In the quiet chaos of a Family crisis, a single phone call can upend your world. For Beth Pinsker, CFP®, that call came when her 76-year-old mother, living independently in Florida, faced spinal surgery and needed help managing her daily life—and her Money. What followed was nine months of medical ups and downs, culminating in her mother’s passing and the grueling task of settling her Estate. Pinsker, a Retirement and financial planning columnist at MarketWatch, channeled this experience into her new book, My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving. It’s not just a memoir; it’s a roadmap for the 63 million Americans—often sandwiched between their own lives and Aging parents—thrust into financial caregiving roles.
As a Certified Financial Planner who doesn’t manage client money, Pinsker’s expertise shines through her journalistic lens. "I just write about this stuff for educational purposes and to help guide people through holistic planning," she explains in a recent interview with the Positive Aging Community. Her book demystifies the "mess" of elder finances, blending raw storytelling with practical tools. Structured in five parts—Getting Started, The Cost of Care, How to Make the Money Last, Settling the Estate, and Workbooks—it’s designed to turn dread into doable steps.
Steve Gurney founded Retirement Living SourceBook in 1990. Drawing from the experience of observing his family caring for Steve’s aging grandfather, he created a comprehensive publication to help others in the same situation. Over the next few years Steve expanded the publication to three regional editions, DC metro, State of Maryland, and the Philadelphia region. Steve has worked closely with nearly every regional and national organization on aging to help maximize their exposure and helping find solutions to their challenges.
In 1998, Mr. Gurney sold his company to The Washington Post where he served as General Manager of Sourcebook and the Senior Living Solutions Division. In 2019, Mr. Gurney acquired the resource back, and has re-branded as Positive Aging Community adding a new design and content, distribution partners, podcasts, and a robust schedule of live and interactive discussions with thought-leaders on a wide variety of topics.
In addition, Mr. Gurney founded ProAging Network meetings and leads the DC Senior Resource Group important resources for senior-serving professionals.
Mr. Gurney serves or has served on the board of directors for the Grass Roots Organization for the Well-Being of Seniors (GROWS), Alzheimer’s Association, Interages, Business and Aging Task Force, Virginia Intergenerational Task Force, and the Beacon Institute. Steve has served on countless committees and provided guidance to help organizations and businesses better serve the senior population. Mr. Gurney has received awards and recognition from the Seabury Resources for Aging, Maryland Assisted Living Association, the Senior Marketing Institute and other notable organizations. Steve is a regular speaker at local, regional and national events and has been featured in regional and national publications, electronic and broadcast media.
Steve Gurney received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University and a Masters Degree from the Erickson School of Aging Studies at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).
Mr. Gurney served as an adjunct professor at Erickson School of Aging Studies at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), instructing in the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Steve is a competitive endurance athlete and certified level 2 Adaptive Snowboard Instructor with the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), a certified level 2 Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor with the American Canoe Association (ACA). In the winter he instructs with Blue Ridge Adaptive Snow Sports at Liberty Mountain Resort, and for over eight years he led operations and a team of instructors at Surf Reston Stand Up Paddleboarding, which he turned over to Reston Association.
