Before Someone Else Has to Manage Your Money with Christine Moriarty

What happens to our money if our ability to manage it changes? In this episode of Money Without Math, Karen Coyne talks with Christine Moriarty, CFP®, founder of MoneyPeace, about the financial considerations that accompany changes in memory and cognition. Christine shares the personal experience that brought this issue into focus for her: watching her mother, a lifelong bookkeeper who balanced her checkbook to the penny, begin to struggle with financial tasks that had always been second nature. Together, Karen and Christine explore what separates ordinary forgetfulness from a change worth noticing, why a new pattern of missed bills or unusual financial behavior can be an important warning sign, and how families can add safeguards without stripping away independence all at once. This episode is about preparing while you can still decide what support, protection and independence might look like for you. That means making sure financial knowledge doesn’t live with just one person, bringing someone you trust into your financial life, and putting simple protections in place before you need them. In this episode: 00:00 Normal Forgetfulness vs. Dementia 01:23 What Happens to Money When Memory Fades? 03:50 Why Memory Loss Is a Financial Planning Issue 07:12 The Personal Experience That Changed Christine's Work 09:24 Protecting Financial Independence Without Taking Over 11:25 Secrecy, Scams and Financial Exploitation 14:26 Early Warning Signs of Cognitive Decline 17:08 Financial Behaviors That Can Signal a Problem 19:42 How Families and Financial Advisors Can Prepare 23:14 When "Help" Becomes Financial Exploitation 26:52 Simple Steps to Protect Your Money Now 30:16 Final Takeaways for Families and Caregivers Connect with Karen: Clarity Planning LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Connect with our guests:  Christine Moriarty on LinkedIn MoneyPeace Website Money and Memory Resources