Cynthia Giovacchino

  Originally published in The Daily Scanner . Most families don’t delay estate planning because they don’t care-it’s usually because the process feels overwhelming, emotional, or abstract. Financial planner  Cindy Giovacchino  has seen this throughout her 25+ years in the field: people often know estate planning is important, but they need clarity, steady guidance, and a human touch to finally move it from the “later” list to the “done” column. She often compares the process to tending a garden: “You don’t plant everything at once-you prepare the soil, add what matters most, and build from there.” Why Families Delay the Tough Conversations For many people,  estate planning  brings up sensitive questions about children, aging parents, blended families, memories, and legacy. In most cases, hesitation has little to do with financial complexity. More often, it stems from not wanting to make emotionally layered decisions alone. People may worry about making the “wron...

  Originally published in The Hudson Weekly . For decades, owning a home has symbolized stability and long-term wealth. But in today’s housing market, more homeowners are finding themselves unable to sell and instead turning their properties into rentals — creating a growing segment of “accidental landlords.” For  financial planner Cindy Giovacchino , this shift raises practical questions about how families can protect long-term goals when an unplanned rental becomes part of their financial picture. Her work at Gio Financial often begins where personal circumstances meet broader market trends. Why Selling a Home Has Become More Difficult Recent reporting by major publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal points to an increase in failed  home listings that later relist as rentals . Cities like Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and Tampa have seen some of the largest moves. In Houston alone, an estimated 7% of for-sale listings converted to rentals this sp...