Finding Myself in the Pages and the Screen

As we close out Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I find myself reflecting on the stories that have shaped both my personal identity and professional journey.

Growing up, I treasured books and movies where I could see myself in the protagonist—Asian women carving their own paths, making difficult decisions, and achieving success on their own terms. These characters weren’t just entertainment; they were mirrors reflecting possibilities I hadn’t yet imagined for myself.

What these stories taught me extends far beyond representation. They instilled lessons about resilience, strategic thinking, and the courage to make difficult financial choices even when others don’t understand your vision. These are the same qualities I now bring to helping my clients navigate their financial futures with confidence and clarity.

As I have been pursuing my career in financial planning—a field where Asian women remain significantly underrepresented. I draw strength from characters like Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, with its generations of resilient Korean women facing financial hardships while building lasting legacies. This showed me the transformative power of long-term planning and persistence. Then there’s Rachel in Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians, whose economic expertise and unwavering values guided her through unfamiliar and often challenging territory.

Even recent books like Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You, with its exploration of family expectations through Lydia Lee’s story, still help me navigate the delicate balance between honoring tradition and pursuing personal ambition.

This month, I celebrate not just our rich heritage, but how our stories continue to inspire future generations of Asian Americans to envision bold new possibilities for themselves—whether in literature, finance, or any field where we’re ready to break new ground.

I’d love to hear from you: What books or movies featuring Asian characters have influenced your life, career, or financial mindset? Reply or email me here and let me know. I’m always looking for my next great read or streaming binge!

Betty

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What to binge?

Some shows to watch right now that demonstrate how Asian American women can navigate the intersection of cultural expectations and personal ambition – while building financial independence and professional success!

Apple TV+:
“Pachinko” – The series adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s novel I mentioned above, visually beautiful and a great binge!

Netflix:
“Bling Empire” – For those that love a reality show – it features wealthy Asian Americans and has a lot of the themes and drams that we all love in reality TV.

#Financial Check-in: Money Confidence for 2025

As we move forward in 2025, I’m always here to schedule a conversation to ensure you have both the confidence and clarity needed to move forward purposefully. Just let me know!

Disclosures: BW Financial LLC dba BW Financial Planning is an Investment Adviser registered with the State of Colorado. All views, expressions, and opinions included in this communication are subject to change. This communication is not intended as an offer or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any financial instrument or investment advisory services. Any information provided has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but we do not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of any description of securities, markets or developments mentioned. We may, from time to time, have a position in the securities mentioned and may execute transactions that may not be consistent with this communication’s conclusions. This communication is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, accounting and/or tax advice. Should you have any questions and/or issues in these areas, please consult your legal, tax and/or accounting adviser.