Financial independence may seem like a lofty goal, but it's an attainable one. The key lies in breaking down the journey into manageable steps, and that's precisely what we're here to do. As women, we face unique financial challenges, but we also possess unique strengths to harness on our path to financial independence. In this blog post, we'll explore the five essential steps to financial independence for women and provide you with tools to take control of your financial future.

Step 1: Understanding Financial Independence

The first step in this journey is understanding what financial independence truly means. It's not just about having enough money to pay the bills. It's about having the financial stability to make choices that allow you to live on your terms. Financial independence is about being unchained from financial worries and empowered to make decisions that serve your best interests. Whether that means starting your own business, retiring early, or simply feeling secure in...

Not long ago, one of my client couples shared a situation that will feel familiar to many of us. After a car accident left one of them without a vehicle, they suddenly found themselves facing an unexpected financial decision. A year ago, this kind of disruption would have sent them spiraling into panic and self-doubt. This time, something was different. They paused, assessed their options, talked it through together, and made a plan that aligned with the goals they had been working toward.

That shift, the ability to face a financial setback without unraveling, is the heart of what it means to build a true wealth mindset.

Financial resilience is not about never facing setbacks. It’s about learning to navigate them with clarity, confidence, and intention.

Whether your unexpected challenge is a car repair, a medical bill, a job transition, or something entirely different, you can recover from financial setbacks without losing the progress you’ve worked so hard to make. And you can emer...

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays with its focus on family and gratitude, and it’s the perfect opportunity to feel grateful for everything that I have, despite whatever bumps in the road tried to take me off course throughout the year. But Thanksgiving can also be a difficult time for people for a variety of reasons so I wanted to share how developing a gratitude mindset can help you take a different approach to not only Thanksgiving but each new day. 

So what is a gratitude mindset? 

Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful and exhibiting a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Simply put, a gratitude mindset is the ability to focus on the positive things in life rather than the negative - you know the glass is half full kind of thinking. You see opportunities instead of obstacles. When you can focus on gratitude, the number of things you appreciate continue to grow. 

Why should you strive for a gratitude mindset?

Engaging in a gratitude...

April is Financial Literacy Month! It’s such an important time for me because I truly believe in the importance of education, especially around money. The reality is that the schools don’t provide much, if any, financial education.

So, I want to make sure you have the tools to feel confident in sharing this information with your kids and also so you are confident in advocating for yourself when it comes to your finances.

I remember learning about money at a young age — I must have been about 10 and my brother was 15. My mom was a single mom. She hurt her back and couldn't go grocery shopping, so it fell to us (my brother and I) to go to the store and get what we needed.

It was the first time we had to be responsible to get the groceries and it was a little scary. We were in charge of making sure we chose wisely so we would all have food to eat for the whole week and hadn’t loaded the cart with groceries that would exceed our budget.

Even though it was a little nerve-wracking, that ...

If you want to increase your income and feel confident advocating for yourself financially, your mindset is the very first place to start. While we cannot control everything around us, we do have influence over the most powerful piece of the puzzle: our thoughts, our reactions, and the beliefs that shape how we approach money. When you take ownership of that inner voice, you put yourself in a strong position to attract and earn more.

And it begins with a simple act: asking for what you want.

Kids have this mastered. My kids ask for McDonald’s constantly and they do it with zero hesitation. Even though they hear “no” almost every time, they keep asking. They have not yet learned the fear that so many adults feel around money, rejection, or being seen as “too much.” There is a lot we can learn from that confidence.

Wanting something does not guarantee it will happen. But believing you have agency and actively participating in your money journey opens the door to more opportunities. Yo...

Often, as a woman is entering a life transition, she experiences this feeling of “I can do it!” mixed with a hefty dose of “What am I going to do?” Our mission at Watch Her Thrive is to provide support for women to thrive through these transitions.” 

The goal behind Watch Her Thrive is to be a beacon. It’s more than just writing helpful blog articles to show you how something is done. It’s to empower you and show you that, Yes, you can do it!

From my early career days, I’ve always been an educator. I've used my experiences to provide support for women to thrive, regardless of circumstances. Sometimes in the traditional sense, like when I taught third grade in inner-city Baltimore; and sometimes in the non-traditional sense, like when I became a published senior equity research analyst. And sometimes in the very non-traditional sense as my ex-husband and I navigated the adoption system.

No matter what I did, my mom was always my rock. She was non-judgemental, full of support and enco...

The holidays stir up a complex mix of emotions — whether you're newly separated, recently divorced, or somewhere in the middle of the process. It's no coincidence that divorce filing rates spike in January and February, right after the holiday season. If you're contemplating divorce right now, you are not alone.

Below I've pulled together resources spanning my two areas of focus — Intentional Divorce Solutions and Intentional Wealth Partners — to help you not just survive this season, but truly thrive after divorce. If you want to go deeper on any topic, I have much more on both blogs than I could link to here.

How to Increase Your Income After Divorce

One of the first things I hear from clients at Intentional Divorce Solutions is that one spouse managed the finances, leaving the other feeling uncertain about where to start and how to maintain their lifestyle. Rebuilding begins with income.

If you're currently employed, there's no better time to advocate for yourself — here are pra...

Starting or maintaining a budgeting system can be a daunting task. Trying different methods until you find one that works is not uncommon. But, having the right attitude toward money, savings, and budgeting plays a crucial role. In this post, we explore five essential mindset shifts - strategies to get your finances in order.

Strategy #1: Embrace Money Transparency

Neglecting your financial situation can be incredibly stressful, particularly when unexpected expenses arise. That's why it's crucial to establish a budget that encourages you to address your finances proactively before a crisis strikes, enabling you to have a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of your financial standing.

By embracing the habit of checking your bank account on a daily basis, you can easily track your progress, make adjustments when necessary, and ultimately feel more empowered and in control of your financial well-being.

Strategy #2: Understand that Budgeting is a Process

When it comes to fi...

No matter where you are in your financial journey, whether you’re just putting together a financial planning binder or you’ve got a high-performing investment portfolio, everyone could benefit from spring cleaning their finances. Doing so will ensure your goals are still ones you want to work toward, you get back in touch with your numbers, and you can make adjustments sooner rather than later.

Here are my favorite posts that will help you dust the cobwebs out of your finances and refresh your bank account. They’ll help you empower yourself to learn about your finances and choose wisely to make your family financially sustainable!

Spring Clean your Money Mindset

The best place to start is by taking a look at your money mindset. I know firsthand that it takes practice to change beliefs, especially after you’ve placed them on cruise control for a while. Checking back in with how you think about money is important to make sure you’re thinking about wealth and finances in the best lig...

When you’re trying to reach a goal, it’s so important to make sure that you have someone available to help cheer you on. Accomplishing goals is so much easier when you have friends and family who can support you and provide direction to your life. The best accountability partners are the ones who will be there to not only support you during the hard times but also celebrate with you when everything is going great. 

Look Inside Your Home 

The people who are closest to you can make the best accountability partners. If you want to accomplish a goal that is very close to your personal finances, sometimes working with someone in your own home will help you reach your goals more easily. Look to your spouse as someone who can be a great accountability partner. Before doing this, make sure that you both are in it to accomplish this goal! 

Find Like-Minded People

When you’re finding an accountability partner, it will be hard for you to get someone who is helpful if they do not have the same...