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’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/
Episodes
319 episodes
Episode 322: The Truth About "Trump Accounts" and the Smarter Ways to Save for College with Ann Garcia, CFP®
A new type of savings account has entered the conversation, and if you have young children, you need to know about it. Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Ann Garcia, CFP®, returning guest, college funding expert, and author of How to Pa...
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Episode 321: Retire Early: What Women Need to Know About Leaving Work on Your Own Terms with Bridget Grimes
What would it look like to stop working at 50? Or to step away from a high-powered career and spend your time doing something that lights you up instead? For many women, this is not just a dream. With the right plan, it is a very re...
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Episode 320: Beyond the Documents: Estate Planning, Family Communication, and Legacy with Nicole Adkison
Most people know they need an estate plan. Far fewer actually have one, and even fewer have had the conversations with their families that make that plan meaningful. Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Nicole Adkison, estate planning attorney and ...
Episode 319: The Financial side of Getting Hurt: Insurance, Disability and Personal Injury Law with Megan Burns
No one expects to get in an accident. But when you do, and when injuries are involved, navigating the insurance system and legal landscape can feel overwhelming. Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Megan Burns, founder of Mirador Law and personal ...
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Episode 318: Your Perfect Portfolio: How to Find, Build, and Stick to an Investment Strategy That Works for You with Cullen Roche
Most people think investing means picking the right stocks and getting rich. But according to Cullen Roche, founder and CIO of Discipline Funds and author of Your Perfect Portfolio, that mindset is one of the most costly mistakes investors make...
Episode 317: Your Retirement Sketchbook: How to Envision, Plan, and Live Your Best Retirement with Jamie Hopkins and Bonnie Treichel
Retirement is one of the most talked about financial milestones, but the concept of retirement itself, what it looks like, how it feels, and how to actually envision it, often goes unexplored. Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Jamie Hopkins
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Episode 316: Money Talks: Teaching Kids Financial Literacy at Every Age with Charlotte Geletka, CFP®
Teaching kids about money is one of the most important things we can do as parents, but it's also one of the most overlooked. Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with returning guest Charlotte Geletka, CFP® and owner of Silver Penny Financial Pl...
Episode 315: The Family Meeting That Changed Everything: Planning with Purpose at End of Life with Shelby Nicholl
What does it look like when financial planning meets love, courage, and intentional family leadership? Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Shelby Nicholl, founder of Muriel Consulting, to share the story of her father-in-law's remarkable family me...
Episode 314: From Financial Anxiety to Confidence: A Human-Centered Approach to Money Conversations with Josie Ann Lee
Money isn’t just math. It’s emotion, identity, and sometimes a whole lot of anxiety, even for people who are objectively doing “fine” financially. Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with speaker, author, and coach Josie Ann Lee to unpack why so...
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Episode 313: Medicare in 2026: What to Know Before You Turn 65 with Cameron Giardini
Medicare is a cornerstone of most retirement plans, but it’s also a brand-new system for people who’ve spent decades on employer coverage. Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Cameron Giardini of to break down what Medicare is, when you actually ne...
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Episode 312: Building Financial Fluency and Asking Better Money Questions with Tony Steuer
Financial confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything. It comes from knowing what questions to ask.In this episode, Melissa Joy, CFP®, is joined by Tony Steuer, a longtime personal finance educator, insurance analyst, a...
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Episode 311: AI and Investing: Surviving the AI CapEx Boom with Kai Wu
What happens when a world-changing technology attracts trillions of dollars in investment and how do you avoid being on the wrong side of the boom?On this episode of the Women's Money Wisdom podcast, Melissa Joy is joined by Kai Wu, foun...
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Episode 310: Six Habits of Financially Secure Women with Michelle Taylor
On this episode of the Women's Money Wisdom podcast, Melissa Joy is joined by Michelle Taylor, founder of Women in Wealth, for a practical, honest conversation about what actually creates long-term financial stabilit...
Episode 309: Listening to the Whispers: Redefining Success, Security, and Midlife Transitions with Regina Sih-Meynier
What happens when you do everything “right” and still feel unfulfilled?Melissa Joy, CFP®, sits down with Regina Sih-Meynier, PharmD, a former clinical and pharmaceutical industry leader who followed a quiet inner nudge toward a completel...
Episode 308: Nailing Your 2026 Retirement Benefits: The New Rules, Higher Limits, and the "Power Couple" Strategy
Employer retirement plans can be one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available, yet they are also among the most confusing. In this episode of the Women's Money Wisdom podcast, Melissa Joy, CFP®, breaks down how to make the most of y...
Episode 307: Long-Term Care Planning: Why Waiting Too Long Can Cost You
Long-term care is one of the most personal topics in financial planning, and also one of the most frequently avoided.Melissa Joy, CFP®, is joined by Pearl Planning colleague Alexa Kane, CFP®, to unpack how families can think about care e...
Episode 306: Beyond the Highlight Reel: The Real Stories of Women Founders with Veronica McGibney
If you’ve ever looked at a successful woman and wondered how she really built it — you’re not alone. Behind every thriving business is a story that doesn’t always show up on social media.In this episode, Melissa Joy, CFP®, talks w...
Episode 305: Seven Financial Planning Themes to Guide Your Money in 2026
As the new year begins, Melissa Joy, CFP®, helps listeners slow down and reset before diving into financial to-do lists.In this solo episode, Melissa lays out seven financial planning themes to help guide decisions in 2026. After an inte...
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Episode 304: The Financial Exhale: A Gentle Year-End Money Reset
As the year comes to a close, Melissa Joy, CFP® invites you to slow down.This short, reflective solo episode is a pause button — a chance to step off the financial treadmill, release guilt, and reset how you think about money before jump...
Episode 303: Top 10 Money Trends and Stories that Shaped 2025 & What They Mean for 2026
As we close out the year, Melissa Joy, CFP® steps back from the day-to-day headlines to examine the biggest money trends and economic stories that shaped 2025. Instead of reacting to weekly market noise, this episode offers a thoughtful top-10 ...
Episode 302: Student Loans in 2026: What’s Changing and What You Need to Do Now with David Gourley
Student loans aren’t just a financial obligation — they’re a moving target. Rules shift, repayment plans evolve, forgiveness programs get redefined, and big deadlines are on the horizon. To help make sense of it all, Melissa Joy, CFP®, sits dow...
Episode 301: Who Needs a Trust? - More People Than You Think with Ashley Waddell-Tingstad
We’re revisiting one of our most-requested conversations — a practical, myth-busting look at estate planning with Melissa Joy, CFP®, and Ashley Waddell-Tingstad, founder of Treetown Law.Trusts often sound complicated or “for someone else...
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Episode 300: How To Get More Done by Doing Less (Yes, Really) with Dr. Natalie Nixon
Creativity isn’t just inspiration — it’s a practical tool for better work, clearer thinking, and a more sustainable career. For our 300th episode, Melissa Joy, CFP®, sits down with Dr. Natalie Nixon, CEO of Figure 8 Thinking and a...
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Episode 299: Caring Through Crisis: Dementia, Aging, and the Sandwich Generation with Nicole Smith
When three dementia diagnoses hit her family at once, Nicole Smith, Author of Diagnosis Dementia, didn’t plan to become an expert—she had no choice. In this episode, Melissa Joy, CFP®, talks with Nicole about navigating t...
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Episode 298: The Rising Cost of Healthcare - What You Need to Know for 2025 with Cole Craven
If you’ve been hearing more talk about health insurance costs lately — you’re not alone. From higher renewal premiums to open enrollment decisions, healthcare has become one of the biggest line items in many household budgets.In this epi...
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