#NewsYouCanUse (December 15, 2023)

The #NewYouCanUse is an article series where I share important reminders of what is going on in the world and how it affects women, underrepresented professionals, male allies, and the business we do in financial services and financial technology.

You are always welcome to add articles, thoughts, and meet new people through these discussions. Please be kind to one another when differences of opinions occur. It happens and helps us all think differently.

Here are today's finds:

1?? The Absorption Vacation via Anne Helen Petersen

We have a LOT of vacation-starved people in #FinServ and #FinTech and it shows. When I worked at previous jobs, I remembered the HR people sharing how you could 'earn' your vacation time. I smiled politely at them knowing I could never feel comfortable during a vacation because managers lose their minds and they make you feel guilty as hell leading up to the day you took the time off (remember - that time that you 'earned' fair and square per HR) while nobody helped with your work and you paid the price afterwards. Let's be 100% serious right now with each other. How many of you felt 'vacation' was kinda horse shitty? I remember VIVIDLY taking the FIRST vacation of my adult career during a Thanksgiving break (at a company where they have a big whale jumping out of the ocean) and being called by the manager of that office during my vacation that I was being "written up" for an insurance illustration that was wrong that I didn't even run. The one and only time in my entire working tenure that I have EVER been written up. I felt horrible. I took pride (and still do!) in my work. So, how do you think I felt about 'vacations' after that? I literally NEVER took them again. (I did say this whole thing was 'horse shit' and I meant it.) When I read 'The Absorption Vacation' by Anne Helen Petersen it stopped me in my tracks. There is only one person that I know of today (I'm talking to you Stephanie Bogan at Limitless Advisor Coaching ) who reminds us of the importance of being immersed in a vacation - and doing it several times per year for the real rest our minds, bodies, and signficant relationships need. I highly recommend you read the article, sign-up for a webinar of Steph's, and start putting that vacation on your calendar FIRST before anything else goes on it in 2024.

2?? The GenX Retirement Gap via FA Magazine

If you're 43 to 58 in age, I'm talking to you! "Faced with the largest retirement savings gap of all generations, the majority of Generation Xers believe their dream retirement is out of reach, according to Schroders 2023 U.S. retirement savings survey, released today." (You can find the survey here: https://www.schroders.com/en-us/us/institutional/clients/defined-contribution/us-retirement-survey/) If you're working with this group of professionals, how are you having the savings discussion? cc: Nicholas J. Gertsema, CFP?, ChFC?, RICP?, AIF? , Juli McNeely , and Robin Lovely MBA, CFP?, RICP?, CDFA? - I'd love your professional thoughts.

3?? We Have Advice for the Young'uns via SELF Magazine

SELF recently asked three women over 60, all with different professional backgrounds, what advice they’d give women in their 20s as they look to the future. It's all the things I tell Justin Brown , Farahnaz Madjlessi-Ausbon , and Jenna Massoumeh Madjlessi when I have face-to-face time with my kids. (1) Spend quality time with your family, (2) Prioritize your personal goals, and (3) You're always learning something new. I am devoted to being a mother and this advice, although spectacular for us to share with younger professionals, I really think is exceptional for our kids, too.

4?? Challenges of Caring for Family Members via Rethinking65

I took care of my mother-in-law from my first marriage. It was rewarding, yet brutal. My ex-husband was an only child and did not handle the situation well, at all. We divorced shortly after her death. When my dad's dementia became really bad at the end of 2021, my older sister struggled with the situation and I also became the unofficial chief caregiver for my dad, but a shout to my husband Darrell Hickerson, MPT, COMT who helped set-up with so much of my dad's care and even gave my father his final bath before he passed away. (Thank you, Aitch.) The stories shared in this article sound too common. That's because we have a caregiving crisis in America today and more of us need to know how to prepare to either be a caregiver or hire one. I highly recommend you read Ai-jen Poo 's "The Age of Dignity" - and be prepared to be floored by the information in this book. And, have a discussion with folks like Cathy Sikorski, Esq. , Joy Loverde , Annalee Kruger , Jason Thomas , Elizabeth A Moss , Dina Mabry , as well as organizations like the Certification for Long-Term Care (CLTC) and AARP . We are in an Elder Care epidemic.

5?? Read More Books About Women via BookBub

The weekend is here and the holidays are, too. If you have time coming up to read, consider reading more books about women. You can sign-up for the Bookbub newsletter and get great deals on them, too.

?? Who has thoughts to share?

?? What are your opinions?

?? Where can we make the biggest change happen first?

≠ When can we expect something to be different?

? How can we get started?

????♀? Why should others care about this stuff going on?

I work on these kinds of matters and more in the Females and Finance Community and welcome thought leaders who are in or serve the professionals of financial services and financial technology to reach out, join, and let's build a better landscape of professionals.

Stay well, friends.

Sheryl Hickerson

CEO & Founder - Females and Finance