Hi there,

 

Money conversations are tough. Especially when life stirs up unexpected waves.

 

A little over a year ago, I lost my job, over Zoom, after uprooting our life and selling our home in Nashville to relocate for that very position. I was the primary earner, the planner, the one who steadied the financial ship when unexpected ripples of life hit.

 

Suddenly, that changed.

 

Fortunately, my husband and I had many financial conversations behind us, and that made all the difference in weathering this storm.

 

We downsized to an 800-square-foot home in Michigan, with our three goofy dogs and our incredibly resilient 8th grader. We simplified our lives. We shared home-cooked meals, lots of walks and bike rides, and enjoyed time with my niece and nephew, who now lived close enough to call me Aunt Jill without being reminded.

In this week’s episode of The Death Readiness Podcast, I talk with family dynamics coach, Emily Bouchard, about why money conversations matter, not just when things fall apart, but when you’re building something new. Like a marriage. Or a future. Or a personal and professional rebranding.

 

We talk prenups, childhood money stories, and how financial transparency can deepen connection, not destroy it.

 

This isn’t just for couples getting married. It’s for anyone learning to talk about money with someone they love.

If someone told you to get a trust, would you know why?

 

In last week’s Tuesday Triage, I answered a question from Lauren, a California mom of three, who’s been told by everyone from friends to her neighbor’s uncle that she needs a trust. But does she?

 

I break it down in plainly:

I also talk about why simply creating a trust doesn’t mean you’ve avoided probate, and how that expensive signed trust agreement might not be worth the paper its printed on if you haven’t actually transferred anything into it.

 

If you’ve ever nodded along while someone talked about trusts and hoped they wouldn’t ask a follow-up question, this one’s for you.

Watch the quick explainer video here:

If caring for aging parents is on your radar, a Medicaid trust might protect their house, but it comes with strings attached. Check out the most recent Tuesday Triage episode to learn more.

Thanks for reading, and for being part of this.

I don’t have investors or a corporate team behind me, just this community. If you enjoy The Death Readiness Podcast, consider supporting my work by snagging a tote and using it as a conversation starter. It’s a small way to spread the word—and a big help to me.