The Strategic Art of Saying No

We’re almost officially past the halfway point of 2025, and if you’re anything like the women I work with, you’re probably looking at your calendar wondering how it got so full—again.

Summer was supposed to be different this year. More breathing room, actual time off, maybe even guilt-free afternoons by the pool. Instead, you’re juggling family schedules, work demands, and that growing list of “opportunities” that all feel urgent.

Here’s what I’ve learned: the secret isn’t better time management. It’s getting crystal clear on what deserves your yes—and having the confidence to say no to everything else.

This isn’t about being selfish. It’s about recognizing that your time and energy are finite resources that need the same strategic protection as your investment portfolio. When you say yes to everything, you’re making decisions without a clear strategy—and that’s not how you built financial security. 

Just like you’ve learned to make confident financial choices that align with your values, you can apply that same discernment to how you spend your most precious assets: your time and peace of mind.

This month, we’re exploring how successful women master the art of strategic saying no—not from scarcity or fear, but from the same confident clarity that guides their smartest money decisions.

Betty

New Podcast Alert! Betty’s Smart Friends

Ever wonder what makes some young people bounce back from setbacks while others get stuck? 

In the latest episode of Betty’s Smart Friends, host Betty sits down with Jennifer Andrews, a youth resilience coach who’s cracking the code on helping kids and teens develop unshakeable inner strength.

Jennifer reveals:

✨ What resilience coaching really is (and why it’s different than therapy)

✨ The crucial skills every young person needs to navigate life’s curveballs 

✨ How the right emotional vocabulary can be a complete game-changer

✨ Her approach to goal setting that helps teens push through obstacles

If you’re raising, teaching, or mentoring young people, this episode is packed with insights you’ll want to put into practice right away. 

Listen in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or my YouTube channel @bettyfinancial.

Continuing Education: Understanding Our Widowed Clients

This month, I attended three specialized webinars on women and widowhood, and I’m so pleased to see more research emerging on this important topic.

The data across the board confirms that when someone is simultaneously processing grief, shock, loneliness, and anxiety, their brain’s cognitive processing naturally takes a back seat. This validates what I’ve witnessed firsthand—why patience and leading with empathy and emotional support is so crucial during these transitions.

I’m encouraged that researchers are finally giving attention to the unique challenges widows face. The more we understand about how grief impacts decision-making capacity, the better we can serve clients during these vulnerable times. It reinforces my approach of meeting each client exactly where they are in their journey.

What to binge? 

Hacks – I love it! It so accurately captures how successful women like Ava and Deborah have to fight harder to establish their boundaries and protect their space. Give it a watch!

A dessert everyone needs to make time for:

Ina Garten has launched national delivery of her deserts on Goldbelly.  Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa Yum!

#Financial Check-in: Money Confidence for 2025

As 2025 moves on, 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.