Category: Women In Finance
LGBTQ+ Legal Planning: Protecting Your Rights if Marriage Equality Is Overturned (Ep. 30)

LGBTQ+ Legal Planning: Protecting Your Rights if Marriage Equality Is Overturned (Ep. 30)

By |

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

In this episode, Michelle Gessner, CFP®, welcomes attorney Lorie Burch for an important conversation on estate planning for LGBTQ+ families, especially in Texas. Lorie shares her personal experience with reciprocal IVF and the surprising legal reality that birth certificates alone don’t guarantee parental rights. They explore why second-parent adoption is essential and how shifting laws—like a possible overturn of marriage equality—could impact families.

The discussion also highlights the risks of using online DIY estate planning tools or handwritten wills, which often fail due to improper execution. Lorie outlines what to look for in a qualified estate planning attorney and explains why revocable living trusts are becoming more popular for privacy and avoiding probate. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or not, this episode offers practical advice to help protect your loved ones and avoid legal complications down the road.

What to expect from their conversation:

  • Parental rights for LGBTQ+ couples in Texas
  • The importance of estate plans that account for shifting legal landscapes
  • Holographic (handwritten) wills and how they often fail in court
  • Why same-sex couples might want to consider obtaining a marriage license from protective states for added security
  • Real examples of planning mistakes and how to avoid them
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Michelle Gessner: 

Connect with Lorie Burch:

About Lorie Burch:

Lorie owns a Dallas law firm that primarily focuses on estate planning, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, and business law. Burch Law has been awarded 3 years in a row as one of the 500 fastest-growing small law firms in the country, which is a testament to our team and how we’ve been able to help more families and individuals with this vital planning. 

Lorie has engaged in many civic and community organizations and advocacy. She currently serves on the Leadership Plano Board of Directors and is the Chair of the Diversity Advisory Committee for Leadership Plano. In 2018, she ran for United States Congress for the 3rd District of Texas. Lorie served as the 2013-2014 National President for the Board of Directors of the American Business Women’s Association. She is also the past Chairwoman of the Board for the North Texas LGBT Chamber and was formerly the Co-Chair of the DFW Human Rights Campaign Steering Committee. 

This year, Lorie was voted as Dallas’ Best Civil/Family Law Attorney by readers of the Dallas Voice for the 6th time! In 2024, Burch Law was awarded “Best Marketing Ad Campaign” by Plano City Lifestyle Magazine. In 2022, Burch Law was honored as Business of the Year by the North Texas LGBT Chamber. Additionally, Lorie was honored by the Dallas Business Journal as a 2013 Women in Business. She was recognized as one of the 2010 Top Ten Business Women for the American Business Women’s Association. In 2007, Lorie was awarded the North Texas LGBT Chamber Business Person of the Year. 

About Michelle Gessner: 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Michelle is passionate about building a life plan for her clients and helping them see that they have choices, which often comes to them as a pleasant surprise. She is an independent thinker and a huge advocate of her clients’ interests. Her greatest joy is working to do what is right for them and being their voice.

Michelle has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an M.S. in Management from Boston University, Brussels. Growing up in Montana and moving to Colorado for college, she took out student loans and worked her way through all four years. After graduating in 1987 with honors, she accepted a job at Shell Oil in Houston and worked her way up the corporate ladder to a management position before leaving in 1992 for Brussels, Belgium, where she lived for 4 years. In Brussels, she learned about different cultures and basic conversational French, as well as pursuing and earning a graduate degree in management. 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional,  she is held to the highest standards set forth in the industry. She surrounds herself with a back office of experts in tax and investment research so that her clients have the best of both worlds – the resources of a large firm with the caring, dedication, and personal service of a small firm. 
Tips & Traps: What You Need To Know About Taxes (Ep. 29)

Tips & Traps: What You Need To Know About Taxes (Ep. 29)

By |

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Join Michelle Gessner, CFP®, for smart tax tips that can help you avoid costly mistakes and take advantage of smart planning opportunities. While taxes may not be everyone’s favorite topic, Michelle emphasizes that education is crucial to make the most of what the system offers, especially when it comes to retirement planning.

Gain insight as Michelle touches on Medicare IRMAA, capital loss limitations, Social Security taxation, Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT), Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), and Avoiding Underpayment Tax Penalties.

Remember that forward-thinking tax planning, not just tax filing, can lead to big savings and fewer surprises. 

Key takeaways from this release include:

  • What Medicare IRMAA is and how to sidestep its surcharges [00:01:59]
  • Navigating short and long-term capital losses on your tax returns [00:07:03]
  • The ins and outs of Social Security taxes and why they might be higher than expected [00:09:54]
  • Understanding and utilizing Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) for tax benefits [00:15:03]
  • How underpayment tax penalties can sneak up and how to avoid them [00:18:01]
  • The Rule of 55 and its potential to liberate you from the typical 10% penalty for early 401 (k) withdrawals [00:23:18]
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Michelle Gessner: 

About Michelle Gessner: 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Michelle is passionate about building a life plan for her clients and helping them see that they have choices, which often comes to them as a pleasant surprise. She is an independent thinker and a huge advocate of her clients’ interests. Her greatest joy is working to do what is right for them and be their voice.

Michelle has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an M.S. in Management from Boston University, Brussels. Growing up in Montana and moving to Colorado for college, she took out student loans and worked her way through all four years. After graduating in 1987 with honors, she accepted a job at Shell Oil in Houston and worked her way up the corporate ladder to a management position before leaving in 1992 for Brussels, Belgium, where she lived for 4 years. In Brussels, she learned about different cultures and basic conversational French, as well as pursuing and earning a graduate degree in management. 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional,  she is held to the highest standards set forth in the industry. She surrounds herself with a back office of experts in tax and investment research so that her clients have the best of both worlds – the resources of a large firm with the caring, dedication, and personal service of a small firm. 
Retiring to a Life You Love in Portugal with Glenda Cole (Ep. 28)

Retiring to a Life You Love in Portugal with Glenda Cole (Ep. 28)

By |

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

What if you could retire to a life that feels like a storybook dream? In this latest episode of Retire to a Life You Love®, Michelle Gessner, CFP®, reconnects with Glenda Cole who is living an idyllic retirement in Portugal. Known for her vibrant lifestyle in the Algarve region, Glenda shares insights into why Portugal is capturing the hearts of so many Americans considering overseas retirement. From the amazing weather to the camaraderie with locals and expats, Glenda paints a picture of her life that may have you booking a one-way ticket!

Michelle and Glenda discuss:

  • What makes life in Portugal’s Algarve region so fulfilling [00:02:09] 
  • The tax landscape for retirees and how it affects new movers [00:02:09] 
  • Navigating healthcare and why it’s top-notch in Portugal [00:16:44]
  • Common regrets or hurdles for expats, and how you can avoid them [00:19:50]
  • Tips on housing affordability and mortgage tricks [00:25:11]
  • Insider travel tips, including new direct flights hitting the radar [00:28:08] 

Resources:

Connect with Michelle Gessner CFP®: 

Connect with Glenda Cole:

About Michelle Gessner: 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Michelle is passionate about building a life plan for her clients and helping them see that they have choices, which often comes to them as a pleasant surprise. She is an independent thinker and a huge advocate of her clients’ interests. Her greatest joy is working to do what is right for them and be their voice.

Michelle has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an M.S. in Management from Boston University, Brussels. Growing up in Montana and moving to Colorado for college, she took out student loans and worked her way through all four years. After graduating in 1987 with honors, she accepted a job at Shell Oil in Houston and worked her way up the corporate ladder to a management position before leaving in 1992 for Brussels, Belgium, where she lived for 4 years. In Brussels, she learned about different cultures and basic conversational French ,as well as pursuing and earning a graduate degree in management. 

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional,  she is held to the highest standards set forth in the industry. She surrounds herself with a back office of experts in tax and investment research so that her clients have the best of both worlds – the resources of a large firm with the caring, dedication, and personal service of a small firm. 

About Glenda Cole:

Glenda Cole is a former Vice President of Marketing and Sponsorships, having worked in luxury real estate and corporate advertising. After decades in the corporate world, she and her partner, Glenn Ellison, moved to the Algarve region of Portugal to embrace a more relaxed lifestyle. There, Glenda has found a new purpose, volunteering, writing for Portugal Resident, and co-hosting The Glenn and Glenda Show on YouTube, where they share their experiences of life in Portugal. Glenda is also an advocate for expatriate life and enjoys exploring the challenges and rewards of living abroad.

She is a guest on the Retire to a Life You Love® podcast, where she talks about her journey to Portugal, the challenges of relocating, and the joy of her new lifestyle.
Client Concierge and Paperwork Queen: How Lauren Morris Makes Your Life Easier at Gessner Wealth Strategies (Ep. 27)

Client Concierge and Paperwork Queen: How Lauren Morris Makes Your Life Easier at Gessner Wealth Strategies (Ep. 27)

By |

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Join Michelle Gessner, CFP®, as she welcomes Lauren Morris, the client services extraordinaire at Gessner Wealth Strategies. Lauren shares her behind-the-scenes skills on simplifying the financial complexities that often perplex us. Whether it’s navigating the ins and outs of accessing funds, ensuring tax efficiency, managing paperwork with Schwab, and knowing what questions to ask, or better safeguarding finances with seamless bank links, Lauren’s insights are invaluable. 

Discover how Gessner Wealth Strategies strives to enhance your overall financial well-being through proactive management and exceptional client support.

Michelle and Lauren discuss:

  • [00:03:03] How new clients can easily access their funds and why understanding “custodians” like Charles Schwab is crucial
  • [00:05:35] Setting up secure bank links without compromising cybersecurity
  • [00:08:47] Tips for onboarding: Gathering account statements, checking beneficiaries, and preparing for financial planning
  • [00:13:37] Tackling paperwork and navigating RMD processes to minimize tax burdens
  • [00:17:18] Real-life examples where proactive steps prevented financial mishaps due to unreported cost basis
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Michelle Gessner: 

Connect with Lauren Morris:

About Our Guest:

As the Client Services Manager at Gessner Wealth Strategies, Lauren Morris takes great pride in working with clients daily, assisting them with important questions about their accounts. Lauren is responsible for more than just answering phones—they ensure that files meet compliance standards, projects are completed on time, tasks and follow-ups are handled, and data is collected with care and security. In many ways, Lauren runs the office like a well-oiled machine.

With over 14 years of administrative experience, Lauren is a native Houstonian who spent some time living in Georgia and Washington before returning to the Houston area in October of 2015. Lauren earned a degree in Pharmacy Technology from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, in 2011. Additionally, they have experience in both the mortgage and jewelry industries, earning a Gemological Institute of America Certification in Diamonds. Outside of work, she serves as the Kids Church Coordinator and Elementary Youth Program Leader at their church, while also being a proud parent of two children. In their free time, they enjoy reading, spending time at the beach, and visiting family in Dallas.