Media Coverage

What to Know About Collecting Social Security While Working in Retirement

NTD Television
February 
By Juliette Fairley

Melissa Cox, CFP®, contributes her financial planning expertise to this NTD Television article, helping retirees understand how working can impact Social Security benefits. Melissa explains the crucial role of age and income limits, emphasizing strategies for maximizing Social Security while staying active in retirement. The article also explores pending legislation that could eliminate Social Security taxation, potentially reshaping retirement income planning for millions of Americans.

Younger Americans Want to Share Wealth Now — Boomers, Not So Much

Greenville News
February 
By Daniel de Visé

Melissa Cox, CFP®, lends expert perspective in this USA TODAY article examining the generational divide in wealth transfer strategies. Melissa explains that many boomers are hesitant to part with wealth early, prioritizing financial security and longevity, while younger generations are eager to assist family sooner. The article highlights how evolving financial planning conversations, economic pressures, and shifting values influence inheritance trends today. Melissa helps readers understand that legacy planning is no longer just about wills—it's about timing, values, and family dynamics.

Millennials and Gen X want to share wealth now. Boomers will wait until they're dead.

USA Today
January 18, 2025
By Daniel de Visé

Melissa Cox, CFP®, offers key insights in this USA TODAY feature exploring generational attitudes toward wealth transfer. As millennials and Gen Xers prioritize giving during their lifetime, baby boomers tend to hold onto wealth until after death. Melissa highlights the emotional and financial reasons why many older clients hesitate to gift early, including fears of outliving their savings. This article unpacks how shifting values, rising costs of living, and evolving financial planning practices are reshaping the conversation about inheritance and legacy.

Living paycheck to paycheck is more common than you think, and it isn't always bad

USA Today
December 5, 2024
By Daniel de Visé

Melissa Cox, CFP®, contributes her insight to USA TODAY’s exploration of what it really means to live paycheck to paycheck. While many Americans feel financially strained, Melissa explains that being “tightly budgeted” doesn't necessarily signal financial distress — especially when savings and debt management are part of the equation. In this piece, Melissa helps readers understand how to assess their true financial health and avoid common misconceptions.

Meet Melissa Cox

Canvas Rebel
September 23, 2024

In this in-depth interview, Melissa Cox shares her 20-year journey from administrative assistant to Certified Financial Planner™, detailing how she built Future-Focused Wealth on the foundation of holistic financial planning. She reflects on evolving industry standards, the importance of serving underrepresented clients, and how comprehensive, client-centric service sets her practice apart. This thoughtful profile highlights Melissa’s passion for empowering clients and building meaningful, long-term relationships.

Recognized Among Money's Best Financial Planners

Money.com
September 19, 2024

Melissa Cox, CFP® was honored as one of Money’s 80 Best Financial Planners nationwide, selected for her experience, credentials, and dedication to client-focused financial planning. With over 15 years of experience, Melissa was recognized for her expertise in retirement and investment planning—serving clients of all asset levels with accessible, empowering advice. This recognition reaffirms Melissa’s mission at Future-Focused Wealth: to bring personalized, practical, and forward-thinking financial guidance to individuals and families at every stage of life

Gen Z wants an inheritance. Good luck with that, say their boomer parents

USA Today
August 31, 2024
By Daniel de Visé

Melissa Cox, CFP®, weighs in on the generational divide in expectations around inheritance in this widely shared feature. While many Gen Z and millennial adults are counting on the Great Wealth Transfer to secure their financial future, Melissa points out that many boomers aren't prioritizing leaving behind money—especially without proper retirement plans in place. She candidly highlights the emotional and financial tensions around wealth transfer and why clear communication and planning are essential.

Being a Emotional Support Advisor

InvestmentNews
July 15, 2024
By Emile Hallez

Melissa Cox, CFP®, shares how her role as a financial planner often goes beyond numbers. In this candid piece, she discusses the emotional side of advising—offering clients support during stressful life transitions, grief, and uncertainty. With empathy at the core of her approach, Melissa explains how blending financial expertise with compassion builds stronger, more trusting client relationships.

How to create a budget for 2024: First, check out how you spent in 2023

USA Today
January 17, 2024
By Daniel de Visé

In this budgeting feature, Melissa Cox, CFP®, helps readers take a data-driven approach to personal finance. She shares how clients often don’t realize where their money is going until they comb through spending habits—like impulse Amazon purchases or $500 in mobile game spending. Her insights highlight the power of financial awareness and how small changes can have a big impact on saving and budgeting success.

5 ways retirement changed in 2023

FinancialPlanning
December 26, 2023
By Nathan Place

Retirement trends saw significant shifts in 2023, from rising Medicare Part D premiums and student loan burdens to skyrocketing annuity sales and a brighter retirement outlook for millennials. Melissa Cox, CFP® was featured offering insights on how student debt continues to impact long-term savings goals for many Americans.

 Student debt thwarts Americans saving for retirement

BenefitNews
December 26, 2023
By Nathan Place

Student loans are preventing millions of Americans from building a secure financial future. In this article, Melissa Cox, CFP® shares her firsthand experience working with clients struggling to balance loan payments and long-term retirement goals. The piece highlights alarming statistics and actionable insights on how financial professionals can help borrowers manage debt while still planning for retirement.

 All About the 5%': Muni Bonds Struggle To Lure Investors Away From Cash

FA - Financial Advisor
September 21, 2023
By Amanda Albright and Tanaz Meghjani

Despite their long-standing reputation as tax-advantaged and low-risk investments, municipal bonds are losing favor among everyday investors chasing 5%+ returns from money-market funds and high-yield savings accounts. Melissa Cox, CFP® shares insight into how client strategies are shifting in this high-interest rate environment and why even traditionally stable instruments like muni bonds may not be the top choice for cautious investors.

Advisors debate how to make muni bond allocations count

InvestmentNews
July 15, 2024
By  Gregg Greenberg

Municipal bonds remain foundational for many investment portfolios—but what mix, duration, and structure make the most sense in today’s high-interest environment? Melissa Cox, CFP® at Fetterman Investments, shares why her clients benefit from short-duration individual muni bonds tailored to tax considerations and portfolio size. Discover how top advisors are navigating the evolving muni landscape.

Parents are struggling to save for both retirement and college

FinancialPlanning
July 14, 2023
By Nathan Place

Melissa Cox shares insights on one of the most common dilemmas facing American families: how to balance saving for their children’s education while also preparing for retirement. In this article, she discusses realistic strategies for prioritizing financial goals and making trade-offs that don’t sacrifice your long-term security.

How to survive retaking the CFP exam: Tips from advisors who have been there

FinancialPlanning
July 12, 2023
By Victoria Zhuang

Melissa Cox shares her personal journey of failing the CFP® exam and how she turned that experience into a growth opportunity. In this candid feature, she offers encouragement and practical insights to aspiring planners facing similar challenges. Her story is one of resilience, reframing setbacks, and learning to thrive under pressure.

Millennial Money: Curb inflation with 5 credit card perks

AP Press
June 7, 2022
By MELISSA LAMBARENA of NerdWallet

Melissa offers practical insights into maximizing credit card benefits to combat rising inflation costs.
 

Syndicated by: NerdWallet, CBS News, Yahoo Finance.

Financial Advisers Aren’t Sold on Crypto 

WSJ.com
March 25, 2022
By Paul Vigna

Melissa discusses how financial advisors are navigating the crypto conversation and educating clients without diving into volatile investments.

Registered Nurse’s Guide to Retirement

NurseJournal Staff
November 29, 2021
Reviewed by Shrilekha Deshaies, MSN, RN, CCRN

Melissa highlights how RNs can diversify their retirement strategies beyond traditional benefits.

A No-Brainer Planning Tool for Clients Starting a Family

RIA Intel
August 16, 2021
By David Sterman

  Melissa shares her perspective on why disability insurance is an essential part of long-term financial planning.

10 pieces of advice financial planners give to new parents who don't know where to start

Business Insider
Dec 13, 2019
By Ashley Abramson 

Melissa shares foundational strategies for financial success as a new parent.