Episodes

  • Episode 348: College Admissions Today: Fit, Cost, and Timing with Amy McVeigh

    Episode 348: College Admissions Today: Fit, Cost, and Timing with Amy McVeigh
    Nov 3 2026
    Melissa Joy, CFP®, welcomes back Amy McVeigh, founder of Smart College Selection, an independent college consulting firm serving families in Indiana and Michigan. Amy first joined the podcast in 2020, and this conversation catches up on what has changed since. Standardized testing has swung back at many schools, artificial intelligence is showing up in both admissions offices and parents' worries about majors and job markets, and the cost of college remains one of the biggest financial decisions a family makes. Amy's steady message is that the process comes down to fit for the individual student, and that being careful about where you get your information is the key to keeping the process sane.Melissa and Amy dig into the money side of the decision: why even families who say price is no object benefit from a real look at cost, how merit aid differs from need-based aid, why the real dividing line is in-state public versus everywhere else, and how sticker price and net price can look very different. They also talk about how to think about the financial health of small colleges. Amy then shares what parents of seventh and eighth graders should focus on, how the high school years typically unfold through the application workshops before senior year, what working with an independent consultant involves, and why she encourages every parent to write down their own hope for their child's college experience.What You'll LearnWhy standardized testing matters again at many schools, and what a reasonable approach to test preparation looks likeHow artificial intelligence is changing admissions, essays, and parents' concerns about majors and job marketsWhy choosing a college is one of a family's biggest financial decisions, and why emotion should not be the only driverThe difference between schools that award merit scholarships and schools that direct their institutional funds to demonstrated needWhy in-state public versus everywhere else, rather than in-state versus out-of-state, drives the cost differenceHow sticker price and net price can differ, and why the financial health of small colleges deserves a lookWhat parents of seventh and eighth graders should focus on, and what can waitHow the high school years typically unfold, from study habits in ninth and tenth grade to application workshops before senior yearWhat an independent college consultant does, and how to decide whether to hire oneWhy writing down your own hope for your child's college experience can keep the whole process groundedAbout the GuestAmy McVeigh is the founder of Smart College Selection, an independent college consulting firm that guides students and their families through the college selection process in Indiana and Michigan. Before starting Smart College Selection in 2014, Amy spent more than two decades running a business performance consulting firm and held corporate roles in finance, public relations, sales, marketing, and communication at Fortune 100 companies. She holds a college counseling certificate from UCLA, an MBA from Harvard, and a degree in public relations from Boston University. Amy is a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), where she serves on the Board of Directors as Vice President of Education and Training, and she works with the University of California, Berkeley Extension on its college counseling curriculum.Connect with Amy: Smart College Selection | About Amy | Contact Smart College SelectionThe 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...
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    33 mins
  • Episode 347: Money Is a Mirror: Finding the Life Underneath Your Finances with Liz Hand

    Episode 347: Money Is a Mirror: Finding the Life Underneath Your Finances with Liz Hand
    Oct 27 2026

    Money is rarely the real problem. More often it points to the life underneath. Melissa Joy, CFP®, is joined by her friend Liz Hand, CFP®, ACC, a second-generation financial planner and certified coach, to talk about Liz's new book, Money Is a Mirror, and what our relationship with money can reveal. Liz traces the book back to the farming sayings she grew up around in the Midwest, such as waste not, want not and the early bird gets the worm, and to the patterns she noticed in her clients, in the advisors she coaches, and in herself. She explains what she calls making do like the Millers, a frugal, stay-below-the-radar mindset she sees as the flip side of keeping up with the Joneses, and why it so often shows up in high-achieving, responsible, community-oriented women.

    From there, the conversation turns to what changes when a person slows down and starts to experiment. Liz describes her triangle of trust, how years of hyper-saving that left her own wants off the table gave way to creative expression, and how that led her to a live performance of Money Is a Mirror. Melissa and Liz discuss why contentment looks different for every person, how clients and advisors can get stuck in a gridlock of both trying to be the responsible one, and why unprocessed emotions such as regret can keep people from using their money in ways that feel satisfying. Liz also shares where to find the book and how conference planners can book the performance.

    What You'll Learn

    • How farming sayings like waste not, want not and the early bird gets the worm reveal patterns in the way people save, spend, and give
    • What making do like the Millers means, and how it differs from keeping up with the Joneses
    • Why high-achieving, responsible, community-oriented women often leave their own wants and needs off the table
    • How Liz's triangle of trust (trust in yourself, in others, and in a higher power) shifted the way she approaches money and life
    • Why slowing down and running small financial, time, and attention experiments can help you learn what you actually want
    • Why contentment looks different for everyone, and why more money or less money is not the whole answer
    • How advisors and clients can break the gridlock of both trying to be the responsible risk mitigator
    • How emotions like regret, confusion, anger, sadness, limerence, and jealousy can keep you stuck, and what Liz means by calling them the smoke of a fire

    About the Guest

    Liz Hand, CFP®, ACC, is a second-generation financial planner at Pleasant Wealth in Canton, Ohio, where the team serves women planning for and living in retirement. She is also a mindset coach for financial advisors and the author of Money Is a Mirror, which she brings to the stage as a live performance for women's conferences and financial planner conferences.

    Pleasant Wealth

    Liz Hand Mindset Coaching

    Liz Hand on LinkedIn

    Money Is a Mirror (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HH1PYXPZ?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

    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...
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    35 mins
  • Episode 346: The Great Wealth Transfer Is About More Than Money: Caring for Aging Parents and Planning Ahead with Tiffany Charles

    Episode 346: The Great Wealth Transfer Is About More Than Money: Caring for Aging Parents and Planning Ahead with Tiffany Charles
    Oct 20 2026

    The great wealth transfer is usually framed as a story about accounts changing hands. Melissa Joy, CFP®, and Tiffany Charles, a wealth advisor at Traction Financial Partners, talk about everything that surrounds that headline: aging parents, shifting care needs, caregivers stretched across work and family, and the paperwork, phone calls, and decisions that land on the next generation. Tiffany shares what she learned after losing her father two years ago, including how an estate attorney, a financial advisor, and a tax professional working together gave her mother comfort during a hard season.

    Melissa and Tiffany also discuss what to look for in an advisor who can serve more than one generation, from a planning focus that goes beyond the investment accounts to a professional network that reaches into care, legal, and housing decisions. They cover how to start the money, aging, and legacy conversation with parents, why roles named in an estate plan should be explained to the people who hold them, and how a family sit-down, a letter, or a video can open the door when conversations feel too hard to have in person.

    What You’ll Learn

    • Why the great wealth transfer involves caregiving, housing, health, and family dynamics, not only account transfers
    • How a now, soon, and later triage list can help caregivers decide what to handle first and what can wait
    • Why caregivers need space for their own wellbeing while they manage a parent’s finances
    • What types of aging and after-loss support exist, and why finding them before a crisis helps
    • What to look for in an advisor for your parents or yourself, including planning beyond investments and a connected network of professionals
    • Common items that get missed, such as required minimum distributions, tax filings, and tax withholding
    • How a coordinated team of advisors can help a family manage timing, including estate tax return decisions and the step-up in value on a home
    • Why trusted contacts, powers of attorney, and estate plan roles should be explained to the people named
    • Ways to open the conversation with parents, including a family meeting, writing, or video
    • How inheritance can be approached in your own planning without counting on it

    About the Guest

    Tiffany Charles is a wealth advisor at Traction Financial Partners, where she helps women, families, and business owners make confident wealth decisions. She brings a strategic, relationship-driven approach to wealth planning and long-term financial decision making. Tiffany has worked in the wealth management industry for 15 years and serves on the board of bQuest, a platform that helps advisors connect clients with vetted aging care and after-loss resources.

    Website: https://tractionfp.us/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-charles-1a3998b0/

    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...
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    44 mins
  • Episode 345: Investing in Line with Your Values: Vegan and Climate-Conscious Portfolios with Claire Smith

    Episode 345: Investing in Line with Your Values: Vegan and Climate-Conscious Portfolios with Claire Smith
    Oct 13 2026
    Melissa Joy, CFP®, sits down with Claire Smith, CEO of Beyond Investing and founder and Chief Investment Officer of Beyond Impact, to talk about building a portfolio that reflects personal values. Claire traces her path from investment banking and investment consulting to a decision to devote her career to vegan, climate-conscious investing. She explains how the rules-based screens behind the Vegan Climate ETFs decide which companies are included and which are left out, from fossil fuel producers to supply chain businesses tied to animal agriculture, and how proxy voting and direct company engagement, including an example involving Apple and leather watch straps, can be used to influence corporate behavior.The conversation then turns to private markets, where Claire explains how venture capital differs from publicly traded funds, what it means to back seed-stage companies in alternative proteins and animal-free materials, and why these funds are generally limited to accredited and institutional investors. Melissa and Claire also take on a common question about values-based investing, whether it means giving up returns, with Claire sharing what she has observed since the ETF launched and a reminder from Melissa that past performance does not predict future results.What You'll LearnHow a career in investment banking and investment consulting led Claire Smith to build vegan and climate-conscious investment productsWhat Claire means by "what gets financed gets done," and why she sees withdrawing financing as one way to influence the companies we invest inHow rules-based screens decide which companies are excluded, including supply chain businesses tied to animal agriculture and fossil fuels, and how mid-cap holdings are used to rebalance sectorsWhat cap-weighted indexes are, and why a stock falling out of a major index can matterHow fund sponsors use proxy voting, shareholder resolutions, and direct engagement to influence the companies they holdWhy Claire says a disproportionate number of exploited animals are female, and why she raises it from a feminist standpointHow venture capital differs from an ETF, including seed investing, ten-year time horizons, limited partners, and who can access these fundsWhat Claire has observed about the performance of her ETF since launch, and why past performance does not predict future returnsAbout the GuestClaire Smith is the CEO of Beyond Investing, a registered investment adviser formed in 2017 to create publicly available vegan and climate-conscious investment products, and the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Beyond Impact, a venture capital firm focused on plant-based, alternative protein, and animal-free materials companies. Beyond Investing created the US Vegan Climate Index, which is tracked by the US Vegan Climate ETF (ticker VEGN), launched in September 2019, and offers an international Vegan Climate ETF. Before founding Beyond Investing, Claire spent decades in finance, including roles at UBS and as a partner at the alternatives advisory firm Albourne Partners. She was named Investment Leader of the Year in the 2022 Environment Finance Sustainable Investment Awards.Beyond Investing: beyondinvesting.comUS Vegan Climate ETF: veganetf.comInternational Vegan Climate ETF: veganclimateetf.comBeyond Impact: beyondimpact.vcBeyond Investing on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/beyond-investingBeyond Investing on X: @BeyondInvestThe 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...
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    43 mins
  • Episode 344: Walking on Broken Glass: Recognizing Workplace Bias and Career Takedowns with Shannon Nutter

    Episode 344: Walking on Broken Glass: Recognizing Workplace Bias and Career Takedowns with Shannon Nutter
    Oct 6 2026
    Doing great work is supposed to protect your career. But what happens when being a high performer, speaking up, or challenging the status quo is exactly what puts you at risk? Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Shannon Nutter, a global executive, board director, and founder of My Classroom Economy, whose career includes leadership roles at Vanguard, Deloitte, and General Motors. Shannon is the co-author, with Julia C. Carreon, of the new book Walking on Broken Glass: Navigating the Aftermath of the Glass Ceiling, a decoder kit for recognizing the biases and double standards that have been normalized in so many workplaces.Shannon explains the idea of a "takedown," when accomplished people, many of them women, are purposefully managed out after they push back, question power, or simply succeed. After a single LinkedIn post flooded her inbox, she paused writing to interview more than 100 people, and she shares the early signs and signals that emerged from those stories. She and Melissa also unpack the Goldilocks syndrome, why so many women personalize what is actually systemic, and the everyday choices we can all make as colleagues, leaders, consumers, investors, and voters to change the culture. Along the way, Melissa connects it back to financial planning: your career is often your largest asset, and preparing for career risk is part of protecting your balance sheet.What You'll LearnWhat a "takedown" is, and why high performers who challenge the status quo, question compensation, or exceed their goals can be the ones managed outEarly warning signs to watch for, from canceled one-on-ones and shrinking decision rights to a sudden performance plan after a new boss or mergerPractical ways to protect yourself: documenting achievements, keeping your resume current, and building a network outside your companyThe Goldilocks syndrome, and why women are so often described as too much or too little but rarely just rightSimple, low-risk phrases you can use in a meeting to redirect credit or reframe biased feedback for a colleagueWhy workplace bias is systemic rather than personal, and how that recognition can be validatingHow your choices as a leader, consumer, investor, and voter can push for change, even if you are not in the C-suiteWhy career risk belongs in your financial plan, since your human capital is often the largest asset on your balance sheetGuest BioShannon Nutter is a global executive, board director, business advisor, and author with more than two decades of leadership experience at organizations including the Vanguard Group, Deloitte, and General Motors. She is the founder of My Classroom Economy, a free K-12 program that teaches children financial responsibility through experiential learning. Shannon is the co-author, with Julia C. Carreon, of Walking on Broken Glass: Navigating the Aftermath of the Glass Ceiling (Practical Inspiration Publishing, 2026). She holds a BA from Macalester College and an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.Connect with Shannon:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shannon-nutterCo-author Julia C. Carreon on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julia-c-carreonBook: Walking on Broken Glass: Navigating the Aftermath of the Glass CeilingMy Classroom Economy: myclassroomeconomy.orgThe 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...
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    37 mins
  • Episode 343: Giving with Purpose - A Guide to Charitable Planning and Donor Advised Funds with Grace Bernhardt

    Episode 343: Giving with Purpose - A Guide to Charitable Planning and Donor Advised Funds with Grace Bernhardt
    Sep 29 2026

    Charitable giving can grow your impact, pass your values to the next generation, and lower your tax bill, but only when the intent to give is genuine.

    Melissa Joy, CFP®, sits down with Grace Bernhardt, Director of Charitable Solutions and Advisor Experience at Raymond James Trust, for a wide-ranging conversation on charitable giving philosophy and the planning tools available to put it into practice. Melissa and Grace walk through the full spectrum of giving vehicles, from private foundations and charitable lead and remainder trusts to the fast-growing donor advised fund, explaining how each structure works, who it tends to fit best, and the tax and legacy benefits each one offers.

    The conversation goes beyond the mechanics to explore why families give: using philanthropy to pass down values across generations, preparing heirs to be good stewards of wealth, and building giving strategies around major income events like a business sale, a large bonus year, or an inherited retirement account. Grace and Melissa also share how they each use donor advised funds in their own families, and Melissa reflects on why charitable giving should never be pursued purely for a tax break if the charitable intent isn't genuinely there.

    What You'll Learn

    • The difference between a private foundation, a donor advised fund, and community foundations, and how to choose among them
    • How charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts work, and when each one makes sense
    • Why donor advised funds have become one of the fastest-growing charitable structures in the industry
    • How donating appreciated stock or other assets, rather than cash, can help you give away a future capital gains tax liability
    • How to use charitable giving strategically around high-income years, bunching deductions, and inherited retirement accounts
    • How to set up successor donors and legacy giving plans so a donor advised fund can outlast your lifetime
    • Why charitable giving should be grounded in genuine intent, not pursued for tax benefits alone

    About Grace Bernhardt

    Grace Bernhardt is Director of Charitable Solutions and Advisor Experience at Raymond James Trust, where she works with clients and financial advisors on philanthropic planning strategies, including donor advised funds, private foundations, and charitable trusts. She previously served as Director of Sustainable Investing at Raymond James. Learn more about Raymond James Charitable at raymondjamescharitable.org or connect with Grace on LinkedIn.

    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...
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    43 mins
  • Episode: 342 Understanding Your Money Behavior: How Identity Drives Financial Decisions with Hugh Massie

    Episode: 342 Understanding Your Money Behavior: How Identity Drives Financial Decisions with Hugh Massie
    Sep 22 2026

    Melissa Joy, CFP® sits down with Hugh Massie, founder of DNA Behavior International, to explore how our natural, hardwired behavior shapes the way we make financial decisions, especially under pressure.

    Hugh traces his path from CPA to behavioral pioneer, explaining how a simple observation, that people revert to their instinctive behavior when money puts them under stress, led him to build an objective measurement system now used in more than 125 countries.

    Together, Melissa and Hugh unpack why a strengths-based conversation, rather than a deficit-based one, keeps clients empowered and engaged, and why understanding a person's struggles (their strengths overplayed) is just as important as celebrating their talents.

    The conversation turns to couples and money, where Hugh shares how opposite behavioral styles often attract each other in early marriages, and how an advisor can serve as a bridge that helps both partners feel heard rather than sidelined. Hugh also introduces DNA Behavior's assessment tools, including the newly launched GoDNA.ai, and explains how identity, not just strategy, is the foundation every sound financial decision should flow from.

    What You'll Learn

    • Why people revert to their natural, instinctive behavior when money puts them under pressure
    • The difference between a strengths-based financial planning conversation and a deficit-based one, and why it keeps clients empowered
    • Why understanding a client's “struggles” (strengths overplayed) matters as much as celebrating their strengths
    • How identity, not just goals or strategy, is the foundation every financial decision should flow from
    • Why couples often marry someone with an opposite behavioral style, and how that shows up in money decisions
    • How an advisor can act as a neutral bridge that helps both partners in a relationship feel heard
    • How DNA Behavior's assessment tools, including the new GoDNA.ai platform, measure natural behavior in minutes

    About Hugh Massie

    Hugh Massie is the Founder and Executive Chairman of DNA Behavior International, “The Behavior and Money Insights Company,” which he founded in 2001 after beginning his career as a CPA and wealth manager in Sydney, Australia. Now based in Atlanta, Hugh has spent more than two decades building behavioral assessment tools that measure people's natural, hardwired behavior, work that today reaches individuals and organizations in more than 125 countries. He is the author of several books, including Financial DNA: Discovering Your Unique Financial Personality for a Quality Life, and is also the co-founder of Boys Without Fathers, a nonprofit mentoring organization.

    Website: https://www.dnabehavior.com

    Try GoDNA: https://www.godna.ai

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughmassie/

    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...
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    35 mins
  • Episode 341: Saving Without Limits: How ABLE Accounts Empower People with Disabilities with Scott de Varona

    Episode 341: Saving Without Limits: How ABLE Accounts Empower People with Disabilities with Scott de Varona
    Sep 15 2026

    Most people have never heard of an ABLE account, but it may be one of the most useful and underused tools in disability financial planning. Melissa Joy, CFP®, is joined by Scott de Varona, division director of MiABLE, Michigan's ABLE savings program, to explain how these accounts let people with disabilities save and invest money without jeopardizing benefits like Medicaid, SSI, and SNAP.

    For decades, individuals had to stay under a $2,000 asset limit to keep those benefits. ABLE accounts, modeled after the 529 education savings plan, changed that by giving people with disabilities a legal way to shelter savings, up to $20,000 a year, or $35,650 for those who are employed, while still qualifying for the programs they depend on.

    Scott and Melissa cover who qualifies (the eligibility window recently expanded from before age 26 to before age 46), what the money can be used for (housing, transportation, technology, health and wellness, and even funeral expenses, among many other categories), and how the accounts work alongside special needs trusts and other estate planning tools.

    They also discuss an important open question: the Medicaid clawback provision that currently allows states to recoup funds from an ABLE account after the owner's death, and the pending state and federal legislation aimed at eliminating it. With an estimated one million Michiganders eligible and fewer than one percent enrolled, this conversation is a reminder that ABLE accounts likely apply to more listeners, or their family members, than they might expect.

    What You'll Learn

    • What an ABLE account is and how it protects eligibility for Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, and other disability benefits
    • Who qualifies: the recent expansion of the eligibility window from disability onset before age 26 to before age 46
    • The three ways to prove eligibility, including SSI/SSDI status, the compassionate allowances list, or a physician certification
    • 2026 contribution limits: $20,000 annually, plus up to $15,650 more for employed account owners under ABLE to Work
    • The wide range of qualified disability expenses, from housing and transportation to assistive technology and funeral costs
    • How authorized individuals can manage an account on behalf of someone who lacks capacity
    • The current Medicaid clawback provision and the pending state and federal legislation that could eliminate it
    • How ABLE accounts can coordinate with special needs trusts and other estate planning strategies

    About Scott de Varona

    Scott de Varona is the division director of MiABLE, Michigan's ABLE savings program for people with disabilities, and has led the program since its creation. He has worked for the State of Michigan since 1999 in various roles within the Departments of Treasury and Health and Human Services. Scott holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Northwood University and an MBA from the DeVos Graduate School of Management. Learn more or start an account at Michigan.gov/MiABLE.

    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...
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    47 mins