Financially Ever After Widowhood

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 of Doyle Auctioneers and Appraisers to talk about how collections, heirlooms, and household treasures can create unexpected opportunities (and unexpected conflict) if no one plans ahead.

You’ll hear them discuss:

Why artwork, jewelry, books, and collectibles should absolutely be part of your estate planning conversations

How professional appraisals help families understand what items are actually worth before difficult decisions have to be made

Why heirlooms that look “equal” may have wildly different values, and how that can unintentionally create conflict between family members

The difference between fair market value and retail replacement value, and why that matters for both estate planning and insurance

How to protect yourself from being taken advantage of when selling valuable items, and when auctions may be the better option

The common mistakes families make when they wait until a move, downsizing, or home sale to deal with decades of belongings

Real stories from Peter’s career, including the discovery of a forgotten George Washington letter and Stephen Sondheim’s rhyming dictionaries that shocked collectors at auction

Resources

Peter Costanzo on Doyle | Email: [email protected] | Phone: 212-427-2730 | LinkedIn

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | X(Twitter) | Email

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Could one outdated beneficiary form completely override your will, your divorce agreement, and everything you thought you had buttoned up?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 transition) isn’t "housekeeping." It’s a priority for protecting yourself, your kids, and the future.

From ERISA plans to minor children inheriting assets to life insurance in divorce settlements, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the real-world mistakes and how to avoid them.

You’ll hear them discuss:

Why beneficiary designations override your will and are first in line legally when assets are distributed

Which accounts require beneficiaries (retirement accounts, life insurance, brokerage accounts, bank accounts with POD/TOD, and more)

The difference between primary and contingent beneficiaries - and why not listing both can force assets into probate

What happens if you die without a will or updated beneficiaries, including how state law may split assets in ways you never intended

Why leaving assets directly to minor children can trigger court involvement, restrictions, and expensive legal oversight

How trusts give you control over how and when children receive money and why they’re not just for the ultra-wealthy

How divorce impacts beneficiaries, including automatic revocation laws, ERISA plans like 401(k)s that follow federal rules, and how life insurance should be structured to protect child or spousal support

Resources

Natalie Colley on FrancisFinancial.com⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | Email

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | X(Twitter) | Email

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

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 hardest transitions of your life.
In this episode, Stacy Francis and Allen Sakkon walk through what really happens to your tax situation after the loss of a spouse - in plain language - so you can feel more confident, ask better questions, and avoid costly surprises.

You’ll hear them discuss:

How your filing status works in the year your spouse passes, and what changes in the years that follow (including qualifying surviving spouse and head of household)

Why your adjusted gross income (AGI) is such a powerful number and how it affects Social Security taxation, Medicare premiums, and eligibility for credits and deductions

When and why Social Security survivor benefits become partially taxable and how timing major financial decisions can help

What cost basis means, how the step-up in basis works at death, and why it can dramatically reduce capital gains taxes on a home or investment account

How selling a house or investments in the wrong year can unexpectedly spike your income and how to think strategically about timing

The most commonly missed deductions after a spouse’s death, including medical expenses, property taxes, mortgage interest, charitable gifts, and capital loss carry-forwards

One simple habit - tracking your income deposits —-that can help you regain control and make your tax return far less intimidating

Resources

Allen Sakon on LinkedIn⁠ | Email

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | X(Twitter) | Email

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

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 Chapel, to talk honestly about funeral pre-planning, why it’s actually an act of love, and how having these conversations early can spare your family emotional and financial stress when it matters most.

You’ll hear them discuss:

Why funeral planning is one of the most overlooked parts of estate planning

How grief makes decision-making harder and why planning ahead changes everything

The real story behind burial vs. cremation and why more families are choosing cremation

Common misconceptions about pre-planning, including the idea that it’s “only for the elderly”

How much flexibility exists in funeral planning, from simple services to deeply personal details

What prepaying actually means, how pricing is protected from inflation, and where the money is held

Why keeping ashes without a plan can unintentionally pass stress to the next generation

How family conflict can arise when wishes aren’t clearly documented

The importance of naming someone with legal authority to control final arrangements

Why having these conversations is a gift to the people you love - not something morbid or scary

Resources

Frances Cangero on Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel | Office number: 212-288-3500 | Cell number: 631-860-4878 | Email: [email protected] | LinkedIn

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | X(Twitter) | Email

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

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, and the narrow window many families are overlooking right now that could cost them millions down the road.

You’ll hear us discuss:

Why trusts aren’t just for wealthy families and how they give you control long after you’re gone

The biggest misconceptions people have about estate planning and taxes

How trusts can protect assets from creditors, divorce, and poor timing

Why giving money outright isn’t always the smartest move

How lifetime gifting can dramatically reduce future estate taxes

The annual gifting limits and how couples can maximize them

How paying tuition or medical bills can reduce your estate without triggering gift taxes

Why estate plans should be reviewed every 3–5 years (and after major life changes)

Real-life examples of what goes wrong when plans aren’t updated

How state estate taxes can create major surprises even when federal taxes don’t apply

Resources

Shamisa Zvoma on LinkedIn | Phone: 212-605-3182 | Email

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | X(Twitter) | Email

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!