As we wrap up International Women’s Month, we think about our mission of being advocates for our clients. Our goal is to help them become educated, confident & financially successful. As a pair of successful Female Financial Advisors, we know how rare we are. Joanna and I both come from male dominated worlds of mathematics and the sciences. We did not think too much about our gender when we got started in this career.
At Empowered Financial Strategies, we serve Executive Women, Pre-Retirees/Retirees with adult children who have special needs and High Net Worth Pre-Retirees/Retirees. We offer comprehensive financial planning focused to building efficient strategies. We focus on helping clients build wealth while minimizing risks, retirement income planning, tax planning, legacy & estate planning, as well as special needs planning.
When we first started in the industry, we were surprised at the lack of confidence so many women have when it comes to their own finances. We have met many women, of all ages, that shy away from taking control of their financial lives. Why? One reason we hear the most is a lack of education and understanding. We also hear that many couples decide this is the husband’s job because he understands or likes it better. We even have heard from single women that they don’t need to worry about the financials until they get married.
Women are CFOs of their household in so many ways. We do most of the shopping, we layout home improvements, we plan the vacations and often times, we are charge of the bank accounts and we pay the bills. Heck, in many households, the women earn as much, if not more income than their spouse. However, once we start talking about insurances or investments there is a sudden disconnect.
It is with women in mind, that we built Empowered Financial Strategies. We offer a methodical process that first organizes your financial world so you can easily see all the pieces. We listen, really listen, to hear who you are and what your values are. We learn how your family or your business’s executive team makes decisions and what your goals are. Not just what your goals are, but why.
We then review all the pieces of your financial world, and if needed, pull in experts you do not already have, in any area that we do not work in. We work diligently to educate you so that you understand your situation, your insurances, your legal documents, your group benefits, your social security benefits, your cash flow, debt, savings & your investments.
Once you understand your situation, you can see what risks you may have. We then show ways to lessen the risks, to build wealth and build efficiency in your financial world. We show you many options, explain them fully, the pros, the cons and the costs. You decide the path you want to take and we facilitate getting you on that path.
Our goal for every client is to create more wealth with more enjoyment of your wealth, with no more risk and with better protection; while maintaining your lifestyle. We offer education at every step. After going through our process, our clients tell us they feel so much more confident because they understand where they are, what their options are and they have chosen the path to take. They feel heard and that they have a true advocate…actually two of them!
At Empowered Financial Strategies, we serve Executive Women, Successful Pre-retirees looking to build a retirement income and estate plan as well as Pre-retirees with adult children with a disability or special needs. Our team specializes in these areas. We have referrals for tax professionals and attorneys who are also experienced in these fields. We spend the time to get to know you and your family. We lead with education with the goal to help you craft your ideal retirement. Reach out to Info@Empowered-fs.com. We are happy to answer questions or point you in the right direction.
About the author: Carolyn Humphrey is a Financial Advisor, with the licenses in areas of Life, disability, health and Long-Term Care Insurances as well as a number of Finra licenses (series 6, 63, 65, 7 & 24); allowing her to work in various areas of Wealth Management. Carolyn has also earned the following designations from The American College.
- RICP®, (Retirement Income Certified Professional). This designation helps Financial Advisors learn about how to guard against the 18 risks that clients face in retirement.
- TPCP®, (Tax Planning Certified Professional). This designation helps Financial Advisors identify, evaluate, and implement comprehensive tax strategies for individuals and businesses owners across their lifespan, focusing on maximizing tax benefits while ensuring compliance with current legislation.
- WMPC®, (Wealth Management Certified Professional), which is designed to help Financial Advisors build efficient portfolios for goals-based investing.
- CLF®, Certified Leadership Fellow, which has helped her in various leadership positions such as being a national trainer as well as a manager of a team of advisors.
Carolyn has a detail oriented, analytical brain with an expressive personality. She believes that education must come first before any recommendations to clients. She loves travel and experiencing other cities and cultures. She spends her down time with family and friends or just taking some time to reflect, read, workout or go out for hike with her husband and pup. She has been married and caring for rescue pups since the early 1990’s and has been an avid Buffalo Bills fan forever. Go Bills!
The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product. Empowered Financial Strategies does not offer Tax or Legal Advice. Registered representative of, and Securities and investment advisory services offered through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC (HTK), Registered Investment Adviser, Member FINRA/SIPC. 800-873-7637, www.htk.com. Any other business entity or name that your financial professional markets their securities and advisory services under is not affiliated with HTK. The material is not intended to be a recommendation, offer or solicitation. HTK does not provide legal and tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax advisor regarding your personal tax situation and a qualified legal professional for your personal estate planning situation.
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