Purposeful Money

Purposeful Money Helping women step into their Season of You™ with clear, tax-smart retirement guidance and peace of mind. Led by Erin O'Brien, CFP, EA

09/03/2026

Your will might not be as powerful as you think 👀

Most people assume their will controls where everything goes when they die.

But there's a category of accounts that completely bypass your will, and if you haven't checked them recently, the money could end up somewhere you never intended.

Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and similar assets pass directly to whoever is named on the beneficiary form. Full stop. It doesn't matter what your will says.

The problem? Most people fill out those forms once and never look at them again.

Marriages, divorces, new children, deaths in the family, life moves fast. But those forms don't update themselves.

If this has been sitting on your to-do list, today is a good day to actually do it.

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Purposeful Money is a financial advisor.

Terms like CPI, PPI, and PCE get mentioned all the time in financial news, but it’s not always clear what each one means...
09/02/2026

Terms like CPI, PPI, and PCE get mentioned all the time in financial news, but it’s not always clear what each one means. These indicators measure different parts of inflation, and understanding them can help you make sense of what’s happening in the broader economy.

As you think about retirement planning, income planning, or how inflation might shape your financial decisions, I’m here to help you sort through it with clear, values‑first guidance.

If you’re wondering how today’s pricing trends may affect your long‑term strategy, reach out anytime. I’m always happy to start the conversation and help you feel more confident about your next steps.

09/01/2026

Your will can't help you while you're still alive 👀

Most people assume their will is their safety net. But a will only takes effect after you're gone.

If a medical emergency or accident leaves you unable to manage your own affairs, your family may not be able to legally step in without the right document in place.

Without a durable power of attorney, no one can pay your bills, access your accounts, or make financial decisions on your behalf.

And if nothing is in place? A court may have to appoint someone to do it for you. That process can be slow, costly, and stressful for everyone involved.

A durable power of attorney gives someone you trust the legal authority to act on your behalf immediately, no court required.

Your will covers what you leave behind. This document covers what happens to you while you're still here.

Watch the full video to understand why this is one of the most important documents you can have in place.

Privacy Policy and Disclosures/Terms of Use documents are linked in the website footer. Disclosures document URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/DISCLOSURES+-+TERMS+OF+USE+-+PURPOSEFUL+MONEY.pdf. Privacy Policy URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/Privacy-Policy-Updated.pdf. CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ marks used with trademark symbols throughout.

Purposeful Money is a financial advisor.

08/29/2026

Delaying retirement by a year could be the best move 👀

There's a version of retirement planning no one talks about: the one where hitting your target date on time actually costs you more than it's worth.

For many of the women I work with, that specific date feels fixed. But the pressure to reach it can quietly make the years leading up to it stressful, restrictive, and hard to enjoy.

A one-year shift in timing might mean arriving at retirement with more confidence, less financial strain, and a plan that genuinely feels good instead of one you just barely survived.

Flexibility isn't failure. Sometimes it's the most intentional financial decision you can make.

Has your retirement timeline ever shifted on you? Share your experience in the comments 👇

Privacy Policy and Disclosures/Terms of Use documents are linked in the website footer. Disclosures document URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/DISCLOSURES+-+TERMS+OF+USE+-+PURPOSEFUL+MONEY.pdf. Privacy Policy URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/Privacy-Policy-Updated.pdf. CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ marks used with trademark symbols throughout.

Purposeful Money is a financial advisor.

One issue we see often during insurance reviews is outdated life insurance coverage. It’s easy to set a policy years ago...
08/28/2026

One issue we see often during insurance reviews is outdated life insurance coverage. It’s easy to set a policy years ago and never revisit it, even as income, responsibilities, and goals change.

Life insurance should reflect the income your household relies on today. If your lifestyle, mortgage, or family needs have grown, your policy may need to grow too.

Here are a few moments when it’s worth reassessing your coverage:
• A significant increase in income
• Marriage, children, or becoming a caregiver
• Buying a home or taking on new financial commitments

If it’s been a while since you last reviewed your policy, or if your financial picture has shifted since we last connected, our team at Purposeful Money can help you estimate the right level of protection and ensure your coverage still aligns with your goals.

Have questions about your next review? We’d love to hear from you.

08/28/2026

One document won't protect you. You need two. 📋

Most people assume they have this covered, but when it comes to medical emergencies, there are two separate documents that serve two completely different purposes.

One captures your wishes in advance: the specific treatments you want or don't want, written down so doctors aren't left guessing in a crisis.

The other appoints a trusted person with the legal authority to make real-time decisions when you can no longer speak for yourself.

Think of them as your instructions and your decision-maker. One without the other leaves a real gap.

No instructions, and your person is making difficult calls without guidance. No decision-maker, and your written wishes may have no one legally empowered to act on them.

Do you have both in place? Drop a "yes" or "not yet" in the comments. 👇

Privacy Policy and Disclosures/Terms of Use documents are linked in the website footer. Disclosures document URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/DISCLOSURES+-+TERMS+OF+USE+-+PURPOSEFUL+MONEY.pdf. Privacy Policy URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/Privacy-Policy-Updated.pdf. CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ marks used with trademark symbols throughout.

Purposeful Money is a financial advisor.

08/27/2026

Filing Form 709 wrong could cost you 👀

If you've ever given a large gift and wondered whether you actually need to file a gift tax return, this one breaks it down.

A few things that catch people off guard:

There's no joint return. Even if you're married, each spouse files their own Form 709 separately.

Gift splitting can be a smart move. If one spouse gives $38,000, you can elect to split it so the IRS treats it as $19,000 from each of you. But here's the catch: both spouses still have to file their own return even when splitting.

Some gifts are completely off the radar entirely. Paying medical bills or tuition directly to the institution bypasses the gift tax system altogether, with no reporting required.

For everything else, you'll need details like who received the gift, a description of the property, the fair market value, and the date of the gift.

And if you've made taxable gifts in prior years, those old returns matter more than you might think.

Privacy Policy and Disclosures/Terms of Use documents are linked in the website footer. Disclosures document URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/DISCLOSURES+-+TERMS+OF+USE+-+PURPOSEFUL+MONEY.pdf. Privacy Policy URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/Privacy-Policy-Updated.pdf. CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ marks used with trademark symbols throughout.

Purposeful Money is a financial advisor.

When one stock or business makes up a big portion of your portfolio, it can quietly increase your overall risk—especiall...
08/25/2026

When one stock or business makes up a big portion of your portfolio, it can quietly increase your overall risk—especially if that position has grown over the years.

This is a great time to take a fresh look at how much of your net worth is tied to a single asset and whether it still aligns with your long‑term retirement goals. Exploring tax implications, gradual rebalancing, and diversification can create a more stable, purpose‑driven approach.

At Purposeful Money, I help women over 50 assess concentrated positions and build a plan that supports a more confident retirement.

If you'd like to talk through your situation, I’m here to help.

08/25/2026

Gifting $100K to your kid? The tax rules aren't what you think 👀

Most parents assume a large gift means a big tax bill. But the reality is far more generous than the IRS gets credit for.

In 2026, each person can give $19,000 per recipient without any paperwork at all. When both parents give to both the child and their spouse, that's four separate exclusions adding up to $76,000, completely in the clear.

For anything beyond that, the excess simply counts against your lifetime exemption, which currently sits at $15 million per person. So yes, you may need to file a form, but that's very different from actually owing tax.

For most families helping a child buy a home, the paperwork is minor and the tax bill is zero.

Are you helping a child buy a home this year? Drop a question in the comments and Erin is happy to talk through how this works for your specific situation.

Privacy Policy and Disclosures/Terms of Use documents are linked in the website footer. Disclosures document URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/DISCLOSURES+-+TERMS+OF+USE+-+PURPOSEFUL+MONEY.pdf. Privacy Policy URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/Privacy-Policy-Updated.pdf. CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ marks used with trademark symbols throughout.

Purposeful Money is a financial advisor.

08/23/2026

Your retirement plan is dropping hints. Are you catching them? 👀

Most people assume their plan is fine because they haven't looked closely enough to know otherwise.

But there are 4 specific signs that your plan may be quietly telling you it needs attention, and most people brush right past them.

One of them has nothing to do with numbers at all. It's actually an emotional signal, and it's more useful than most people realize.

Another one involves generosity toward the people you love, and why even the most well-intentioned financial decisions need a real plan behind them.

If even one of these feels familiar, nothing is broken. It just means it's time to actually look.

Which of these 4 signs feels most familiar to you? Drop it in the comments 👇

Privacy Policy and Disclosures/Terms of Use documents are linked in the website footer. Disclosures document URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/DISCLOSURES+-+TERMS+OF+USE+-+PURPOSEFUL+MONEY.pdf. Privacy Policy URL: https://irp.cdn-website.com/0b5a1e75/files/uploaded/Privacy-Policy-Updated.pdf. CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ marks used with trademark symbols throughout.

Purposeful Money is a financial advisor.

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