May. The word alone should come with a warning label.

Somewhere between the end of April and Memorial Day weekend, the calendar just… explodes. Graduations. End-of-year recitals. The cousin’s kid’s party three states away that somehow became a whole trip. Managing May is basically a full-time job.

And somehow, in the middle of all the mayhem, it also manages to make you feel things.

Because whether you’re the parent of the graduate, the aunt who flew in, or the old friend who wouldn’t miss it, these moments have a way of getting to all of us. You’re standing there in the crowd, camera out, and suddenly you’re undone. Proud and a little sad. Excited for what’s next and quietly grieving something you can’t quite name. And sometimes it’s not even about the person crossing the stage. Sometimes it’s about you. The years that have passed. What you thought life would look like by now, and how it actually turned out.

That’s what May does. It disguises itself as chaos, and then hands you clarity you weren’t expecting. And that clarity is worth something. Where are you right now, really? Are the goals you had five or ten years ago still the ones you’re building toward? Because if this month is making you reflect on where you’ve been, it’s also a pretty good time to get honest about where you’re going, and whether your plan is actually set up to get you there.

So this month, we’re leaning into it, the transitions, the big feelings, and the very practical question of whether your money is working toward the life you actually want next.

Betty

Thankfully I Have Smart Friends:
Unlocking Wealth Through Financial Therapy with
Wendy Wright

Here’s something that stopped me in my tracks: up to 90% of financial decisions are emotionally driven. Not math. Not strategy. But emotion.

That’s exactly why I knew I needed to sit down with Wendy Wright, financial therapist and one of the most refreshing voices I’ve come across in this space. Because so many of us walk around convinced we’re just “bad with money,”  when the real issue runs a lot deeper than a spreadsheet can fix.

In this episode, Wendy walks us through the concept of a “money story,” the beliefs and behaviors around money that took root in childhood and have been quietly running the show ever since. We talk about why shame and perfectionism keep so many smart, capable women financially stuck, and what it actually looks like to start rewriting the narrative.

She leaves us with one question worth sitting with: What story do you want your money to tell going forward?

Listen now on Apple podcasts, Spotify or @bettyfinancial on YouTube!

What I’m Reading:
MoneyZen by Manisha Thakor

If May has you reflecting on what you’re actually working toward, and whether it’s even still what you want, this is the book for your nightstand. It tackles something we don’t talk about nearly enough: the exhausting trap of “never enough” thinking, where we’ve quietly let our self-worth become tied to our net worth, and how to finally break free from it. Thakor, a 30-year financial industry veteran, makes the case that true financial wellbeing isn’t just about the numbers, it’s about building a life where financial health and emotional wealth actually go together.

What I’m Watching: Scrubs, Season 10

If you haven’t caught the Scrubs reboot yet, consider this your sign. The revival brings all the warmth and humor of the original back to Sacred Heart, especially when J.D. shows up in the morgue with ice cream for Carla to help with her menopause symptoms. It had me laughing, nodding, and maybe tearing up a little all at once.

To All the Ladies Who Show Up for Everyone:

To all the moms, grandmoms, aunts, and every woman who has shown up for someone else in that irreplaceable way, Happy Mother’s Day. Whether you’re celebrated with breakfast in bed, a handwritten card, or just a text that somehow still makes you cry, you are doing more than you know, and this month more than any other, I hope you take a moment to feel it.

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.