Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, right, presents a Business Improvement Grant check for $5,000 to Megan Alpert, Joy World Wealth Partners principal, and Joanna Connor, Joy World Wealth Partners Director of Client Services, left, Wednesday at their office located at 125 N. Washington Ave., Scranton.

Meet Megan Alpert, CPFA, owner of Joy World Wealth Partners.
Megan Alpert is owner of Joy World Wealth Partners, 125 N. Washington Ave., Scranton. Joy World Wealth Partners is a financial planning business focused on wealth management, retirement, college and estate planning and more. After a nearly two-decade career with Merrill Lynch, Alpert decided to start her own firm to help clients cultivate positive money mindsets and bring a holistic approach to the financial planning process.

Tell us about Joy World Wealth Partners. Joy World is a woman-owned firm located in the heart of downtown Scranton. We are on a mission to empower one another, change lives and to remove any barrier to financial guidance. Joy World Wealth Partners celebrated one year of JOY in July.

The name and mission were inspired by my dear friend Lindsay Connor Stetson, through her own courageous battle with cancer recognized the importance of spreading joy. Using God’s strength and will, she turned the time she had left into spreading JOY to others with this nonprofit. The Alpert family adopted this mission of spreading joy to others in their everyday lives. As I was planning this company, my daughter said, "You love bringing joy to people. You should call your company Joy World.” She was right — a world without joy is not the world we want to live in. So, we brought that idea to the front and center of how we serve. We want the clients that we serve to experience peace, joy, and ease when it comes to their financial situation. We believe you already have what it takes to create it. Our role is to help you see more clearly, bringing forward the great ideas and solutions that already surround you. Your Money Metamorphosis is closer than you think.

How is Joy World Wealth Partners different than other financial planners? We take a holistic approach to financial planning. Our mission is to get you to approach life confidently and creatively. You will feel supported here. We treat each client like they are family, it’s much more than a client/advisor relationship, we are humbled to be in their circle of trust.

What is holistic financial planning? Our focus is to enrich our clients’ quality of life. Joy World aspires to be many things to you --- an advisor, educator, partner, friend, and collaborator to name a few. We work together to build a plan for you, your family or business that you fully understand. The start of any transformation begins with your mindset. We’ll work with your money emotions alongside of every goal, helping you develop a powerful and grateful money mindset. We develop a close relationship where clients are comfortable sharing their hopes, dreams, fears and ultimately their financial situation. With my background in psychology, we believe this is a differentiator and we have a passion to help people with their money emotions.

How can clients establish a powerful money mindset? Emotions can cloud your money mindset. Clarity comes from being seen, supported and heard. Our relationship with money is something that needs attention. It needs to be loved and nurtured like other important relationships in our lives. Create a weekly “money date” with yourself. This is the beginning to improve your relationship with your finances. Start with where you are. Review your personal balance sheet, your assets and liabilities.

Tell us about the upcoming “Light and Laughter" comedy show you’re hosting. We love to host and collaborate with our community. We host First Fridays, children’s financial literacy workshops, adult workshops like “Women, Wealth and Well-being,” and host blood drives annually. We were fortunate to meet Jeannine Luby, a talented comedian and podcast host, at one of our blood drives. She came to us to host her comedy show. We were drawn to the idea since September is Mental Health Awareness month. Jeannine will be performing with three other comedians, Micki Orlowsky and Mary Rapach, along with Pittsburgh-based Gab Bonesso. The show will be held on Friday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. at Joy World Wealth Partners 125 N. Washington Ave., Suite 100. Tickets are $10 and $25. A portion of each sale will be donated to the John Malvizzi Foundation. We hope to spread laughter while supporting a non-profit dedicated to raising mental health awareness.

What makes you jump for joy? My passion and purpose are to help people. We love to be able to see others follow their hearts and their dreams and support one another. When we can help clients follow a plan to buy that home, retire from a job, make a career change, start that business and see the light at the end of the tunnel. My greatest joy is to lock arms with others and be a source of strength on their journey. We foster an environment of gratitude and we are here to share joy!