Clear money conversations help families prepare before life happens.

On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, Tony talks with Jacqui Clarke, author of Stop Worrying About Money, about how better money conversations help families navigate caregiving, loss, divorce, and rising financial pressure. 

They explore why money is often left unspoken, how that creates risk, and what families can do to build clarity, reduce anxiety, and prepare for what’s ahead.

Key takeaways

🔹 Having conversations with your spouse and family is essential for aging planning and legacy planning. 

🔹 Knowing where assets are and what things cost is essential during life transitions.

🔹 Financial responsibility often defaults to one partner, which creates vulnerability for the other partner.

🔹 Many women face financial gaps due to caregiving, career pauses, and unequal roles.

🔹 Estate plans need context and communication, not just documents.

🔹 “Planet Squeeze” is real as families balance aging parents, kids, and rising costs.

🔹 Being optimistic about money can be really empowering.

🔹 Advisors have a responsibility to meet with both spouses. 

Tony’s Take: When families share information, understand their finances, and align on decisions, they create clarity before life gets complicated. The goal is making sure no one is left trying to figure everything out alone.

 🎥 Watch this episode below: 

🎧 Listen to the podcast below or on your favorite podcast app. 

Connect with Jacqui Clarke: 

• Website: jacquiclarke.me
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquiclarke/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquiclarke000/

Substack Newsletter: 

• Your Personal CFO: https://jacquiclarke.substack.com

Books: 

• Stop Worrying about Money: The Award-Winning book about how you can start planning now to secure your financial future (Amazon US)(Amazon AU) (Barnes and Noble)
• Free sample chapter: https://www.jacquiclarke.me/book

Bio: 

Jacqui Clarke FCA, FTI, GAICD, JP, author of Stop Worrying About Money, is a trusted advisor, board member, executor and veteran business executive. As a personal wealth and money management expert and over three decades of experience, 25 years at Deloitte and PWC helping high-net-worth families, individuals and business owners to build, manage and preserve their wealth. Her message is simple: with careful planning and effort, you can manage your money, so it doesn’t manage you. https://www.jacquiclarke.me/

This episode is a collaboration with The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (the MAIAs) which celebrate the increasingly important work being done to help people understand money better. Learn more: https://www.maiawards.org.