My Mother's Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving

by Beth Pinsker CFP®

A comprehensive, compassionate guide for navigating end-of-life financial decisions for an aging parent or other loved one—from an award-winning journalist who is also a Certified Financial Planner

Have you just gotten the dreaded phone call—a parent or loved one has taken a turn for the worse and suddenly the burden is on you to manage their affairs? Or are you simply hoping to navigate complex financial conversations with your aging mother or father well in advance so you don't encounter problems later? This is the book for you.

In this practical handbook, award-winning MarketWatch columnist and financial expert Beth Pinsker walks you through everything you need to know about the complex world of end-of-life financial planning. Weaving personal stories from her experience caring for her elderly mother with best practices gleaned from more than 100 experts and family caregivers, My Mother's Money is a much-needed lifeline to those facing one of life's most challenging transitions. Drawing on the latest legal, financial, and healthcare resources, Beth offers clear, actionable advice on common scenarios millions of people will


How to become a parent’s legally authorized healthcare and financial proxyBudget templates for projecting long-term care costsEasy-to-understand advice on settling an estate or handling insuranceScripts for broaching tricky conversations with aging parentsStrategies to avoid potential financial shortfallsTips for managing the emotional toll of “caregiver burnout”
Watching your parents age can stir up a mix of emotions—nostalgia, concern, and often, a sense of uncertainty about the future. And assuming care for your aging loved ones can be an overwhelming sea of endless checklists, textbook explanations, and mind-numbing paperwork. With this definitive guide to elder financial planning, you can navigate these processes with confidence, saving time, energy, and peace of mind for what really matters.

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

Reviews

[Steve Peifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most financial books are dry; the information is important but it doesn’t land because the prose is unreadable. This is a very different book.

When the author’s mother started having health issues, she used the challenges involved to write a financial book that is both moving and absolutely filled with important information.

There are so many ways that having the right signature, access to information or an important conversation before could have saved so much time and money.

I think if your parents are starting to fail or you are a parent trying to make it as easy as possible for your children will find this invaluable.

A financial guide that is both informative and well written is the black swan. It’s very much worth your time.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful Read

For anyone who has current or future accountability for someone else’s financial matters, including post-death, but also for anyone who may eventually need someone else to take care of their finances — this book will help you get your ducks in a row.

Well written in a conversational style with many examples from the author’s life as well of other people that she has interviewed over the years.

[Tom Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well organized and a useful resource. My experience as an executor was so different, and much smoother. I don’t know if the lesson is every case is different, or maybe things have changed that much in ten years. Still, the book at least gives you things to think about, along with many recommendations for proactive steps to hopefully smooth the process.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a good resource and provides good information. My mother is 86 and in independent living and her home with 50 years of stuff needs to be purged.

Everyone's situation is different and it seems that things change on a dime when parents are in their late 80's+. Its so difficult, frustrating and unrewarding to be the one trying to make decisions, especially when mom and/or siblings question or challenge each one.

Not only each situation is different, but all of the other associated factors differ. Care facility policies, pricing & costs by location, where are siblings located and how much are they willing to help. And the relationship between the caregiver and patient ... then and now.

One of the best things I did was to pursue my CNA license through a local community college. Students next to me were not only young enough to be my child, but they seriously could have been a grandchild! But they were all so great to me (especially when I brought cookies to share during breaks). One of the best things I learned was to keep letting mom/your patient to be as independent as possible for as long as possible. I'm also a firm believer in physical therapy ... and out-patient physical therapy is so much better than PT at home.

My Mother's Money is the perfect title. It describes Beth Pinsker's mother's finances and how Beth/author (who is also a Certified Financial Planner) recalled and handled her mother's last stages of life and handling the estate. And it provides many, many suggestions as you transition between potential stages. The book is especially good because Beth has written so many Financial Planning articles throughout her career and she was able to draw on that knowledge and communicate it exceptionally throughout this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, author Bet Pinsker and to Crown Publishing for approving my request to read the advance read copy of My Mother's Money in exchange for an honest review. Estimated publication is Nov 4, 2025. Approx 304 pages. 4.5 stars, rounding up.

[Dana Chitwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of 'My Mother's Money' by Beth Pinsker and soaked up all of the very familiar angst and information Pinsker shared as she went on the journey of sorting through her mother's estate and financials.

This is a common thread of personal finance, one that many will live out, but one which very few feel equipped to maneuver. Right in the midst of grieving a parent, you are forced to set aside the emotions and begin dealing with debt, credit cards, investments, probate and real estate. It's intimidating and daunting.

Beth did an excellent job of taking the reader along for the journey, educating and equipping, while telling this amazing story.
This book will help you put a plan in place before tackling an estate and can be the first step to help remove the frustration and troubles of finanalizing an estate.

I highly recommend this book for everyone. Read it before you need it. Highlight passages. Call your parents and ask questions. This is one financial situation that needs some prep work, in order to bring peace to everyone.

Beth Pinsker's book is a must-have guide to read NOW, before you are in a panic. You'll be so grateful when the time comes. It's hard enough, losing a parent; this book helps you from losing your peace in the midst of your grieving.

Excellent, informative book!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Mother’s Money by Beth Pinsker was such an informative book told in a really compelling and personal way. Pinsker tells the story of the months leading up to her elderly mother’s death, and all the financial decisions a caregiver needs to make along the way. Pinsker is a compassionate writer and breaks the enormous task of managing an older parent’s finances into really doable bite size pieces. Some of these topics can feel really heavy and emotional, but Pinsker is so generous with her personal storytelling that I wanted to keep reading. I took so many notes and feel really capable to help my mom make decisions in the coming years.

I feel like this book is for all the eldest daughters (or any responsible adult child) whose parents are entering their retirement years. Don’t wait until illness or an emergency to know where your parents stand financially as they age, instead have a clear understanding of their health and personal wishes for their later years. My Mother’s Money has been an invaluable resource for me and it reads like an invested friend is helping you along the way.

Thank you so much to Net Galley, Crown Publishing and Beth Pinsker for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely helpful book in regards to estate planning, what you need to do as an executor of an estate, and how to navigate the government and financial institutions that must be dealt with during care and upon death, as well as how to deal with all of the “stuff” in an estate, which can be the most emotional and overwhelming part. This book is helpful whether you’re dealing with a small estate or selling real estate from a passed loved one. I wish I had had this book when administrating my late father’s estate, but glad that I have this resource now, as I plan my own estate. Read or listen to this book NOW, whether you’re in your 20’s or 70s. It has helpful information to make a difficult time more bearable. I found many of Pinsker’s insights to be true of my own experience, plus learned additional things my husband and I can do to streamline the process for our children. I’m recommending this book to all of my loved ones, friends, and even my book club!

[Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was reading Beth's book, I was nodding along in agreement as she recounted stories about navigating the financial, healthcare, and legal system to help her mom. She does an excellent job weaving in her own stories with practical, actionable advice you can take with your loved ones. I'm a financial planner who is very experienced with the aging process, and I picked up pieces and stories I plan on using with clients, family, and friends. Seeing loved ones age is tough to watch, and it's even harder when you aren't sure of the minefields you may step in. Beth takes you through what she would have done differently, common mistakes she sees, and how best to avoid them to make the process of caring for a parent easier.

[J M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very timely read for me as a close family member is in their final days of life and I’ve had to take over as financial caregiver for the past year.

Pinsker’s experience is really well captured and I really resonate with this process. It’s very difficult but important. Her books covers a lot of the emotional process behind caregiving as well. I would have liked a little more tactical information on dealing with this but then again this book is probably more targeted to everyday people, not just personal finance-inclined individuals.

Overall a very good read and I’ll never forget the timing of this release with what’s going on in my personal life right now.

[Christine Lussier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Ms Pinsker for this book that will be used as a reference time and time again. Filled with her own story, as well as advice with how to handle life as your parents/inlaws age. Many things to think about, look into and prepare before then for yourself as well. Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Pinsker, and Crown Pres for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle Magnasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sobering book and an excellent dive into all of the administrative tasks associated with elder care and death. It was well written and very detailed technically, but also provided anecdotes and descriptions of real-life situations, plus had a great worksheet section in the back. It inspired me to take a look at my own paperwork situation and make some updates.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading

You could fill a book with what I don't know about handling an inheritance and this is that book. I feel so.much more prepared, even though I'm still scared. Thanks for writing this book!

[Brian Weisz · Rating 3 out of 5]

a memoir/how-to guide for taking care of your parents at the end of their lives, and after

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you ..... so much more education than the typical Guardianship self help books.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t a fan of the title but it is full of useful information.

[Echo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading, both for preparing to help with my parents and with preparing for myself as someone who doesn't have children.