Setting financial boundaries with adult children can feel emotionally complicated, especially for women in midlife.

Many women come to me saying something like this:

“I want to help my adult child, but I’m starting to feel anxious, resentful, or stretched too thin.”

If that sounds familiar, take a breath. Nothing has gone wrong. This is often the moment when awareness shows up before change.

Helping adult children financially can come from a place of deep love. But when that support continues without clear boundaries, it can quietly create stress, guilt, and tension that no one really wants.

Setting financial boundaries is not about withdrawing love. It is about creating clarity, sustainability, and trust for everyone involved.

Why Financial Boundaries With Adult Children Matter in Midlife

Midlife is a season of competing responsibilities. You may be planning for retirement, supporting aging parents, rebuilding financially after divorce, or growing a business. At the same time, ...

When it comes to feeling confident with your money, most women aren’t just looking for investment returns. They’re looking for relationship returns.

A true money partnership between a woman and her financial team goes deeper than numbers or market performance. It’s about trust. It’s about being heard and respected. And it’s about having people beside you who help you align your money with your values, your goals, and your bigger vision for your life.

In The Empowered Sisterhood, we talk a lot about reclaiming your financial power. One of the most powerful ways to do that is by building a financial partnership that feels genuine and grounded in mutual respect.

Let’s look at what that kind of partnership really means and how you can start creating it today.

Trust Is the Heart of Financial Empowerment

Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and that includes your relationship with your advisor.

When you trust your financial team, you feel comfortable asking questions...

Financial conversations can be tough to navigate in life. Whether it's discussing budgets with your spouse, talking to your children about spending habits, or helping aging parents handle their estate, these discussions require courage and tact. Managing these challenging financial conversations successfully is crucial, and it's understandable if you feel overwhelmed. Rest assured, you're not alone. Many people face similar situations and find it comforting to have guidance and support. If you're looking for help in navigating these conversations, know that there are resources available to assist you on your financial journey.

As a financial planner and mediator, I deeply understand the challenges that conversations about money can bring. We've gathered a few valuable tips along our journey that we'd love to share with you.

We're here to provide support and guidance as you navigate these important discussions. With our compassionate and empathetic approach, we aim to help you achieve...

Through watching my grandfather's approach to life and money, I learned truly valuable financial lessons that continue to guide me today. This wisdom was particularly meaningful given that my father's approach to finances served as a stark counterexample of what not to do.

My grandfather, who would have been 100 years old this year, grew up during the Great Depression. Those formative years shaped his entire philosophy about money, security, and what truly matters in life. The principles he lived by aren't outdated - they're more relevant than ever in our world of instant gratification and consumer debt.

10 Timeless Financial Lessons from the Greatest Generation

1. Live Below Your Means

My grandfather embodied the principle of living below one's means. This wasn't merely a saying but a lifestyle he embraced, shaping his prudent financial habits throughout his life. He prioritized long-term financial security over the allure of short-term material gain - a discipline that allo...

I believe that when you’re intentional with your money, it stops being a source of stress and starts becoming a tool for building the life you actually want. That’s true for individuals, and it’s especially true for couples.

But here’s what I see all the time: couples who love each other deeply still struggle with money. Not because they don’t care, but because most of us were never taught how to have real, honest financial conversations. And if you can’t talk about money openly, you can’t manage it together. That’s where the disconnect starts.

Whether you’re in a new relationship or you’ve been married for twenty years, financial communication isn’t something you figure out once and move on from. It’s an ongoing practice. The couples who get it right aren’t the ones who never disagree about money. They’re the ones who approach it with intention and have a system for working through it together.

If money conversations with your partner tend to end in frustration, or if you feel like...

People widely acknowledge and discuss how money can negatively impact romantic relationships, but sometimes money causes tension in friendships, too. This is especially true when there is a large discrepancy in income between friends. Here are some simple do's and don'ts to keep money from ruining your friendship.

To Keep Money From Destroying Your Friendships, Remember These Do's

Be honest if you're having financial challenges.

Your friends are not mind-readers and may or may not even realize that money is causing tension in your relationship. If they are real friends, they are not going to care that you would rather invite them over for a cup of coffee than go out for expensive dinner. Just be honest and find things that you like to do together that are free or don't cost much.

Be honest about your financial goals.

I know that money is still a taboo topic in many social circles, but honesty is so important for relationships to thrive. You may not be struggling financially, but y...

Afraid to talk to your spouse about money problems? Money is a common argument amongst couples, and unfortunately, it often gets so bad that it leads to divorce. The earlier you can address financial stress in your relationship, the more likely you can resolve it. The best thing you can do for your relationship is to work together to solve your financial problems.

Premarital counseling can prevent a lot of problems. The theory is that talking about significant issues before getting married can reduce the friction caused by different beliefs and behaviors. Discussing topics like child-rearing, managing conflict, and managing money are essential before getting married. Waiting to sort out the differences after the honeymoon period can be hard.

If you've been married a while and now realize that you and your spouse don't agree on finances, it's important to get a handle on things before they affect your relationship. Money can create a great deal of strain in a relationship.

What shoul...