Melissa Holcombe headshot

Melissa Holcombe

DSW, LCSW

Senior Advisor, Childfree Trust

Melissa Holcombe brings years of insight and an extensive background in guardianship and probate to Childfree Insights.

Her experience includes conducting competency assessments for adult guardianship petitions for Probate courts and serving guardianship clients through Adult Protective Services. This practical, in-the-field experience provides her with a distinctive ability to navigate complex legal and emotional dynamics for individuals.

For three decades, Melissa has distinguished herself through dedicated advocacy and exemplary work in social services. Following a decade of leadership as a child welfare case manager and supervisor, she spent 20 years in the public school system. During her tenure, she served as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison and Foster Care Point of Contact, specializing in support for vulnerable student populations.

Additionally, Melissa is one of the nation’s first Certified Veterinary Social Workers (VSW), having earned her certification while completing her doctorate at the University of Tennessee in 2014. She provides compassionate counseling to those grieving the loss of a companion animal and seminars on compassion fatigue within the animal services community. She also shares her knowledge as an adjunct professor of undergraduate level social work.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys camping, hiking, and kayaking with her dog, Darcy.

Insights Straight to Your Inbox

Tips, freebies, event invites, and more to make your Childfree life even more amazing

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About

Podcast

Podcast

Insights Straight to Your Inbox

Tips, freebies, event invites, and more to make your Childfree life even more amazing

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Episode 193: AI and the Future of Work: How Childfree Adults Can Prepare

The next five years are going to reshape the workforce in ways most people are not prepared for, and Childfree adults have a unique opportunity to get ahead of it. Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® brings his takeaways from the TED Conference to talk about what the AI economy means for your finances, your career, and your identity when work stops being the center of everything.

Episode 192: Renting, Buying and Vacation Homes

Buying a home has been sold as the responsible default for so long that most people have never asked whether it actually fits their life. Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® and Fiona Waller, CFP® break down the real math on renting versus buying, why rental properties are not passive income, and why the vacation home is the worst housing decision a Childfree adult can make.

Episode 191: What Longevity Science Means for Childfree Adults

Childfree adults are planning for a future without a traditional family safety net, which makes the quality of later life especially personal. Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® sits down with Joshua Herring, President and CEO of the Longevity Science Foundation, to talk about the research being funded right now to extend not just how long you live, but how well.

Episode 190: What No One Tells You About Rental Properties

Rental properties look a lot more passive on social media than they do in real life. Justin Brown-Woods, Accredited Financial Counselor® and co-founder of Price of Avocado Toast, joins Bri Conn CFP® to share exactly what three years of long-distance real estate investing actually cost him,v and what he would do differently.

Episode 189: You Hit Your Financial Goals. Now What?

You hit the number. You did everything right. And now you have no idea what comes next. Dr. Jay Zigmont CFP® and Dr. Bill Yount, founder of the Catching Up to FI podcast, talk honestly about what legacy, purpose, and the second half of life looks like when you are Childfree.

Episode 188: Preparing for Major Life Events

Nobody thinks about the financial checklist until they are already in the middle of the move, the job switch, or the divorce. Dr. Jay Zigmont CFP® and Bri Conn CFP® walk through everything that should happen before the big life change, from timing a resignation to updating beneficiaries after a split.