professional coach, she works with women struggling with grief and major life transitions....

Ever feel like the threat of medical bills and confusing insurance rules hangs over every healthcare decision? In this episode, Stacy sits down with healthcare advocate Anne McGuire to bring real clarity to the choices women face after losing a spouse, going through divorce, or suddenly finding themselves uninsured. Together, they break down the systems that feel impossible to navigate and give li...

If the people you love most suddenly had to take over your bills, subscriptions, and everyday logistics — would they know where to begin? In this episode of Financially Ever After Widowhood, Stacy and Natalie break down the most practical (and overlooked) section of the Because I Love You legacy planning guide - the checklist that makes sure nothing slips through the cracks. From credit cards to t...

Ever think about what would happen if your family suddenly had to figure out your insurance, bills, or assets - without you there to explain it? It’s not fun to imagine, but it’s one of the most loving things you can prepare for. In this episode of Financially Ever After Widowhood, Stacy and Natalie dive into the less-than-glamorous side of legacy planning: getting your insurance and financial det...