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.
Investment advisory services offered by Pearl Planning, a DBA of Stephens Consulting LLC., an SEC registered investment advisor. Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Pearl Planning, or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this Podcast will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this podcast serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Pearl Planning. To the extent that a listener has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. Pearl Planning is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of the Podcast content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of Pearl Planning’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at www.pearlplan.com. Content represents the opinion of the speaker and not necessarily that of Pearl Planning.
Women's Money Wisdom
Episode 170: The Case for 529 Plans for College Savings with Ann Garcia
In this episode Melissa Joy, CFP, ® and Ann Garcia, CFP®, a financial advisor and author of the popular College Financial Lady blog, discuss why a 529 plan is a great vehicle for college savings. They cover everything from asset weighting on the FAFSA form, flexibility on what colleges your child can attend, and how they help maximize tax savings. Did you know if your 529 is overfunded because your student got a scholarship, you don’t pay the penalty on withdrawals of the amount that is overfunded due to the scholarship, only taxes on the gain? If you have a child who may attend college some day, this is a must listen episode to help plan financially.
You will learn:
- The benefits of 529 plans and why they are an excellent option for funding higher education.
- Explanation of what 529 plans are and how they differ from other college savings options.
- Tax advantages of 529 plans, including tax-free growth and potential state tax deductions/credits.
- Flexibility of 529 plans, allowing for changes in beneficiaries within the family and use for K-12 tuition.
- Importance of earmarking funds specifically for college to maintain focus on savings goals and eligibility for financial aid.
- How assets are weighted on the FAFSA, with 529 plans being treated as a parental asset with a maximum of 5.64% factored into the EFC.
- Encouragement to start saving for college early to benefit from compounding and time.
Resources:
- Learn more about Ann Garcia and The College Financial Lady.
- Find out about Pearl Planning.
- Read 529 Plans: How to Get Money Out.
- Listen to Episode 132: Paying For College with Ann Garcia.
- List of documents you will need to fill out the FAFSA, FAFSA Resources by the College Financial Lady.
- Sign up for the College Financial Plan Mast
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:...
