The Awakening

I found my passion for financial planning in my 30s. At the time, I had spent years out of the workforce as a stay-at-home mom and military spouse. With my kids in school and my husband approaching his military retirement date, I decided to complete my bachelor’s degree and prepare for a career.

To meet a general education requirement, I enrolled in a personal finance class—and that was the beginning of my financial awakening. I was learning things I wished I had known my entire adult life—things that would have prevented costly mistakes.

“I was angry. I had always trusted my teachers and parents to prepare me for adulthood. Realizing the gaps in my knowledge left me hurt and upset.”

That anger turned into passion. I set out to learn everything I could about personal finance—not just for myself, but so I could help others make smarter financial decisions.

"Every woman deserves to be in charge of her future.”

The Gap

I earned a master’s degree and then a Ph.D. in personal financial planning, with a research focus on women’s financial issues. Over the next 17 years in the wealth management industry, I saw a troubling pattern: financial professionals 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. Women were often overlooked, unheard, and excluded from conversations about their own financial futures.

“She doesn’t need to be here. It’s my money.”
One moment still motivates me today. Many years ago, I developed a financial plan for a client whose wife was absent from our initial meeting. I suggested we include her in the plan presentation meeting, to which he said, “She doesn’t need to be here. It’s my money.” At the plan presentation meeting, I explained that while his plan had a high probability of funding the remainder of his lifetime, it might fail during his wife’s later years due to her younger age. His response felt like a gut punch:
“I married a beautiful woman. She will have no trouble finding another husband when I’m gone.”

That moment reinforced what I already knew: women deserve better.

The Turning Point

A year ago, a shift in my circumstances opened the door for me to imagine and create the future I wanted for myself. I decided to continue my career—but on my terms. That meant building a practice that unapologetically focuses on women and their needs.

The Vision

At Bright Women Financial, I want women to feel safe, heard, confident, and inspired. I want them to let go of the negative messages they’ve been told—that finance is too complicated or that they’re not smart enough—and embrace learning and empowerment.

“Every woman deserves to be in charge of her future.”

The first step in taking control of your future is gaining clarity on your financial truth. Clarity comes from developing a holistic financial plan. When you know where you stand and where you’re heading, you gain confidence. And with confidence, you can make intentional choices to align your money with your values and goals.

"Clarity leads to confidence. Confidence leads to intentionality.”

The Movement

The financial services industry was built for men, by men—without much thought for women’s needs. Yet women live longer than men and are three times more likely to outlive their spouses. The irony is clear: the industry should be focusing more intently on women. That’s what I plan to do. Unapologetically.

My hope is to start a movement that changes the way the industry serves female clients—by focusing first and foremost on her needs. I will feel successful if the women I work with show up as their authentic selves, gain clarity and confidence about their finances, and use their wealth intentionally to live their best lives and leave the legacy they envision.

Join Us

Bright Women Financial launches on January 31. Visit brightwomenfinancial.com to learn more and sign up for updates.