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I became so passionate about the subject that I set out to learn as much as possible, so I could help others like me make smarter financial decisions.
I earned a master’s and then a PhD in personal financial planning, with a research focus on women’s financial issues.
I spent the next 17 years in the wealth management industry. My experiences showed me that financial professionals very often fail to address the unique needs of women. Most advisors are men, and they typically focus first and foremost on connecting with men in couples.
I’ve seen and heard numerous examples of advisors working closely with husbands while ignoring their wives’ needs. Usually, the wives weren’t even present at the meetings—often because they felt overlooked and ignored and became disengaged. In some cases, the wives were never invited because the investments were all in the husband’s name. In one such case, I pointed out to the husband that, while his financial plan had a high probability of successfully funding the remainder of his life, there was a significant chance it would fail during the remainder of his (younger) wife’s lifetime, to which he responded, “I married a beautiful woman. She will have no trouble finding another husband when I’m gone.”
I started Bright Women Financial because I believe women need a welcoming environment to gain clarity, confidence, and control over their financial futures—because every woman deserves to be in charge of her future.