Top Financial Independence Tips for Women in Honor of International Woman’s Day
So what IS International Women’s Day?
I’m a woman seeking financial independence, what are the top tips I should know?
How do I support other women?
International Woman’s Day has been celebrated for more than 100 years! During this month, we:
· Celebrate women's achievement.
· Raise awareness about discrimination.
· Take action to forge gender parity.
As we honor this day, let’s talk about a crucial aspect of true empowerment—financial independence. Women, even those with substantial wealth, face unique challenges in wealth preservation, investment strategies, financial planning, and legacy planning. Today, I want to share key financial strategies tailored specifically for you.
Philanthropy as a Wealth Strategy: Giving with Purpose
For many high-net-worth women, wealth isn’t just about accumulation—it’s about impact. Strategic philanthropy allows you to align your wealth with your values, making a lasting difference while maximizing financial benefits.
📌 Key Planning Ideas for High-Impact Philanthropy:
1. Set Up a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) allows you to contribute assets (cash, stocks, real estate) to a charitable fund while receiving an immediate tax deduction. You can then distribute grants over time, creating a sustained giving strategy.
💡 Why it works:
✅ Immediate tax benefits, even if funds are distributed later.
✅ Allows you to invest your philanthropic dollars, growing your impact.
✅ Provides flexibility—support multiple charities without administrative burden.
2. Create a Family Foundation
If you want to formalize your giving and leave a philanthropic legacy, consider starting a private foundation. This can be especially meaningful for women who want to involve their families in multi-generational philanthropy. As planners, we typically discuss a foundation when your gifting goals are over one million dollars. (For smaller gift plans, see the Donor Advised Fund idea above.)
Family foundations typically:
✅ Allow for hands-on grant-making and charitable investments.
✅ Enable direct influence over causes that matter most to you.
✅ Can be structured to provide long-term funding to women-led initiatives, education, healthcare, or social justice causes.
3. Donate Appreciated Assets for Tax Efficiency
We work with many corporate executives who are compensated in equity. When you accumulate low basis stock, here is an idea for you. Instead of donating cash, consider gifting appreciated securities (stocks, real estate, or business interests). This strategy allows you to avoid capital gains taxes while maximizing your charitable impact. I’m telling you, if you’re not working with a firm that offers both wealth AND tax management, like ours, you’re missing out on tax-savings opportunities intertwined with your philanthropic goals.
📌 Example: If you donate $500,000 in highly appreciated stock instead of selling it and donating the cash, you avoid capital gains taxes, keeping more money in the hands of the organizations you care about.
4. Use Charitable Trusts for Long-Term Giving
A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) or Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) allows you to support causes while also providing financial benefits for yourself or your heirs.
✅ CRT: Provides you (or a designated beneficiary) with income during your lifetime, with the remainder going to charity.
✅ CLT: Provides income to a charity first, with the remainder eventually transferring to your heirs tax-efficiently.
Both strategies allow you to reduce taxable estate value while leaving a lasting impact.
5. Invest in Socially Responsible & Impact Investing
Beyond traditional giving, impact investing allows women to direct capital toward companies and funds that align with their values—such as women-led businesses, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investments, and social enterprises.
✅ Consider shifting a portion of your portfolio to mission-driven investments.
✅ Explore private equity or venture capital funds that back women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
✅ Engage in shareholder advocacy—use your investments to influence corporate policies.
6. Engage in Direct Giving & Mentorship
While structured giving is valuable, directly supporting women entrepreneurs, scholarships, and grassroots organizations can have an immediate and life-changing effect.
✅ Consider mentoring and funding women-led startups.
✅ Support scholarship funds for women in STEM, finance, or entrepreneurship.
✅ Explore other ways to encourage female innovators and connect them to other experts who can help.
Philanthropy isn’t just about donating—it’s about leveraging financial power to create systemic change.
Other tips for Women striving for Financial Independence:
Master Your Cash Flow & Optimize Liquidity
For high-net-worth women, cash flow management isn't just about covering monthly expenses—it’s about optimizing liquidity for investment opportunities, philanthropic giving, and wealth transfer strategies.
📌 Key Considerations:
Are you over-allocated in cash, missing out on growth?
Do you have a strategic cash reserve (beyond an emergency fund) for business ventures or investments?
Is your wealth structured for tax efficiency?
By analyzing these factors, we ensure that your wealth is working for you, not just sitting idle.
Build an Emergency Fund—But Think Bigger
Standard advice suggests an emergency fund of 12–18 months of expenses. For high-net-worth individuals, this isn’t just about security—it’s about strategic liquidity.
💡 Consider:
Holding a portion of your reserves in high-yield, tax-advantaged vehicles.
Using your emergency fund as a liquidity buffer for unexpected investment opportunities.
Ensuring that your cash reserves align with your overall asset allocation strategy.
In today’s interest rate environment, cash can work harder for you—let’s make sure it does.
Negotiate Like a CEO—Because You Are One
Whether you're an executive, entrepreneur, or investor, the ability to negotiate compensation, equity, or business deals is crucial.
✅ For Corporate Executives: Ensure you’re maximizing equity compensation, bonuses, and benefits.
✅ For Entrepreneurs: Price your services/products at a level that reflects your true value.
✅ For Investors: Push for better deal terms and don’t shy away from asking tough questions.
💬 Personal Story: My youngest daughter recently negotiated a salary correction when she found out she was underpaid. Her employer agreed—without hesitation. A powerful reminder: If you don’t ask, you won’t receive.
Pro tip: Work with a financial planner and tax strategist when structuring compensation packages, equity deals, and exit strategies to maximize wealth retention.
Plan for Retirement—Or rather, Financial Flexibility that fits YOUR desired lifestyle
Many high-net-worth women don’t see “retirement” as a traditional milestone. Instead, the goal is financial flexibilty—the ability to choose how, when, and where you work, invest, or give back.
📈 Wealth Strategies for Women at the Top:
Optimize tax-efficient retirement vehicles (e.g., backdoor Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, deferred comp plans).
Diversify holdings beyond traditional retirement accounts into private equity, real estate, and alternative investments.
Structure assets for legacy and multigenerational wealth planning.
Women live longer than men. Ensuring your wealth lasts means having a clear strategy—let’s build it.
Corporate Executives: Maximize Your Benefits
If you're a high-income earner, your employee benefits package is part of your wealth strategy. Are you taking full advantage?
💡 Review Your Benefits:
✅ Equity compensation—Are you optimizing RSUs, stock options, or ESPPs?
✅ Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)—A tax-advantaged way to cover medical expenses now and in retirement.
✅ Legal benefits—Often overlooked, but invaluable for estate planning.
These benefits can yield surprising synergies and opportunities when structured correctly. Let’s make sure you’re leveraging them fully.
Strive for Financial Independence—In Every Stage of Life
Having wealth is one thing. Having control over it is another.
🚨 Key Reminder: Life can be unpredictable—divorce, loss of a spouse, business challenges. Women who actively engage with their finances are better prepared for any situation.
✅ Know where your money is.
✅ Understand your investment strategy.
✅ Ensure your estate plan reflects your current wishes.
Financial independence isn’t just about wealth—it’s about confidence, control, and choices.
Work With a Financial Director (Not Just an Advisor)
I love partnering with women as their financial director—someone who helps orchestrate the many moving pieces of wealth management.
Think of your wealth like a beehive—each part (investments, business interests, real estate, estate planning) should work in harmony. My role? Helping you ensure that every piece is coordinated and aligned with your goals.
Invest Boldly—Women Need to Close the Growth Gap
Women tend to invest too conservatively. While preserving wealth is important, growth is equally critical.
💡 Investment Considerations for High-Net-Worth Women:
Are you too weighted in cash and bonds?
Are you diversified across asset classes?
Are you missing opportunities for tax-efficient growth?
Women who invest aggressively but strategically close the wealth gap and increase long-term security.
Final Thoughts: Financial Empowerment is True Inclusion
On this International Women’s Day, let’s commit to financial empowerment. When women control wealth, they:
💰 Invest in their communities and drive philanthropic impact
📈 Create generational wealth and invest in women
🤝 Build sustainable legacies and support other women through philanthropy and mentorship
Let’s work together to build a future where women are not just included—but leading.
💪🏽 Go women!