Women's Money Wisdom

Are you wondering if your student loans are eligible for forgiveness?  In this episode Melissa Joy, CFP®, and Alexa Kane, CFP® discuss who is eligible, how much could be forgiven and next steps. Resources: -The White House Fact Sheet on Student Loan Relief . - FAQs about the Student Loan Forgiveness Plan. -Information on requesting a refund if you made payments during the pause. Links are being pr...

Are you feeling stressed out with the logistics and expense of getting your kids back-to-school?  Do you feel prepared for the extra costs that inevitably come up this time of year?  In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg, CDFA®️ will share some tips on how to plan ahead, organize and prioritize your purchases for a smooth transition into the school year.  Resources: Learn more about Pearl Planning....

The median white American household has ten times the net worth of the median black American household. This is known as the racial wealth gap. This podcast conversation is a follow-up to an episode of 52 Pearls from the summer of 2020 when Melissa Joy and Renee Baker , DBA, RCC Head of Advisor Inclusion Networks at Raymond James, discussed “ Closing the Racial Wealth Gap ”. Additional Resources:...

Have you thought about converting your traditional retirement assets to a Roth IRA? Has the value of your traditional IRA gone down due to market volatility? In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg, CDFA®️ will discuss the conversion process as well as some considerations for those thinking about converting traditional retirement assets to Roth IRA assets.  You will learn why a down market may be a pa...

This week, Melissa Joy is joined by guest Valerie Rivera, CFP to discuss first generation wealth. Valerie founder and owner of FirstGen Wealth , a virtual fee-only practice serving early to mid-career professionals who are the first gen to build wealth in their family. She is part of the 1.5% of Latinas who holds the CFP designation and has been in financial planning for nearly 15 years. She is bo...

Melissa Joy and Melissa Fadenburg discuss buying a car in this episode. This is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make and you will likely do it several times in your lifetime. We cover how to think about the car buying process and consider all financial angles so you can feel confident in making a final purchase.   Additional Resources: More Buyers Choosing Car Payments Over $1,000...

Melissa Joy is joined by guest, Laura LaTourette, CFP, to discuss financial planning for LGBTQ clients. Laura is a gay financial planner who founded Family Wealth Management Group , located in Georgia, and co-launched Rainbow Network for LGBTQ financial advisors in 2022.   Additional Resources: Find Laura LaTourette on Twitter @LauraLaTourette and LinkedIn SAGE Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ E...

Do your kids think money grows on trees? Are they helping with chores around the house? If you’re tired of handing out money and want to set up a system for your kids to earn money and become a more responsible member of the household this episode is a must listen. Melissa Fradenburg and Jay Fradenburg, share how they motivated their tweens through a system of chores and weekly allowance and why t...

Are you spending your whole paycheck every month? Have your monthly expenses increased with inflation to a point you need to start budgeting but don't know where or how to begin? In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg, CDFA®️ will share some tips on how much should go to needs, wants and savings each month to get your budget back on track. You will learn why budgeting should give you permission...

Do you know why both the equity and bond markets are down this year? Do you wonder if we are in or heading into a recession? In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg and Jay Fradenburg will explain the current market environment as well as discuss what might happen going forward. Meet the newest member of the Pearl Planning,  and listen to our first husband-wife team episode.    Resources: ·       Conn...

Are you getting ready to send off a college student? Have you had a discussion about expenses and budget expectations yet?  In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg, CDFA®️ will share some tips on what you can do to prepare your student for the financial responsibility of going out on their own.   Resources: Learn more about Pearl Planning. Listen to Episode 34: Money Talk for College Students with Sta...

In this episode Melissa Joy sits down with Diana Yanez to discuss financial wellness work, especially for the Latina community. Diana is a financial educator and empowerment coach. Her firm, All the Colors, combines her love of numbers and her desire to see others flourish dance to the same beat. While Diana's technical skills will help clients quickly navigate financial questions, it’s her a...

Are you feeling the pinch of inflation? Does filling up your car at the pump have your budget feeling tight? Maybe you have considered stopping your automatic investments to increase cash flow?  In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg, CDFA®️ will share some tips on what you can do to ease the pressure as well as what NOT to do in the current inflationary environment.  Resources: Learn more about Pear...

Dealing with the challenges of safe and appropriate housing for aging parents with a diminished capacity can be extraordinarily challenging. Our guest today is Caroline Gaynor, an investment professional at Avantis. Caroline has personally experienced the need to help her mom change her home, first to Caroline’s house and then to an assisted living facility. Caroline shares her personal story of h...

Do you know why the Fed raises rates to fight inflation? Have you ever wondered what the term "hawkish" or "dovish" mean when in reference to Federal Reserve policy? In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg will explain the reasoning behind increasing rates to control inflation as well as define some of the common terminology you are likely hearing about in relation to the current i...

If you feel as though you are experiencing financial abuse or you have a friend who might benefit from this topic discussion, this episode is a must listen. Stacy Francis, CFP ®, CDFA®, CES®, and founder of Savvy Ladies shares how anyone suffering from financial, emotional and physical abuse can take the necessary steps to get out of this type of situation. Learn what fuels Stacy’s passion for thi...

In this episode Melissa Joy, CFP, ® and Melissa Fradenburg, CDFA, ® discuss ways to clean up your finances. Do you have a the financial equivalent to a junk drawer? Do you have a bunch of tasks related to your financial life that keep coming up but never get completed? Spring is the perfect time to refresh your finances and get organized. Listen to this episode to get some ideas on how to get star...

In this episode Melissa Joy, CFP, ® shares what you should do to prepare for next year, now that 2021 Tax filing deadline has come and gone. Are your taxable investment accounts tax efficient? Did you have some surprises this year as far as what you owed or what you got back? Listen to this episode for some tips on how to avoid surprises for next year and learn when you might need to consult a pro...

Have you been looking to purchase a home? With mortgage rates increasing, you may need to reconsider your home budget. You might get approved for a loan amount higher than what you can comfortably purchase.  In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg will share some common calculations to determine the appropriate amount as well as some other considerations when determining how much home to purchase.  Re...

In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg shares stories of both money habit success as well as recent failures with her own teenagers. Learn how allowing her daughter to spend money on short shorts and platform sandals turned into one of the best money lessons and how letting her son place items in the online cart for a week can instill good spending habits. This episode will help you prepare your teen...

In this episode Melissa Fradenburg, CDFA®, talks about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing and shares clips from previous episodes featuring Kalita Blessing, CFP® and a Chartered SRI Counselor, as well as Perth Tolle, founder of The Life + Liberty Freedom 100 Emerging Markets Index. In this episode you will learn more about sustainable, responsible, and impact investing strategie...

Asset allocation and diversification are common investment terms, yet many investors struggle with the concepts. In this episode, Melissa Fradenburg,  CDFA®️ , Financial Advisor, will break down the concept of diversification. What does it mean to be diversified among asset classes and how can that help in times of market volatility?  Resources: Learn more about Pearl Planning. Read blog 5 Questio...

If you feel as though you are giving pieces of yourself in your career and at home, but not quite present in either, this episode is a must listen. Cathy Harber, Realtor at Coldwell Banker- Weir Manual , and mom of 4 boys shares how by being intentional with her schedule she can avoid mom guilt and be present in the moment.  Learn what two things Cathy vowed never to argue with her children about...

If you struggle with how to allocate your investments or feel the urge to pull money out of the market in times of volatility, you need to listen to Melissa Fradenburg, Financial Advisor, explain the concept of Risk Tolerance. In this episode, she will explain how she determines risk tolerance for her clients, as well as why it’s important to consider your opinion of risk in both up and down marke...

Have you been feeling the pressure of inflation or rising gas prices as of late? Maybe you are concerned about where your money is going as you worry you are spending more money than you probably should? You are definitely not alone. The number of people who have no idea how much they are spending is alarming. So, in this episode, Melissa Fradenburg will be sharing how to avoid the dreaded lifesty...