When Heirlooms Become Assets with Peter Costanzo

About this episode

Stacy Francis and Peter Costanzo discuss the importance of including heirlooms and collectibles in estate planning and the potential conflicts that can arise from their valuation.

Could the most overlooked part of your estate plan be sitting right in your living room? Jewelry tucked away in a drawer, artwork on the wall, a shelf full of old books, family pieces everyone assumes are “just sentimental”. Some of these items may be worth far more than anyone realizes, while others may not hold the value your family expects. In this episode, Stacy sits down with Peter Costanzo of Doyle Auctioneers and Appraisers to talk about how collections, heirlooms, and household treasures can create unexpected opportunities (and unexpected conflict) if no one plans ahead. You’ll hear them discuss: Why artwork, jewelry, books, and collectibles should absolutely be part of your estate planning conversations How professional appraisals help families understand what items are actually worth before difficult decisions have to be made Why heirlooms that look “equal” may have wildly different values, and how that can unintentionally create conflict between family members The difference between fair market value and retail replacement value, and why that matters for both estate planning and insurance How to protect yourself from being taken advantage of when selling valuable…

People in this episode

Host: Stacy Francis

Guest: Peter Costanzo

Topics covered

• estate planning
• heirlooms
• appraisals
• family conflict
• valuables
• collectibles

Keywords

• heirlooms
• estate planning
• appraisals
• family conflict
• valuables
• collectibles
• artwork
• jewelry
• books

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Doyle Auctioneers and Appraisers

Books & works: George Washington letter

More episodes of Financially Ever After Widowhood

• Estate Planning Myths That Override Good Intentions with Lauren Klein · June 9, 2026 · 42 min
• Unpacking the Realities of Real Estate After a Major Life Change with Melissa Rubenstein · May 26, 2026 · 48 min
• The Hidden Financial Benefits Available to Gold Star Widows with Daniel Kopp · May 12, 2026 · 38 min
• Is Your Business Protected If Something Happens to You with Katya Sverdlov · April 28, 2026 · 45 min
• Journal With Us: Your Money Story After Losing a Spouse (Part 2) · April 14, 2026 · 36 min
• Journal With Us: Your Money Story After Losing a Spouse (Part 1) · April 1, 2026 · 13 min