Sharing my latest thoughts on money and life, with an eye to empowering more women to financial confidence.

I'VE BEEN PONDERING

This is Jeff White, my father.

Here's a less staged picture of him, in what I think of as his natural habitat.

Our relationship became more than just parent-child when I joined his business back in 1997, when Bill and I moved back to the Philadelphia area to start a family.

Working with a parent is definitely... interesting. (If you've ever worked with a parent, let's grab a drink sometime and compare notes!😁) All kidding aside, I am forever grateful for the opportunity he gave me to get into this helping profession and the model he provided of how to be positive and treat everyone well.

Jeff died unexpectedly in August, at the age of 87. We had a lovely service at the graveside for family, including Honors and Taps from the Navy.

And thus I joined the ever-growing group (many of you are members) of adults who have lost a parent.

Now I am executor -- I know many of you have been in that role. It's an ongoing process, certain to take many many months, but here's what I've learned so far.

• This stuff takes serious time! Talking to people and companies, tracking down details, understanding processes, wrangling paperwork -- it's a lot. (Thus the lack of newsletter for the past couple months 😊.)
• Organization is key! This is not my strong suit, but writing notes from every conversation and marking down dates of each step I take is crucial, because much as I think I'll remember -- I don't.
• Spending time with my mother and brother is as important as moving the estate stuff forward. October 9 was my parents' 60th anniversary, so I took my mom to New York (an easy train ride from Philly). Here we are on a Broadway stage!

Thank you to all who sent cards and condolences. I appreciate the love and support! And my heart goes out to all of you who are grieving.

RECENT SIGHTINGS

• The fabulous journalist Kerry Hannon just came out with her latest book Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future. As part of this oft-overlooked generation, I'm especially proud to be quoted in the book! (We'll have Kerry on the podcast soon.)

• Speaking of Take Back Retirement, the latest episode in our occasional series Real Retirement Stories features Diane di Costanzo, a journalist and globe-trotter who advocates for radical transparency in talking about money. She shares her story of realizing at age 48 that she had very little saved for retirement, and how she caught up.
• We also had a fun and very different conversation with Lynn Harris about the role that comedy can play in our mature years.

PERSONAL

While I've been working, and being executor, and following current events😳, I've still been making time for fun and joy. Recently the new Calder Gardens opened in Philadelphia, as the only dedicated home for the works of sculptor Alexander Calder. It's been a long time in the works, and I was thrilled to visit with Bill.

LET'S CONNECT!

How about you? What's been bringing you joy lately, even in small doses? Art? Pets? Nature? TV? There's no wrong answers. Bonus points for pictures! We love your pictures (and promise not to share them).

Be careful out there,

Stephanie

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