The Invented Life: Financial Planning for Women: More Options, More Freedom, More Wealth

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Does this sound like you?

You’ve worked hard to build your career, maybe in tech like I did - long hours, demanding projects, and high-pressure environments; navigating an industry that often wasn’t designed with women in mind —all while managing life outside of work. You’ve earned a great income, and maybe you have stock options or a solid 401(k), but with that success comes a unique set of financial challenges—equity compensation, tax complexities, concentrated stock positions, and the constant juggle of career, personal fulfillment, travel and family.

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?You may be asking yourself things like

?? How do I plan for my future while juggling everything else?

?? How can I leave a job that I hate, move to the UK (fill in the blank) to live with my boyfriend?

?? Can I afford to move abroad and seek employment in Italy?

?? Can I afford time time-off and have a baby?

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and you may still feel like you’re just winging it.

If you’re the primary breadwinner, that pressure is even heavier. You might be wondering:

?? Am I making the most of my equity compensation?

?? Can I afford to take a step back or pivot to something more fulfilling?

?? How do I balance my financial goals with my family’s needs?

?? Am I on track for long-term wealth, or am I missing opportunities?

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I get it—because I’ve been there.

MY STORY

For over 20+ years, I enjoyed a successful career in tech. I remember being a single mother on call 24/7 with an absent-tee ex-husband, scrambling to figure out how I could afford babysitting with someone I trusted (maybe a nanny?), while balancing the demands of my job.

But I knew my value and what I wanted for my daughter and I was able to negotiate the first telecommuting agreement for my division in tech within Chase working from home 2 days a week

Later when I remarried, as part of a dual-income household, I wanted to work part-time to create more “balance” (there’s that word) when I had my son. This time while on maternity leave from a different employer, I was able to negotiate the first fully telecommuting agreement with my previous employer Chase and this time it was part-time (I only worked 3 days a week)! SCORE!!

Fast forward to 2005, I knew I had to leave tech after Chase merged with Bank One but to do what? YES! I was prostituting my values for a paycheck for far too long. I’m not going to lie, the negative self-talk and self-shaming was loud. “Do you know how lucky you are?” “Do you know how many women wish they were in your shoes?” “Wow, you sound ungrateful”.

Why was it wrong to want to create, to invent and seek the life I wanted to live? Even if it was against conventional norms and a position that many women wish that they had?

To be real, my husband was not about me leaving my job at all. “How would we manage on one income?”, he asked.??But I knew I had to find a way and would. And I did.

When I finally decided to start a new career as a Certified Financial Planner in 2008, I had to navigate a massive financial transition—going back to school mid-life, leaving a stable paycheck, and trusting that I could create something meaningful for myself and other women and families.

So, I know the weight of being the “responsible one.” The one who makes sure the bills are paid, the retirement accounts are funded, the household runs smoothly. The one who stays in the high-paying but exhausting job because what would happen if I didn’t? The one who tries to find “balance” between family and career, to forge my own path that aligns with my values.

Ultimately, I became a financial planner because I saw a gap—women needed financial guidance from someone who truly understood their world. As a breadwinner woman, you deserve a partner who can help you take control of your wealth, create a clear strategy, and open up new possibilities for your future.

Read the full story here of my journey here

TIPS FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER

These are a few things that I have learned and that have served me well over the years:

-??????? Know your values & priorities (be true to yourself)

-??????? Know your worth (be true to yourself)

-??????? Know what you are willing to give up

-??????? Know what you need (what are those non-negotiables)

-??????? Find a mentor

-??????? Create a plan - that addresses taxation of your exec comp and concentrated positions

-??????? Have an emergency fund

-??????? Limit your debt

-??????? Front loading your retirement before you have additional responsibilities like a spouse, family, a home can be a game changer!

?According to a CNBC article, various studies cite that 80% of women will be the primary financial decision-makers in their lives either by choice or not (divorce or widowhood). So we need to be prepared.

HOW I CAN HELP

When we work together, we focus on:

?? Making the Most of Your Money – Optimizing your equity compensation, maximizing saving opportunities, ?diversifying your investments, and reducing unnecessary taxes.

• Let's make sure you have a plan for your RSU's and that you are setting aside enough for taxes.
• Will you move to the next tax bracket, and how will we handle that?
• How many stock options can you exercise before paying AMT?
• How do we make sure that you don't loose 50% or even more of your wealth when your company stock goes down?

?? Creating More Freedom – We’ll align your money with your values. Whether it’s funding a sabbatical, outsourcing household tasks, or preparing for a career shift, we plan for what really matters to you.

?? Long-Term Financial Confidence – Building sustainable wealth that supports your lifestyle today and secures your future.

I know firsthand how powerful financial clarity can be—it gives you choices. The choice to step back, to pivot, to breathe. To focus on your career and your family without feeling stretched thin. To build the life you want, on your terms.

I know this because I’ve lived it.

HOW TO GET STARTED

If you value a mentor, want a thought partner, and accountability…

If you’re ready to start creating a financial plan that supports the life you actually want… let’s talk.

We’ll schedule a complimentary virtual 20-minute “Financial Next Steps” conversation so that I can understand what’s important to you and what you may be struggling with. If we seem like a good fit and it makes sense, we’ll schedule a longer 60-minute discovery call. If not, I’d be happy to make a referral to another professional or a resource

At that next meeting, I’ll explain my services and present 1-2 options in which we can work together in order to accomplish your goal(s) or address your concerns; this includes my suggested recommendation based on what I’ve seen work as well as a lesser one.

Then you decide if that makes sense and how to proceed. No hassles, no obligation, no guilt.

?? Schedule a Consultation – because you deserve a financial plan that works as hard as you do.

For more content and tips, follow me on LinkedIn, sign-up for my newsletter by following my personal or business page, and visit my website Being in Abundance.

Join me for a monthly “Ask me Anything: session

Did you know that single women in America own 2.72 million more homes than single men?

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