This year, I’m turning 50. I’m not easing into it, I’m leaning all the way in! I’ve already started planning the trips and the dinners with women I love who I never see enough. This is going to be a year of showing up for the people and experiences that matter most, and I am here for all of it!

And honestly? Sitting with some of those friends, something kept coming up that I can’t stop thinking about. These are incredible women. Breadwinners, executives, business owners, the ones holding their families together with both hands. And yet when money came up, more than a few of them got a little quiet. “My husband takes care of that.” A shrug when asked about their investment strategy. A vague answer about retirement that trailed off.

Not because they aren’t sharp, they absolutely are. But somewhere along the way, in the middle of managing absolutely everything else, they stepped back from their finances and just… stayed back.

Here’s the thing though, you don’t have to be turning 50 to feel this. Whether you’re 45, 52, or a perfectly random 61, if you are running your household, your career, your kids’ lives and your parents’ needs all at once, your finances deserve that same version of you. The one who figures things out. The one who doesn’t leave important things to chance.

That’s why I do what I do. And this year especially, it feels personal.

Let’s get into it!

Betty

Which brings me to my podcast.

I sat down with elder law attorney Susie Germany, a probate and elder law counsel, and walked away thinking why did nobody tell me this sooner?? If you have aging parents, or you are the person your family looks to when things get complicated, this one is for you.

Elder law isn’t just estate planning for old people. It protects against financial exploitation, navigates the real complexity of Medicaid, and addresses the messy family dynamics that traditional attorneys simply don’t touch. It fills a gap most of us didn’t even know existed.

And most of us? We’re winging it. Making decisions based on what feels right, telling ourselves “we’ll deal with it when the time comes.”

That’s usually the most expensive way to handle it.

This isn’t the fun conversation. But it’s exactly the kind of conversation this newsletter, and this year, is about.

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

What I Read: The Names by Florence Knapp

I couldn’t put it down. It’s the story of a mother who makes a split-second decision about what to name her son, and then we get to see three entirely different versions of how all of their lives unfold from that single choice. It’s a stunning reminder that the decisions we make, or don’t make, shape everything, which feels like exactly the right book for this particular year.

Where I Ate: Edith’s in Cabo

And if you haven’t been to Edith’s in Cabo, add it to your list immediately. The restaurant was founded by Edith Jimenez, who arrived in Cabo at 15 with nothing but ambition, worked her way up from waitress to owner, and built one of the most celebrated restaurant groups in all of Mexico. She is, in every sense, a woman who decided to be in charge! (See the theme here😊), and her Caesar salad prepared tableside under the stars is reason enough to book the trip.

As always, I am here if you need anything!

Change happens slowly, but it happens because we show up, for ourselves, for each other, and for the future we’re building. If anything in today’s newsletter resonated with you, I’d love to hear about it. And if you know a woman who could benefit from tailored financial guidance, please share this with her. We’re stronger when we support each other!

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.