When people think about financial planning, they imagine spreadsheets, investment portfolios, and retirement forecasts. Money, however, is never just numbers. It’s emotions, memories, fears, and dreams all wrapped into one complicated and ever evolving relationship.

It’s no secret that the wealth management industry is going through a transformation. Technology is evolving, client expectations are changing, and the days of one-size-fits-all advice are long gone. 

Advisors have long used visioning exercises and worksheets to help clients imagine their future selves. And they work, albeit temporarily. But these static tools get filed away and forgotten as life moves on. Priorities shift. Values evolve. Circumstances change.

Volatility puts everyone on high alert. Markets are twitchy. Emotions are high. We’re all feeling a little... yippy.

By 2030, women will control more than $30 trillion in the U.S.

That number gets thrown around a lot. But the question isn’t how much wealth women will control. It’s whether they’ll feel confident managing it and whether financial professionals will offer meaningful value to these women during the transition

A friend called me recently, completely unglued. Markets were volatile, headlines were ugly, and she couldn’t sleep. Fear hit her and made her feel out of control.

You already know that technology and AI are reshaping the financial industry…but what does this mean to you personally? To your business as a wealth manager?

Trust is what we sell in financial services—it’s everything. When people entrust their money to an advisor or institution, they’re handing over more than just assets. They’re handing over their future. Their goals. Their peace of mind.

You can have the perfect financial plan, a high-income job, and a solid investment strategy—yet still feel anxious, stuck, or disconnected from your money.

Wealth management has always been built on relationships. And you know your clients well. You’ve built trust, helped them plan for the future, and guided them through market shifts.

Valentine’s Day is often associated with romance, but at its core, it’s about relationships — not just with partners, family, and friends, but also with money. Whether we realize it or not, our financial lives are deeply emotional.  

When it comes to client discovery in financial planning, one-size-fits-all approaches fall short. Financial planning should reflect each client’s unique identity, aspirations, and personal context.

If you’ve done a financial plan in the past several years, you probably gathered information about cash and investment assets, expenses, loans, insurance policies, property, and business ownership. What didn’t you evaluate?

Trust and control. These are opposite concepts that lie at the heart of money decisions. Women who have worked hard to build wealth know this tension all too well. 

Attention is a powerful force. It’s the mental energy that allows you to focus on a task, a goal, or an object. Without it, your thoughts would scatter like leaves in the wind, making it nearly impossible to accomplish anything meaningful.

I have 40 years ahead of me and nothing to show for the 40 years behind me.”

If these words resonate with you, know that you’re not alone.

As you gather to celebrate Independence Day, reflect on the values that form the cornerstone of American identity: freedom and independence.
But freedom and independence are not just political ideals; they are also essential in our personal lives, particularly in the realm of financial empowerment.

Growing up in El Paso, Texas, birthdays were always a grand celebration filled with vibrant traditions, delicious food, and family gatherings. It’s my birthday today, June 13th. I never celebrated in school with my friends…missing in-class cupcakes always made me a bit sad. 100% of my birthday parties involved a pool and barbeque.

In a world that's more connected than ever, you’re generating data at an astonishing rate. Every click, every purchase, every search, every movement, and even every glance and facial expression into your device adds to the digital footprint that tells the story of your life. But here’s the big question: who owns this data?

Target date funds have gained popularity for their simplicity and automation. They are structured around one factor, the age at which you might retire…for Maya, they’re assuming she’ll be 64. The only issue with this approach is that humans are not single-factor entities.