In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

Resources – 

Financial Issues – 

https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/financial-planning/financial-issues-only-women-face/

Financial Disempowerment – 

https://www.ubs.com/us/en/wealth-management/specialized-advice/women-and-finances.html

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/survey-less-than-half-of-women-in-u-s-invest-in-the-stock-market

Lack of Confidence --

https://www.ally.com/do-it-right/money/money-opportunities-and-challenges-that-females-face/

https://www.td.com/us/en/investing/insights/womenomics/

Money Beliefs –

https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/sites/88071/themes/1463604/downloads/fkKzwXp4TnikniUdVLl8_How_clients_money_scripts_predict_their_financial_behaviors-_Journal_of_Financial_Planning-_2012.pdf

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

Resources: 

Mindset -- https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-mindset-2795025

Money Mindset --https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/understanding-your-money-mindset

https://www.fool.com/investing/how-to-invest/money-mindset/

https://www.ellevest.com/magazine/personal-finance/financial-wellness-money-mindset

Mindset by Carol Dweck -- https://www.shortform.com/summary/mindset-the-new-psychology-of-success-summary-carol-dweck?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CjwKCAiAp8iMBhAqEiwAJb94z71YPrKpph6isLBxlQLa6wcou7vNulB1x-xpu8pHw-7T6fIHTbRtJhoCq_oQAvD_BwE

Mindset & Potential – 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/carol-dweck-change-your-mindset-to-fulfill-your-potential/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2019/07/09/why-a-growth-mindset-is-essential-for-career-success/?sh=112057d228b5

Positive Psychology -- https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-positive-psychology-definition/#definition-positive-psychology

I'm a lifetime entrepreneur who cares about making an impact on the world through all the work I do, whether it's money coaching for women, running an ecological landscape company or giving people an incredible stay at one of my vacation rentals. Always expanding and learning, I love the creativity of being an entrepreneur at the helm of creating values based businesses.
I bring everything I've learned from my 25+ years as CFO and owner of an award-winning, values-based landscape company to my work as a Cash Flow Coach for women entrepreneurs and my work as a Vacation Rental Property Manager.
Specialties: 
Property Management, Financial Literacy, Values Based Businesses, Entrepreneurship, Professional and Personal Branding. Sustainability, Permaculture, Women's Empowerment
Company Vision, Target Marketing, Organization & Administration, Effective Business Management. 
Life Coaching, Health & Nutrition. Intentional Living. Personal Sustainability.

Host – Teresa Mitchell, CFP
ladymoneyllc@gmail.com

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.
To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

Resources...

Financial Literacy Gap: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2019/11/03/why-we-need-to-close-the-financial-literacy-gap-for-women/?fbclid=IwAR2lmyVzkmvs8PuysFqn_VWNghXnIjnt8QKcf8AGFwPPLS9iPuc7tb5_N_U&sh=4a284e6dce54

Financial Abundance: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-24781/why-youre-not-attracting-financial-abundance-and-how-to-fix-it.html

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

Resources:

Poem https://medium.com/@bobsutton/kurt-vonnegut-joe-heller-and-a-thanksgiving-message-8a31ca397888

Stressor https://www.cnbc.com/select/73-percent-of-americans-rank-finances-as-the-number-one-stress-in-life/

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

Resources:

The Golden Triangle of Happiness --
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/10/18/happiness-wellbeing_n_8323916.html

Poverty -- https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/population-profiles/marital-status-poverty.html

Host – Teresa Mitchell, CFP ladymoneyllc@gmail.com
In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

Resources...
Loaded: Money, Psychology, and How to Get Ahead without Leaving Your Values Behind by Sarah Newcomb https://www.amazon.com/Loaded-Psychology-without-Leaving-Values/dp/1119258324

The Four Money Bears by Mac Gardner, CFP 
https://www.amazon.com/Four-Money-Bears-Gardner-Paperback/dp/B010711DUW

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

Resources...

Reesa Manning Interview https://lady-money.simplecast.com/episodes/take-financial-control-an-interview-with-advisor-reesa-manning

Full Potential https://www.lifehack.org/816335/full-potential;https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/9-ways-reach-your-fullest-potential-every-day.html

Potential Definition https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potential

Achieving Potential https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/science-says-only-8-percent-of-people-actually-achieve-their-goals-here-are-7-things-they-do-differently.html

Branson Quote https://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/04/billionaire-richard-bransons-definition-of-success-has-nothing-to-do-with-money.html

Positive Psychology https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/experimentations/201712/eight-ways-realize-your-full-potential

Mind Set https://www.freshgigs.ca/blog/reaching-your-full-potential-tips-from-a-stanford-psychologist/

Fundamental Needs https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

Positive Attitude Tips https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/11-tips-for-maintaining-your-positive-attitude.html

Negative/Positive Thoughts & the Brain https://meteoreducation.com/how-does-thinking-positive-thoughts-affect-neuroplasticity/

ladymoneyllc@gmail.com

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

Resources...

Reesa Manning Interview https://lady-money.simplecast.com/episodes/take-financial-control-an-interview-with-advisor-reesa-manning

Personal Finance https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/111813/five-rules-improve-your-financial-health.asp

Social Security https://www.moneytalksnews.com/the-most-popular-age-for-claiming-social-security/

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security. 

Resources...

Reesa Manning Interview https://lady-money.simplecast.com/episodes/take-financial-control-an-interview-with-advisor-reesa-manning

Financial Literacy https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financial-literacy.asp

FINRA’S National Financial Capability Study    https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/100615/why-financial-literacy-and-education-so-important.asp

Compounding https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/compoundinterest.asp

https://www.linkedin.com/in/reesamanning/

Reesa Manning was a former Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at UBS Financial Services for 12 years. Prior to her career in financial services, she founded Southern California based, 140 store franchise, Penguin's Frozen Yogurt. She served as president of the nonprofit, 2000-member National Council of Jewish Women in Los Angeles for three years and was past president of the Desert Cities Chapter of NAWBO (National Organization of Women Business Owners) and Women Leaders Forum of the Coachella Valley. She resides in Rancho Mirage with her husband and currently serves on the Board of Temple Sinai and The Springs HOA. She is a firm believer in women's empowerment and financial literacy.

Host – Teresa Mitchell, CFP

ladymoneyllc@gmail.com

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

Confidence is what turns thoughts into action. Unfortunately, we women sometimes lack it – especially around money. 

The point of Tips in Ten is to take a deeper dive into some of the things we discussed during the Lady Money interview podcasts. And then to give you a few nuggets you can use to improve your own life. Let's get started!  

Why is there a confidence gap?

There are wide ranging theories. Women are perfectionists and risk adverse – to... it isn’t that women lack confidence – men simply have too much of it! Regardless of the reason there is a documented confidence gap between men and women regarding money. 

However, there is good news. While your level of self-confidence is partly genetic according to the book The Confidence Code, you can put in the work and learn to be more confident. But first you need to have a better understanding of the concept of self. 

What determines our sense of self?
The image we have of ourselves is called self-concept in psychological terms. Basically, it is a collection of beliefs we hold about our behavior, abilities and unique characteristics. One psychologist divided the concept of self into 3 parts – your ideal self, your self-image and your self-esteem. If how you wish you were (your ideal “somewhere in the future” self) and how you actually see yourself now (your current self-image) aren’t aligned, it can negatively affect your self-esteem.

Are the cards stacked against ever becoming our ideal confident self? 
If you ask someone, “Have you changed from the person you were 10 years ago?” they will say “Yes!”. But if you ask about the future most people don’t see a change. Harvard psychologist, Daniel Gilbert puts it simply: “Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished.” Unfortunately, when we don’t see alternatives to our current self-image -- it can create a negative state of mind. In psychology it is called a “negative bias”. In plain English it translates into -- if you don’t see it, you can’t be it.

“Research has shown that shaping your future self requires deliberate practice.” In the new field of Positive Psychology, the assumption is that people are driven by their pasts but also influenced by their views of the future. Or as Dr. Gilbert put it, the first step is imagining your future self. “Your future self is not someone you discover, but someone you decide to be.”

What if we flipped the script and focused on what could go “right”?
We usually think of psychology in relationship to negative disorders or other mental issues. But happiness researchers are focusing on the factors that make people feel better using new assumptions from the field of Positive Psychology. To put it simply, wouldn’t we be better off if we thought about what could go right in the future rather than what could go wrong? 

Based on this premise -- a “Best Possible Self” exercise -- where you imagine your best possible future self can lead to “feelings of optimism”. This is according to a recent prominent German study. While there is no evidence that the affect is permanent -- it does seem to be an effective tool for turning around negative thoughts. And it helps you overcome obstacles that are preventing you from achieving your goals.

But what is a Best Possible Self exercise?
Good question! In Positive Psychology they call it an “intervention” rather than an exercise. Interventions are intentional activities intended to cultivate positive feelings, thoughts and behaviors. 

Similar “interventions” have been called by other names -- such as the Future Authoring exercise mentioned in the Lady Money podcast episode on Financial Wellbeing. Tara Mohr refers to it as an Inner Mentor Visualization in her book Playing Big. 

The format can vary.  Some versions use a guided visualization, others suggest journaling over several days or even drawing a picture of the ideal future you envision. Regardless, the goal is the same. The exercise is intended to lead to action by improving your mood and your outlook on the future.

These are the instructions for the journaling version that was part of that significant German research study:

• Visualize your best possible future self 1 to 10 years from now. It should be very optimistic but not totally unrealistic. Explore the details of your new situation including how you feel, where you would be and who you are with.
• Spend 10 minutes writing a description of your future self. Don’t overthink it – just write what comes to mind.

That’s all there is to it! Most people have a more optimistic attitude for up to a week. If you enjoy journaling – think about making this exercise a regular activity.

How does this relate to confidence and money?  
There are good reasons for women’s lack of confidence around money. For one thing, most women have a full plate. So, they don’t always prioritize things like investing for retirement until late in the game (sometimes too late). And when they do save, they also feel risk deeply. This means money is more likely to languish in a savings account rather than grow in a diversified investment portfolio. Their focus is on the present. Prioritizing family, community and career means they fail to realize there are other serious risks. Besides stock market risk there is longevity risk (running out of money before life) and purchasing power risk (the devastating effects of inflation decades from now).

It helps if you can change your perspective. Surprisingly. confidence is not really about self-esteem or accomplishments. It is about the ability to take action. The point of exercises like the Best Possible Self -- is that they give you the assurance that you can have a positive outcome. Basic money and investing concepts can be learned like anything else. It is the belief in yourself that you can do something -- that gives you the motivation to actually do it.

TIPS OUTRO:

Thanks so much for listening! I hope you found Lady Money – Tips in Ten, helpful. If you have any questions, you would like me to address,or if you want more information on the Lady Money financial coaching program or blog, check out the show notes. 

Until next time, this has been Lady Money – where money and values do mix.

Resources...

Confidence https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140515185848-316741766-the-genes-that-control-confidence-do-you-have-them/

What is Self-Concept? https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-concept-2795865

Take Ownership of Your Future Self https://hbr.org/2020/08/take-ownership-of-your-future-self

Gilbert Ted Talk 

https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_the_psychology_of_your_future_self/transcript?language=en

Program your Happiness https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/202002/is-it-possible-program-your-happiness

Future Self Exercise https://www.academiclifecoaching.com/coaching/parent-guide/future-self/

Guided Visualizations...

Inner Mentor Guided Visualization https://www.taramohr.com/book/inner-mentor-signup/

Best Self Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_jEsnDEIa0

The Change Trianglehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chaOiy_EwH8

Future Self w/ Jennifer Gracehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB_UkMzf-9M

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

In the Lady Money program, I use my prior experience in consumer education as a media chef for the food & wine industry to create exercises that are simple and fun yet effective. There are many similarities between food and money. We tend to view both with outsize emotions and limiting beliefs. But in their simplest form, food is fuel & money is a tool. Are they more? Not in and of themselves. It is up to you to use them as your own personal palette.  At the heart of it – they don’t have the power – you do.

Episode Summary:

The fear of ending up a bag lady is real. Women often fail to adequately prepare for retirement due to lack of confidence and a more self-less focus on others. Taking financial control is an important key to feeling financially secure. And that sense of security alleviates stress leading to on-going happiness and wellbeing. 

Episode Transcript:
Teresa Mitchell, CFP:Values and money don't mix, or do they? Join me, financial coach, Teresa Mitchell to find out. Let's explore how women can make money while making a difference. This is Lady Money!

Are you afraid of outliving your money?

Almost half of all women fear becoming a bag lady. This is according to a recent study by the life insurance company, Allianz. Half! The term “bag lady” was coined in the 1970s and quickly became a symbol of women's concern of running out of money, regardless of how much they have.

As a financial planner I heard this all the time. I never liked to rush an initial conversation, so after a while, when we were speaking comfortably and candidly, the bag lady nightmare would just bubble up. Whether the woman was alone, had a partner or children and had a reasonable amount of money -- it just didn't seem to matter. Even the rich and famous have confessed to sleepless nights. 

What counts is that the fears seem very real, and this scarcity mindset can affect important financial decisions in an adverse way.

Why is financial insecurity such a big deal to many women?

“Many women have been programmed that they won't be good at this money stuff” says Olivia Mellon, a prominent Washington DC psychotherapist, specializing in resolving money conflicts. As recently as 1974, a bank could insist women have a man co-sign on a loan.

Women barely have their feet under them so it's easy to see why even women think a man can do a better job. In reality, this is fiction not fact. Current neuroscience is showing no gender difference in young children when it comes to math. 

So, chalk it up to a socially learned lack of confidence, and the resulting lack of preparation, and a higher aversion to risk. The usual scenario with this script is a strong tendency for women to opt out of the financial responsibility needed to create the financial security they crave.

What other factors prevent women from taking financial control? 

There is an interesting book by financial educator, Ruth Hayden called “For Richer, not Poorer - the Money Book for Couples”. One idea she expresses particularly well is that because women are instinctively nurturers, they've view spending and saving very differently than men.

Women tend to relate to money for what it can do now. They are focused on using their energy and their assets to create a good lifestyle for their families. This creates a problem. Retiring well requires long-term planning. If a woman has not paid attention and saved for her own future she could be left desperately wondering if that future was going to be still alive and penniless.

Is the bag lady fear just about money?

For women, the fear of ending up broke might be magnified by the anxiety of being alone and unvalued late in life. One of the reasons some women neglect their financial situation is because they place more importance on family and community than on themselves. I think many of us also have concerns about being a burden in our elder years.

Unfortunately, this compounds the problem because fear can erode a woman's ability to take action now causing her fears to be reality in the future. 

So, it is important to learn the basics about money and investing. You don't need to reach a high level of proficiency, but you do at least need a general understanding of the key concepts so you can make good financial decisions throughout your life. “When women confront their money fears and do something about them, and they become knowledgeable and in control” says therapist, Olivia Mellon “they experience the most profound sense of serenity, confidence and security.”

Why are financial security and wellbeing so intertwined? 

Money is the number one stressor for Americans, according to a Northwestern mutual study. But it wasn't always that way. Thousands of years ago, man, just like the animal world, lived in an immediate return environment. Your actions delivered clear and immediate outcomes. 

Today modern society is forcing us to live in a delayed return environment - meaning rewards don't happen until some point in the future. Bottom line, we have an old brain designed for quick solutions. The tiger didn't eat me so I can relax. In today's world, the delay of a resolution creates a sense of constant uncertainty. That leads to the chronic stress and anxiety we often feel about our future. One thing you can do to help is to focus on what you can control. You may not know exactly what you will need for retirement, but you can estimate and make sure you save enough each month to reach your target. And it works – 87 percent of the study participants who took control of their finances, said “nothing made them happier” than knowing they were in a good place, money-wise.

Wrapping it up. 

Confidence and control are the best defense if you are struggling with a bag lady mindset. Follow the money. Be clear on the difference in what you are earning versus spending. Make sure there is enough left over to save for short-term emergencies as well as your long-term future. Being on top of your financial situation leads to a sense of wellbeing. And wellbeing makes it possible to be happy in the present and confident you will have enough during your golden years.

Thanks so much for listening! I hope you found Lady Money -- Tips in Ten, helpful. If you have any questions, you would like me to address, or if you want more information on the Lady Money financial coaching program, or blog, check out the Show Notes. Until next time, this has been Lady Money -- where money and values do mix.

Resources...

Bag Lady Fear https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2019/11/half-of-women-fear-outliving-their-money.html?page=all

Lance Drucker  https://www.amazon.com/How-Avoid-Lady-Syndrome-B-L-S/dp/0692296573

Money & Stress: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/26/money-is-more-stressful-than-work-or-relationships.html

Evolution of Anxiety: https://jamesclear.com/evolution-of-anxiety

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

In the Lady Money program, I use my prior experience in consumer education as a media chef for the food & wine industry to create exercises that are simple and fun yet effective. There are many similarities between food and money. We tend to view both with outsize emotions and limiting beliefs. But in their simplest form, food is fuel & money is a tool. Are they more? Not in and of themselves. It is up to you to use them as your own personal palette.  At the heart of it – they don’t have the power – you do.

Resources...

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201501_cfpb_report_financial-well-being.pdf

The Golden Triangle of Happiness
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/10/18/happiness-wellbeing_n_8323916.html

The Australian Wellbeing Index
https://www.australianunity.com.au/wellbeing/what-is-real-wellbeing/what-is-the-wellbeing-index

After nearly 20 years in institutional financial services, I decided it was time to take my career in a fresh direction. I started my career in financial services and have held a range of institutional-level positions across management, trading, client service, and marketing. In 2019 I joined Willow Creek as wealth advisor to bring my insights from working with giant institutions toward helping individuals and families to better shape their financial well-being, their lives, and their world.

My approach to client care is grounded in my belief that financial freedom often inspires greater generosity, which is where true fulfillment is found. On the wealth management front, I love deconstructing financial complexities into elegant solutions, and empowering people to make more joyful decisions with their money and their life.

I have been an advocate for women in investing for my entire career. I host our Women’s Circles, which are gatherings where women come together to explore and share wisdom on topics relating to money and values. These rich conversations are designed to build community, connection, and understanding.

As a member of Willow Creek's Sustainable Investing Committee, I help clients to align their portfolios with their values. Being a part of the community and supporting the shared values of human well-being and environmental sustainability are part of what is fulfilling to me in my career. I am passionate about connecting with community members and sharing my expertise in sustainable investing.

Host – Teresa Mitchell, CFP
ladymoneyllc@gmail.com

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.

In the Lady Money program, I use my prior experience in consumer education as a media chef for the food & wine industry to create exercises that are simple and fun yet effective. There are many similarities between food and money. We tend to view both with outsize emotions and limiting beliefs. But in their simplest form, food is fuel & money is a tool. Are they more? Not in and of themselves. It is up to you to use them as your own personal palette.  At the heart of it – they don’t have the power – you do.

In my 20 years in the industry, I have had over a thousand conversations with women who have not felt they have reached their financial potential – usually in the areas of investing and subsequent financial security. I have found the key to moving forward from the image of bag lady to empowered lady is having a different kind of conversation with women than they usually experience with a financial advisor. It is about focusing more deeply on what matters in terms of family, community and life purpose. Approaching the conversation with compassion and a goal of honest, authentic connection creates a sense of trust that makes financial education and taking investment action not only possible but desirable.

To that end I left my longtime wealth management firm and am launching a personal financial coaching platform -- LADY MONEY, LLC. It is intended to help women achieve a sense of financial wellbeing around investing for retirement that imparts peace of mind and ultimately leads to financial security.