Financially Ever After Widowhood

Is your money really going where you want it to when you’re gone, or are taxes, outdated documents, and lack of planning quietly deciding for you?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!

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 husband at a young age, navigating grief while finalizing an adoption, and learning to trust herself when it mattered most. This episode is about survival, reinvention, and the power of listening to that inner voice - even when the path forward feels terrifyingly unclear.

You’ll hear them discuss:

What it’s really like to have your entire life plan collapse suddenly, and how grief, caregiving, and parenting don’t wait for each other

Why crisis often leaves no space for planning and how survival mode can carry you further than you think

The emotional moment when holding it all together finally becomes impossible, and why that release matters

How life insurance and financial preparation became a lifeline, even when money had never been the focus

What it feels like to become the sole financial decision-maker overnight, and the weight that carries

Why trusting intuition - especially when choosing advisors and making big moves - can be more powerful than logic alone

The long-term lessons about balancing big dreams with practical money management, and why building the right support team changes everything

Resources

Merritt Minnemeyer 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!

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. In this week’s show, Jordan and Stacy explore handling loss and loneliness, honoring traditions, and staying financially sound.

The holidays can bring up complex emotions such as sadness, anger, and loneliness. This is normal after a major loss.

Avoid unhealthy coping strategies like becoming an “isolator” or “doer.” Don’t overcommit to events or hide away alone.

Reflect on your core values. Focus on traditions that align with what matters most, like family time.

Make new memories and experiences, especially with children. Gift experiences rather than material items. 

Have open conversations with family about your grief. Don’t pretend to be okay if you’re not.

Manage your finances by focusing on your values, not material possessions. Stick to a budget for holiday gifts and activities.

You don’t have to navigate the holidays alone. Seek support from family or a grief counselor during this difficult time.

Resources

Jordan Schwartz on Website | Instagram | Email | Phone: 917-947-6037

 

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | X(Twitter)

Email: [email protected]

FrancisFinancial.com

Instantly get advice from our guide, Financial Help for Widows, a resource designed for supporting women who need to navigate finances after the loss of a partner.

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

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 listeners the confidence to make smart, informed decisions about their coverage and long-term protection.

You'll hear them discuss:

How losing a spouse, divorcing, or facing a sudden job loss can reshape insurance options overnight

What COBRA actually offers, when it makes sense, and why the cost often shocks people

The major differences between staying on COBRA and switching to marketplace insurance

How Medicare fits into the picture for anyone 65+ experiencing an insurance transition and the deadlines that can’t be missed

Why access to existing doctors can disappear with a plan change, and how to protect those relationships

What long-term care really covers (and what it doesn’t), especially for women who may age alone

How long-term care insurance pays out in real life and why it’s often misunderstood

The financial reality of self-insuring long-term care needs versus buying coverage

Resources

Anne McGuire on the Healthcare Pathfinder | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

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!

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 taxes, monthly bills to healthcare details, they cover how to organise your financial life so your family isn’t left guessing.

You’ll hear them discuss:

Why it’s essential to list every credit card, where it’s held, and what’s on auto-pay

How keeping recent tax returns and your accountant’s info can make estate paperwork so much easier

What the “DSUE” actually means and why couples need to pay attention to it

How to document monthly expenses and subscriptions so nothing goes unpaid or unnoticed

The importance of maintaining an up-to-date contact list for key professionals and family members

How to start creating an aging plan that reflects your healthcare needs and wishes

Why discussing end-of-life preferences now spares loved ones confusion and conflict later

How completing the Because I Love You legacy checklist today can give your family peace of mind tomorrow

Resources

As you listen to this podcast, you can click here to view slides and follow along visually: ⁠Legacy Planning Webinar 3

⁠⁠Because I Love You Planning Companion⁠⁠

Natalie Colley on⁠⁠ FrancisFinancial.com⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

Stacy Francis on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ |⁠⁠X(Twitter)⁠⁠ | ⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

⁠⁠FrancisFinancial.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠See All Podcasts