Karen Zander: Uphill Marathon of Elder Care

Karen Zander, an executive director at JP Morgan, courageously opens up about the complex and often untold journey of caring for aging parents, a reality many face but few discuss openly. Karen's personal story of managing her father's physical challenges and her mother's dementia and Parkinson's disease is likened to participating in an endless, uphill marathon. Her insights highlight the unpredictable nature of these responsibilities and underscore the importance of having a support network. Within this discussion, Karen draws compelling parallels between preparing for life's unexpected events and training for a marathon, reminding us that many face these challenges without prior preparation.We delve into the emotional intricacies of caregiving and the daunting decisions that come along with it. Karen emphasizes the importance of proactive planning and open, honest conversations with aging loved ones about their wishes. Through poignant personal anecdotes, she shares the weight of making difficult medical decisions and the crucial role of supportive family dynamics. The episode sheds light on the value of compassionate leadership within the family, especially when navigating the healthcare system and making decisions about treatments.Wellthy, the organization we reference on the show, helps families balance work and caregiving responsibilities through a combination of precision technology and human expertise.Connect with Wellthy:Wellthy.comGuest Bio:Karen Zander, Executive Director, is a Retirement National Accounts Client Advisor at J.P. Morgan Asset Management.  Karen is responsible for managing key national accounts with strategic retirement and defined contribution platform partners.  With over 25 years of experience in the investment management industry, and the majority of the time specializing in corporate and individual retirement, Karen serves as a retirement and investment specialist resource for retirement clients as well as internally on special projects.  Karen graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Fordham University, lives in New York City, and also answers to the nickname “KZ.” Connect with Karen:LinkedIn Connect with Theresa and Ivana:Theresa, True Strategy Consultants: tsc-consultants.com LinkedIn @treeconti, Insta @tscconsultants Ivana, Courageous Being: courageousbeing.com LinkedIn @ivipol, Insta @courbeingSITP team, Step Into The Pivot: stepintothepivot.com LinkedIn @step-into-the-pivot, YouTube @StepIntoThePivot