MONEY WITHOUT MATH

The Trouble with Blanket Advice with Melissa Joy

Karen Coyne, CFP®

Some advice sounds harmless, but when it’s pulled out of context, it can quietly steer you in the wrong direction. Today we’re joined by Melissa Joy, founder of Pearl Planning, for a conversation about the kind of money “rules” that sound wise on the surface but don’t always fit your life.

We explore the trouble with blanket statements like “you should never buy a new car” or “always max out retirement accounts,” especially for people who’ve moved beyond survival mode and are making more nuanced financial choices. Along the way, we talk about how shame often seeps into money decisions, why one-size-fits-all guidance doesn’t serve everyone, and why your values deserve a place in the conversation.

In this episode:

  • Why the word “should” can be so damaging in financial conversations
  • How to spot advice that’s built for someone else’s life, not yours
  • Why success doesn’t always make decisions easier
  • The importance of aligning money choices with what matters most to you


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