Empower Women Pod - The Encore

We were very excited to have Stephanie Diamond, the Managing Director for Charitable Planning Strategies at Charles Schwab,  back again to host, Creating My Philanthropic Plan. Stephanie explained how to start planning for philanthropic giving and how to find the right charitable giving vehicle that is best for you. She has used her expertise to guide her clients, families and their wealth advisors in maximizing the impact of charitable giving. She helps clients define charitable giving goals, contribute assets tax-efficiently, review different giving vehicle options and construct charitable gifts with intention. To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link: Empower Women Events All EWS events are free to all the women and occur every second Tuesday of every month at noon in our offices unless specified. Join us and spread the word. Let's continue empowering women. 

Thank you for joining us for our August 13th Empower Women event, Effective Communication; How to Listen & Talk in Regular Conversation. In this workshop, Jody Comins, MSW, Divorce & Family Mediator presented three types of listening skills- empathic listening, macro/micro aggression (verbal and non-verbal cues) and listening for listening.  Participants experienced verbal and non-verbal cues in exercises with other participants, learned about narcissistic conversationalism, how to listen and be heard in every day conversation, and worked on communication skills. Jody Comins, MSW is a Divorce & Family Mediator and Collaborative Coach in the Greater Boston area. She is an adult child of divorce and uses her experience to create a child-centered practice at A Better Way: Divorce Mediation.  Jody is a court-approved facilitator for the required parenting classes in MA and is the creator of “Honor thy Children; Jewish Parenting through a Divorced Lens”. Her book, “Speaking Out; Voices of Adult Childr

On October 19, 2014, Suzanne’s life was changed forever. Her husband, Michael A. Iovanna was tragically killed in a car accident leaving her behind with their two children and his automotive dealership, Pride Motor Group.  In the midst of her grief, she went back to work after being a stay at home mom for 18 years. Not knowing anything about owning an automotive dealership, she went to automotive school at age 51, determined to take over for her late husband.  Suzanne’s story is one of determination and perseverance in the face of adversity.  Take a listen and please feel free to comment or reach out for questions for Suzzane. If you would like to reach directly to her, let us know and we can share her info with you. To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link: Empower Women Events All EWS events are free to all the women and occur every second Tuesday of every month at noon in our offices unless specified. Join us and spread the word. Let's continue empowering women. 

We were extremely lucky to be joined by internet safety expert, Katie L. Greer for our June Empower Women Series event, Raising Digital Natives: What's New? What's Now? What's Next? Raising our children in this technology-driven world can be a daunting task - but it doesn’t have to be. With some information and good conversation, parents can help their kids have a safe and productive experience when it comes to technology, social media, gaming and more. Katie shared information about the latest apps, privacy settings, gaming, and how to help your family have a healthy experience when it comes to technology. Katie L. Greer has provided nearly a decade of Internet/technology safety education to schools, law enforcement agencies, large corporations, community organizations and at national conferences throughout the United States and Canada. Her unique professional, educational and personal background has resulted in dynamic programs that appeal to all age groups. You can also check Katie's feature "Spotlight"

For our May episode, we were joined by Maggi Alexander from The Philanthropic Initiative, (TPI).  TPI is a nonprofit philanthropic advisory firm that pioneered the field of strategic philanthropy advising and works around the globe to help donors achieve lasting social impact.  Women are controlling a growing share of our society’s wealth and influencing more and more philanthropy. Learn about how women are changing the face of philanthropy and making a deep impact on critical issues in their communities and around the world.  This conversation will help listeners better define the goals for philanthropy, uncover their deepest interests and passions, and begin the process of zeroing in on a focus and structure for their giving that provides both meaning and impact.  You will leave with a renewed sense of purpose and practical tools for getting from here to there. Maggi Alexander is a Partner at TPI and directs TPI’s Center for Global Philanthropy. In this role, she supports individuals and families, foundati

Thank you for joining us for our April Empower women event, The Gift Behind Your Money Story, hosted by Janet Stokes. Janet Stokes, is a CPA, ICF credentialed coach, meditation instructor, and owner of the Center for Redesigning Life. Janet’s coaching practice focuses on leadership and supporting women through major life transitions– career change as it relates to whole-life purpose, post-divorce, empty nest, and retirement living. Janet’s eclectic background includes 30+ years as a CPA, as well as extensive training in bioenergetics, neuroscience and coaching. Her training and experience allow a unique melding of mind, body, and spirit that support her clients in a holistic, sustainable process. Janet gave an extremely interest discussion on what is going on in your brain and body regarding your approach and feelings around money, as well as steps you can take to shift those feelings if they are no longer serving you. To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link: Empower Women

Thank you for joining us for our March event, Why Almost Everyone Should Have a Living Trust As Part Of Their Estate Plan. Attorney Jennifer Lo, our host for the event, discussed the basics of estate planning. What does it really mean when someone says “estate plan”?  What is the difference between probate and non-probate asset?  How do trusts play an integral role in an estate plan to save estate taxes, streamline asset management, provide flexibility, and provide creditor protection for beneficiaries? Jennifer Lo practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, elder law, charitable planned giving, taxation, business formation, and non-profit law. Her estate planning practice consists of working with individuals and families to develop and implement estate plans to meet each client’s dispositional goals while minimizing estate taxes. As part of this practice, Jennifer advises clients on long-term care planning for elders and special needs trust planning for parents of c

Our Co-hosts for February's EWS Event, Stephanie Timmons, Karen Mariscal, and Christina Vidoli shared their expertise on this topic. Stephanie Timmons explained long-term care insurance and how it works. Karen Mariscal talked about estate planning for parents whose children are disabled and may need government benefits. Christina Vidoli talked about estate planning for elders who may need nursing home care. During the interview, Karen and Christina expanded on some of the difficulties parents and children face navigating through the tough decisions along the way for anyone caring for a special needs family member. You can also listen to our past episode on LTC (long-term care insurance) to learn more about that aspect of funding for elder care.  To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link: https://www.empower-women.com/events/ All EWS events are free to all the women and occur every second Tuesday of every month at noon in our offices unless specified. Join us and spread the

To kick off our 2019 Empower Women Series hosted as Lauren Altieri who presented Resolution, Solution.  In this workshop, she explored the meaning of health and wellness with a focus on what that means for you. Lauren Altieri PhD, RN and Functional Medicine Health Coach (Certification, Feb 2019) will be facilitating this workshop. Beyond her traditional education, she has taken courses in lifestyle medicine, mind-body medicine as well as healthy cooking, yoga and, mindfulness.  After working in a variety of roles in the traditional healthcare model Lauren is returning to her roots to help others attain their goals toward better health and wellness. She is skilled in motivational interviewing and helping others find their own best solutions.  To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link: https://www.empower-women.com/events/ All EWS events are free to all the women and occur every second Tuesday of every month at noon in our offices unless specified. Join us and spread the word

Thank you to everyone who joined us on December 11th for our event, Time Management, hosted by Susan Stone. Susan loves helping her clients create order out of chaos and make room for joy. Susan specializes in working with the chronically disorganized, people with ADD/ADHD and all who long for a clutter-free life. Her practice allows her to work with clients to design and maintain the kind of spaciousness that brings ease, less stress, and more joy. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and Simmons College (MBA, MSW), the Coach Approach for Organizers (COC®), holds multiple certificates from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization and has advanced training in Motivational Interviewing techniques. Susan is a Past President of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals–New England Chapter, a frequent contributor to Marblehead Patch and a guest presenter and writer for North Shore Elder Services. To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link: https

Special Education 101 and More: What Everyone Should Know About Raising and Educating A Child with Disabilities. Have you ever wondered how parents of children with special needs make sure their kids get the services they need? Attorney Tere Ramos will explain the special education process, including essential education laws, the IEP process, and how to become an effective advocate without burning bridges. Attorney Karen Mariscal will be on hand to talk about adult services, and what may be available to children with disabilities after he or she turns 22. Both attorneys have children with autism and will share their experiences, both personally and professionally. Karen Mariscal is a special needs estate planner and guardianship attorney based in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She has been practicing law at a high level for more than 30 years. She is a passionate advocate for adults who have special needs, and their parents. Tere Ramos is an attorney focusing her practice on education and Social Security disabil

For the October Empower Women Series talk, My story and why I tell it- Domestic Abuse Awareness,  Jody Marchand joined us. Jody is a survivor of domestic violence whose mission is to talk about the many signs of emotional abuse.  Jody has faced unimaginable tragedy in her life and with the help of her foundation Live for Liv, named after her daughter Olivia, she is telling her story and spreading awareness about domestic violence. For those who attended the event, thank you for joining us! To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link: https://www.empower-women.com/events/ All EWS events are free to all the women and occur every second Tuesday of every month at noon in our offices unless specified. Join us and spread the word. Let's continue empowering women. 

Whether you are currently involved in caring for an elderly family member or are concerned for your own future, this session will prepare you for “aging well.” Joined in today's podcast by Emily Saltz and Kate Granigan, two 20+ year veterans in the aging industry, in a frank discussion about aging, resources, options, and pitfalls to avoid for yourself or your loved ones. Emily Saltz is the Founder and Kate Granigan is the CEO of LifeCare Advocates, a private practice providing aging life care management services to families in MA. Their mission is to help families negotiate the complex range of services and options available as we age. For those who attended the event, thank you for joining us!  You can download the event's takeaways here: To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link: https://www.empower-women.com/events/ All EWS events are free to all the women and occur every second Tuesday of every month at noon in our offices unless specified. Join us and spread the word

Stephanie Diamond, the Managing Director for Charitable Planning Strategies at Charles Schwab, hosted our July event – Philanthropic Giving- Maximizing the Impact of Charitable Contributions.  During our discussion, Stephanie explained how to start planning for philanthropic giving and how to find the right charitable giving vehicle that is best for you. She has used her expertise to guide her clients, families and their wealth advisors in maximizing the impact of charitable giving.  She helps clients define charitable giving goals, contribute assets tax-efficiently, review different giving vehicle options and construct charitable gifts with intention. Thank you for joining us this past July 10th!  Also, we have made her PPT Presentation available in this link: http://www.lexingtonwealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EmpowerWomenLexington7.10.pdf To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link:http://www.lexingtonwealth.com/category/empower-women/ All EWS events are free to all

Kate Grondin hosted Home Transition. Kate started Home Transition Resource in 2008 after helping her 83 year old parents pair down their possessions from a home they have lived in for over 60 years. This experience taught Kate that what started out as an overwhelming prospect for her parents actually became an enjoyable experience for them. It is this joy in the process that Kate seeks to find for all of her clients. After successfully completing this downsizing project it became clear that she wanted to dedicate her career to making this transition a positive experience for all older adults. Kate earned a Master of Social Work degree from Simmons College School of Social Work in Boston, and worked as a hospital social worker providing crisis intervention, family support, and discharge planning for in-patients at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. It’s this background that differentiates Kate and her team from other move managers, as HTR’s philosophy and approach to move management is very client-centered wit

Danielle Benaroche Gottesman, Certified Wellness & Self-Care Coach, was back to host Self-Care II- What you Eat Matters. The discussion focused on nutritional wellness and wellness via movement. It was a fascinating conversation about how what we eat affects our happiness, our relationships and our surroundings.   Danielle’s vast background in journalism led her to a career at WGBH and PBS International and ultimately inspired her through personal experience to understand that balance was best achieved by making time to kindle the creative and personal fires we tend to let smolder amidst the demands of career and parenthood.  Her path evolved to inspire service as a Wellness Coach (or as some have called her, a Creative Midwife). Danielle will share her expertise on nutrition and how it relates to our overall health. She will offer solutions, resources, and tools to equip us with the ability to remain (or get) on top. Danielle Gottesman Writer, Wellness Coach DBG Wellness birdie@thisbirdiesays.com 312.

Meredith Pensack hosted Understanding Long-Term Care Insurance. She is a long-term care insurance planning specialist representing the top long-term care providers. In addition to representing traditional LTC coverage options, she also represents “hybrid” solutions that include a death benefit. Meredith was voted “Top 10 Women Insurance Agents” by Boston Women’s Business Journal. Meredith advises individuals, families, and small businesses on the appropriateness of long-term care coverage. She has helped many small business owners and self-employed individuals take advantage of the favorable tax treatments available for long-term care benefits. To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link:http://www.lexingtonwealth.com/category/empower-women/ All EWS events are free to all the women and occur every second Tuesday of every month at noon in our offices. Join us and spread the word. Let's continue empowering women. 

Susan Snow was not able to host “Ins & Outs of Assisted Living” but we are thankful to her for recording the interview without the event. Event Description Susan has been at Youville Place for nearly two years helping families and new residents make a smooth transition to assisted living. She worked for 15 years as Project Manager for a national human services firm helping families find the supports that they needed. Her interest in working with older adults later led to a position as Outreach Assistant with the Lexington Senior Center. A long-time resident of Arlington, Susan enjoys biking, kayaking, and birding. In the summer she might be found at Little Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire with family and friends. She especially enjoys spending time with the littlest family members — four girls and two boys between the ages of 1 and 6, as well as numerous cats and dogs! To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link:http://www.lexingtonwealth.com/category/empower-women/ All EWS

In our February EWS event, LuSundra Everett hosted "How to Read Your Tax Return". LuSundra is a tax professional specializing in the home business industry. She started in the home business industry in 2009. It was with that first tax return after being a home business owner that piqued her interest in tax preparation. During her tax career, she has encountered numerous home business owners having trouble with taxes. She had enough of seeing her fellow Home Business owners earn money, only to get in trouble with the IRS. She has made it her personal mission to become YOUR Home Biz Tax Lady, to help home business owners understand what is going on with their tax situation and how to win the tax game! Outside of tax season, LuSundra runs an ecommerce business and is a personal development specialist. Her mission is to assist others in building a solid foundation of self on which to build your success. LuSundra currently resides in the Boston area with her husband and two children, and is Enrolled to Practice

For our January Empower Women Series event, Danielle Benaroche Gottesman, a Certified Wellness & Self-Care Coach, hosted Understanding & Making Time for Self Care.  Danielle’s vast background in journalism led her to a career at WGBH and PBS International, and ultimately inspired her through personal experience to understand that balance was best achieved by making time to kindle the creative and personal fires we tend to let smolder amidst the demands of career and parenthood.  Her path evolved to inspire service as a Wellness Coach (or as some have called her, a Creative Midwife).  Danielle led the group in a short meditation for novices and experts, then explored ways we spend our time, the demands we all share in common, and the extenuating circumstances that throw us off course and off-schedule. The discussion touched on three main branches of self-care via nutritional wellness, wellness via movement, and well-being through emotional balance. Using left brain and right brain approaches to findi