Financially Ever After Widowhood

• Transforming from Financial Anxiety to Empowered Decision-Making After Loss with Emma Gray

  What if the money that shows up after loss doesn’t feel like security, but like a cruel reminder of what you’ve lost? How do you turn something that feels heavy and unwanted into a source of hope, stability, and even love? In this episode of Financially Ever After Widowhood, Stacy sits down with Emma Gray, a former probate attorney, military wife, widowed mother of two, and now grief coach and counselor. Emma shares her deeply personal story of navigating grief, identity, and finances after the loss of her husband, and how she ultimately reframed money not as a burden, but as his lasting legacy. You’ll hear them discuss: - How Emma, despite being a probate attorney, found herself completely unable to face the financial paperwork and money decisions in the months after her husband passed away - The emotional shock of grief and the surprising ways it shows up physically in the body, from exhaustion to the feeling of a “broken heart” - Emma’s identity crisis after leaving law, and the journey that led her from being a lawyer to building a new career as a counselor and grief coach - Why putting your own needs first is not selfish, but actually the only way to show up fully for your children, family, and everyone who depends on you - The powerful shift Emma experienced when she stopped seeing the insurance and pension payouts as a painful substitute for her husband, and instead began to view them as his legacy - The importance of creating both financial and emotional safety, and how ignoring one often makes it impossible to feel secure in the other Resources Emma Gray on the Web | LinkedIn | Instagram | Rainbow Hunting Facebook | Rainbow Hunting Community - Facebook Group I Email: [email protected] Free Sadmin Quiz - to assess how sorted your home/life admin is: https://rainbowhunting.kartra.com/survey/sadminquiz 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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• Don’t Pay That Debt: The Truth About Medical Bills After Death with Shana Siegel

  Did you know that the number one reason for bankruptcy in the US isn’t overspending - it’s medical debt? And for many widows, the bills don’t stop after their spouse passes away. In this episode of Financially Ever After Widowhood, Stacy sits down with Shana Siegel, a partner at Norris McLaughlin P.A and nationally recognized elder law attorney, who has spent her career helping families navigate the complicated world of long-term care, estate planning, and financial protection. Shana shares her expertise - and personal perspective as a mom and caregiver - on how to plan ahead, protect your assets, and make smart decisions when illness or loss strikes. You'll hear them discuss: Why getting educated early can make all the difference in protecting both care options and family finances The surprising reality of what Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance will - and won’t - cover when it comes to long-term care How to protect your home, retirement accounts, and other key assets depending on your state’s laws What really happens with medical bills, credit cards, and student loans after a spouse passes away (and how to avoid being pressured into paying what you don’t owe) When it makes sense to negotiate with hospitals and creditors, and how much you can realistically reduce debt The common estate planning mistakes people make, and why an elder law attorney - not just a general estate planner - is essential Practical steps for handling mortgages, probate, and beneficiary designations so you and your family are financially secure Resources Shana Siegel on the web | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Aging Answers Podcast | Email | Phone 908-252-4253 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ AARP: https://www.aarp.org/  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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• From Grief to Growth: How Pam Baker Built a Community of Healing

  What happens when a financial planner dies - and even his widow can’t find the key to the safe? In this raw and uplifting episode, Stacy sits down with Pam Baker, founder of Widows Who Wine, to unpack the emotional and financial mess that followed her husband’s death. Pam shares the hard truths she wishes every family knew, why estate planning is about way more than a will, and how she’s helping women across the country rediscover joy through connection, community… and yes, a little wine. You’ll hear them discuss: Why having a will is just the beginning - and what really needs to be in place How even financially savvy families can end up in chaos without an actual estate plan The unexpected moment that made Pam realize joy was missing from her life - and what she did next What “Widows Who Wine” really means (hint: it’s spelled W-I-N-E) The difference between surviving grief and actually living again Financial surprises after loss, from closed credit cards to frozen accounts Why estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy Pam’s simple mantra for hard days, and the one person who always makes her laugh Resources Pam Baker on the Web | Lasting Legacy Consulting | Widows Who Wine Facebook Group | 'Where's the Key to the Safe'' by Pam Baker | LinkedIn | Instagram 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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• Escaping the Grip of Financial Abuse with Victoria McCooey

  When does financial support turn into financial control? Are you really in charge of your finances - or just being told you are? What if the person you love most is also the one slowly eroding your financial freedom? In this gripping episode of Financially Ever After Widowhood, Stacy sits down with narcissist divorce coach and survivor Victoria McCooey to talk about something that happens far too often but is rarely talked about: financial abuse. From subtle control to outright manipulation, Victoria pulls back the curtain on what this form of abuse looks like, how it evolves, and why even the smartest, most capable women can find themselves stuck in it. With raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, she shares not just her story, but real strategies for reclaiming your power - and your paycheck. You'll hear them discuss: How financial abuse often starts with what seems like kindness or practicality Why smart, educated, successful women are still vulnerable to financial manipulation The common emotional traps that keep women stuck in abusive dynamics Telltale signs you're being excluded or controlled financially What to do if you're afraid of retaliation or escalating violence when trying to leave How Victoria “stole” her own paycheck to buy health insurance and what happened next The vital role of tax returns, credit reports, and hidden debts in uncovering the truth Why guilt and self-blame are so common - and completely undeserved How community and connection can help women feel less alone and more empowered Resources Victoria McCooey on Web | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Tiktok | Email | Phone: 516-449-4311 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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• The Social Security Survivor Benefit Secret with Mary Beth Franklin

  Think you know everything about Social Security? Think again. What if the difference between a spousal benefit and a survivor benefit could mean thousands of dollars more in your pocket, but no one tells you? In this eye-opening episode, Stacey Francis sits down with Mary Beth Franklin, a nationally recognized expert on Social Security, to unravel the complex web of rules and opportunities surrounding Social Security for widows and divorced women. With over 2,700 rules in the system, most people make costly mistakes without even knowing it. Mary Beth breaks it all down in clear, practical terms and shares the strategies that can maximize lifetime benefits. You'll hear us discuss: How Social Security retirement, spousal, and survivor benefits are actually separate “pots of money” What divorced women need to know about eligibility for spousal and survivor benefits - even if their ex has remarried How the length of your marriage (and whether you remarried after age 60) can impact what you’re entitled to Why claiming benefits early could lead to permanent reductions, and what full retirement age really means The surprising rule that allows widows to claim one benefit now and switch to a higher one later How earnings limits can affect your benefit if you’re still working Why children under 18 (and their caregiving parent) may be eligible for survivor benefits after a parent dies Real-life scenarios that show how proper strategy can increase benefits by tens of thousands of dollars How to claim retroactive benefits and what to do if Social Security gave you the wrong advice Where to find the most reliable information and professional help, including Mary Beth’s own resources Resources Mary Beth Franklin on Web | X (Twitter) | Email: [email protected] | Phone number: 703-609-4764 | Maximizing Social Security Benefits Other resources - Social Security Advisors - help with claiming backpay | Social Security Administration - government website with information on Social Security Benefits Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | X(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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