Financially Ever After Widowhood

• Getting Financially Organized in Life’s Toughest Moments with Jacob and Peter Gordon

  What happens when you’re suddenly the one in charge of all the paperwork, passwords, and decisions, but you’re not sure where to begin? In this heartfelt and practical episode, father-and-son duo Peter and Jacob Gordon share how daily money management can be a lifeline for people navigating everything from grief and memory loss to major life changes like retirement, divorce, or moving across the country. They didn’t set out to become financial organizers—but life led them here through personal family experiences, and now they’re helping others find order and peace during some of life’s most overwhelming moments. You’ll hear them discuss: • How their family’s own challenges with elder care inspired them to create a service that supports others in managing the emotional and practical sides of personal finance. • The unexpected transitions that often lead people to seek help—like a partner’s death, a dementia diagnosis, or simply realizing the bills haven’t been opened in months. • What it means to be a daily money manager, and how their work goes far beyond bill pay to include safeguarding personal data, organizing financial records, and helping clients feel less isolated. • Why solo agers—those without family support nearby—often rely on them as trusted fiduciaries to serve as power of attorney, healthcare proxy, or executor when no one else can. • The ways loneliness, memory loss, and vulnerability intersect—and how just having someone to check in weekly can dramatically improve a person’s wellbeing and confidence. • How they collaborate with financial advisers, attorneys, and care professionals to create a wraparound team that protects clients from falling through the cracks. • Their top piece of advice for anyone suddenly managing money on their own: start by finding out exactly where everything is, before trying to make sense of it. ResourcesJacob and Peter Gordon on the Web | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Email: [email protected] Jacob Gordon on Email: [email protected] I Phone number: 917-945-0912 Peter Gordon on LinkedIn | Email: [email protected] | Phone number: 917-279-3972 Other resources mentioned: Article on How to Freeze Credit Card Quicken - Manage Your Finances in One Place You Need a Budget Personal Capital / Empower 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!

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• Rebuilding Money Confidence After Loss with Financial Therapist Erika Wasserman

  What if your financial struggles aren’t really about money—but about emotions you’ve never even considered? In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode of Financially Ever After Widowhood, Stacey Francis is joined by Erika Wasserman, one of only 100 certified financial therapists in the U.S. Together, they dive into how fear, overwhelm, shame and even childhood memories can keep you stuck in place financially. Whether you’re recently widowed, divorced, or simply navigating money matters on your own for the first time, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and a whole new way of thinking about your relationship with money. You’ll hear them discuss: How 90% of our financial decisions are driven by emotion, and why understanding this can help you make better choices moving forward Why your money mindset is shaped by your background, culture, and past experiences—often without you even realising it What financial paralysis looks like, and how to gently move forward with manageable, confidence-building steps How feelings of fear, overwhelm and loneliness can stop you from taking action, and what to do when that happens Why making financial mistakes is completely normal—and how to reframe them as part of your learning journey How Erika’s simple highlighter method can help you understand your spending habits and make joyful, intentional choices What a “sunshine fund” is, and how having one can create space for spontaneous joy and generosity When it might be the right time to work with a financial therapist, especially if you feel emotionally stuck or ashamed about money Resources Erika Wasserman on the Web | Email | Instagram | LinkedIn Pre-order ''Conversations with Your Financial Therapist'' on Amazon 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!

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• [Replay] Taking Control of Your Finances After Widowhood

  In honor of Financial Literacy Month, we’re revisiting one of our most powerful episodes of Financially Ever After: Widowhood, a conversation that underscores why financial knowledge is essential, especially during life’s most difficult transitions.   You’ll hear from Kathy Gleason, a widow, author, and host of the podcast As I Live and Grieve. Kathy shares her deeply personal journey of navigating grief and the overwhelming financial aftermath that followed the loss of her husband.   This episode is a powerful call for women to not just be emotionally prepared, but financially informed. Are you struggling to cope with the loss of a spouse and the financial challenges that come with it? In this episode of Financially Ever After Widowhood, host Stacy Francis speaks with Kathy Gleason, an author and grief support expert with a deep understanding of the struggles that come with losing a spouse. Kathy is also co-host of the As I Live and Grieve podcast. Kathy details her personal journey of loss, including the challenges of managing the paperwork and red tape that come with it. She also shares valuable insights and practical advice on how to navigate the financial challenges of widowhood. Losing a spouse is a complex and devastating loss that brings many unique challenges, including the loss of future plans and the added responsibility of managing all the paperwork and red tape that come with it. It's important to surround yourself with supportive people who understand what you're going through and can offer emotional and practical support. If you are not the partner who manages the finances, it's important to make yourself aware of what accounts and assets you have in case you need to take over in the future. It's common for married couples to not make long-term financial decisions together, but this can leave one partner at a disadvantage if they need to take over after a spouse's passing. Prioritizing tasks and taking care of practical matters can help you begin to work on yourself and heal after a loss. Resources Kathy Gleason Facebook | Instagram Email: [email protected]  As I Live and Grieve Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

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• Emotional Resilience in a Volatile Market with Matt Haertzen

  What if doing absolutely nothing during a market downturn was actually the best financial move you could make? In this episode of Financially Ever After, Stacy Francis sits down with Matt Haertzen - Chief Investment Officer at Francis Financial - to dive deep into how to handle market volatility without letting fear drive your decisions. When markets dip, it's easy to panic, but Matt and Stacy highlight how staying calm and sticking to your investment plan can help you not just weather the storm, but come out ahead. They explore the importance of staying invested through the ups and downs, how to avoid making emotional mistakes, and why focusing on the long-term can ultimately be more rewarding. In a world full of uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to know how to make smart decisions that will benefit your future, even if the road to get there feels a little bumpy. You’ll hear them discuss: Why reacting emotionally during a market drop could cost you more in the long run and why staying calm is key Why markets have historically bounced back and why it's essential to focus on the bigger picture, especially when things feel uneasy The importance of staying invested for the long haul and how volatility can be an opportunity if you’re prepared How strategies like tax-loss harvesting and Roth conversions can actually work in your favor when markets are down The psychological impact of market swings and how to manage your emotions to avoid costly mistakes Simple yet effective steps to manage your finances during uncertain times without sacrificing your goals Why diversification is crucial and how expecting every part of your portfolio to perform perfectly all the time is unrealistic Real-life insights into why reacting to market drops, like during the 2008 financial crisis, can leave you worse off in the long run Resources Matt Haertzen on the Web | 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!

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• Surviving the IRS: Innocent Spouse Relief and Other Solutions with Megan Brackney

  Is skimping on employment taxes worth the risk? Think again! The IRS is watching, and the consequences could be severe. From personal liability to potential criminal charges, tax attorney Megan Brackney breaks down what you must know about payroll tax compliance—and what happens if you get it wrong. Think an IRS notice is something you can ignore? Not so fast. Failing to respond could mean escalating penalties, wage garnishments, or even asset seizures. Failing to pay your taxes—or even unknowingly making mistakes—can lead to serious consequences. In this episode of Financially Ever After Widowhood, Stacy Francis sits down with Megan Brackney, a leading tax controversy attorney, to unpack the dangers of employment tax issues, IRS audits, and how to handle tax troubles before they spiral out of control. Whether you’re a business owner, someone dealing with tax issues from a former spouse, or just trying to stay on the right side of the IRS, this episode is packed with invaluable insights and actionable advice. You'll hear them discuss: Why employment tax fraud is taken more seriously than personal tax evasion – When you withhold payroll taxes, you’re holding money in trust for your employees and the government. Failure to pay is viewed as theft, making it one of the IRS’ top enforcement priorities. The IRS’ six-year (or even unlimited!) statute of limitations on tax fraud cases – Just because you haven’t been caught yet doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. The IRS has years to investigate, and in cases of fraud, there’s no time limit at all for them to come after you. How unpaid payroll taxes can personally impact business owners, CFOs, and controllers – The IRS can go after individuals within a business under the responsible person penalty, making them personally liable for unpaid taxes. If you’re in a leadership role, you must ensure payroll taxes are properly handled. The real-life regrets of those who got caught—and why it never pays off – Megan shares stories from 20+ years in tax law, revealing how every client who thought they could outsmart the IRS deeply regretted it once they faced penalties, legal fees, and sleepless nights. Innocent Spouse Relief—what it is and how it can protect you from a former spouse’s tax mistakes – If you’re facing tax liabilities from an ex-spouse’s wrongdoing, you may not have to pay. Learn what qualifies for Innocent Spouse Relief and how to apply. Practical steps to take if you receive an IRS notice (hint: open it, don’t panic!) – Ignoring IRS letters only makes things worse. Megan explains how to read your notice, understand what’s being asked, and take action before penalties escalate. How to communicate with the IRS to avoid aggressive collection tactics – Many people fear bank levies and wage garnishments, but staying in contact with the IRS and showing good faith can often prevent the harshest consequences. Taxpayer rights you didn’t know you had – The U.S. has strong taxpayer protections, but many people don’t realize what they’re entitled to. Megan covers important rights, including appeal options, installment agreements, and offers in compromise. Why procrastination makes tax problems exponentially worse – The longer you wait, the more interest and penalties pile up. Megan shares key steps to take immediately if you suspect a tax issue, even if you can’t afford to pay the full amount. How tax issues can impact your financial future, credit, and even your passport – Owing the IRS isn’t just a money problem—it can affect your ability to get business loans, travel, and plan for retirement. Learn how to mitigate long-term consequences. Resources Megan Brackney on the Web | 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!

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