Financial Center for Women

Financial Center for Women Financial Center for Women, we focus on retirement income strategies for women and their families We are retirement planning specialists. Whatever they may be.

The Financial Center for Women was born from the idea that women need specialized financial planning, confidence, and resources as they navigate through life’s challenges. While we do not focus only on women, we welcome couples and families. Our passion is helping women overcome divorce and the death of a loved one. During these traumatic life events, women need to focus on their future and put th

emselves first, for once. Understanding your financial situation can be complex and stressful. Knowing where you stand and what you need to do to move forward can give you the confidence you need to succeed. We want you to achieve your goals. This is why most initial meetings begin with an exercise to understand your goals and dreams. We ask you to close your eyes for a moment and clear your mind while thinking about the answers to the following questions:

What are your goals? What are your dreams? What is important to you? And most crucial, what keeps you up at night? You are unique, so are your goals and dreams. Our mission, at the Financial Center for Women, is to provide a place where you are empowered to make them a reality. We are not just your financial advisor; we are a valued partner that you can count on. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.

New show. New conversations.And honestly… one topic most of us would rather avoid.Long-term care.Not exactly something y...
06/01/2026

New show. New conversations.
And honestly… one topic most of us would rather avoid.

Long-term care.

Not exactly something you bring up over coffee.
Not something most families sit down and plan out.

But here’s what I keep seeing—
People assume it will “work itself out.”
Until suddenly… it doesn’t.

In this first episode, I sit down with April Markland and we talk about what really happens when there’s no plan. The financial side, yes—but also the emotional side, the family dynamics, and the reality most people don’t fully think through.

This isn’t a neat, comfortable conversation.
It’s real. It’s a little uncomfortable. And it’s important.

Because this isn’t just about money.
It’s about control, choices… and not leaving the people you love to figure it out for you.

👉 https://youtu.be/io8tZIGKzOA

Have you ever had this conversation with your family… or are you still avoiding it?

05/28/2026

The Questions You Don’t Think to Ask

“Ask more questions.”
It sounds simple… almost obvious.
But this made me stop.

Because when you’re making a big decision—especially one that feels right—you tend to believe you already have what you need.
Enough information.
Enough clarity.
Enough certainty to move forward.

And sometimes… you do.
But what I’ve learned is this:
There are always questions you don’t know to ask yet.

Not because you missed something…
but because you can’t see six months down the road.
You don’t know what’s going to surface.

What’s going to matter more than you expected.
What might shift once you’re actually in it.

And when those things do come up, there’s that moment of—
“If I had known this…”

But here’s the part I’ve had to make peace with:
You don’t get to go back.
You just figure it out from where you are.
And maybe that’s not failure… maybe that’s part of how we learn to navigate change.

Not by having all the answers upfront— but by staying open, asking better questions along the way, and adjusting as we go.

I’m curious—have you ever looked back on a decision and realized there were questions you didn’t even know to ask at the time? Share in the comments.

05/27/2026

Saying Yes Before You Know Everything

I heard about this pilgrimage in Spain… the Camino Santiago.
And my first thought?
“I want to do that.”

Not after researching every detail.
Not after mapping out a perfect plan.
Just… yes.

It’s a walk—at least 60 miles, sometimes much longer. Days of just walking, reflecting, being with your own thoughts.
And if I’m honest, I don’t even know everything about it.
But something about it stayed with me.

Maybe it’s the idea of stepping away from the noise.
Or giving yourself space to think… without rushing to the next thing.

I’ve noticed I have a bit of a pattern.
Hear something interesting → say yes → figure it out later.

A half marathon.
Now this.

And while that might sound impulsive… there’s something about it that opens doors I might have talked myself out of otherwise.
Not everything needs to be fully mapped out to begin.

Sometimes curiosity is enough.

I’m curious—have you ever said yes to something before you fully understood what you were getting into? Share below.

05/26/2026

Something came up in this conversation that I don’t think we talk about enough.

A lot of people think financial confidence comes from understanding everything.

Every term. Every strategy. Every moving piece.

But honestly… that’s not how confidence starts.

It starts with something much simpler.

Permission to say,
“Wait… slow down.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Can you explain that again?”

Because this is your money.
Your life.
And curiosity might be the most powerful place to begin.

Still, I notice how many people hesitate to ask those questions… almost like they think they’re supposed to already know.

Which makes me wonder…
When did we start believing we weren’t allowed to ask questions about our own money? Send me a DM or comment below.

Retirement should feel exciting… not uncertain.

In Retiring on Purpose, Paula Swain offers a thoughtful guide to help women create a retirement that is comfortable, joyful, and intentional.

👉 Get your copy today on Amazon and begin planning the life ahead:
https://amzn.to/4dn9qSu

05/25/2026

I Don’t Stay There Very Long

Someone asked me how I handle stress… especially with how much has changed in my life.
And I had to think about that.
Because the truth is—I don’t always handle it perfectly.

There are mornings where I wake up and think,
“I really don’t want to get out of bed today.”
And I let that be real for a moment.

But I don’t stay there.
That’s the difference.

I’ve had people in my life who don’t try to fix me…
they just listen, guide, and let me work things through—even if I say the same thing a hundred times.
And somewhere along the way, I learned how to shift.

Not by forcing it… but by finding something small to hold onto.

The sun’s out.
I get to see someone I care about.
There’s something in the day worth showing up for.

It doesn’t erase the stress.
But it changes how long I sit in it.

And over time, that’s made all the difference.

I’m curious—what helps you move through those moments when you’d rather stay stuck? Share in the comments.

05/22/2026

The Conversation I Didn’t Expect to Have

There are some topics you think you understand…
until you’re in the middle of a conversation and realize—
You don’t.

That’s exactly how I felt during this episode.
It caught me off guard.

Not because it was uncomfortable in a bad way…
but because it was honest in a way we don’t always allow ourselves to be.

There were moments I could have just sat there quietly—taking it all in, maybe even blushing a little (okay… more than a little).
And that surprised me too.
Because no matter how much we think we know…
there are always layers we haven’t explored, questions we haven’t asked, conversations we’ve avoided.

And sometimes, those are the ones that open something up.
Not just about the topic itself… but about how willing we are to stay curious, even when it feels a little vulnerable.

I’m curious—has a conversation ever surprised you by how much you didn’t know? Share in the comments.

05/21/2026

Plan for Your Reality

Something that always gives me pause when we talk about retirement…

Women often live longer.

We often earn less over time.

And at some point, many of us end up managing money alone.

That’s not a theory. That’s just reality.

Which makes me wonder why so many financial plans are built like everyone’s life will unfold the same way.

During this conversation, it hit me again:
Planning for longevity, healthcare, and independence isn’t pessimistic.

It’s powerful.
But I think a lot of women hesitate to look at those realities too closely… because it can feel uncomfortable to even say them out loud.

And yet, when we do, something shifts.

The plan starts to reflect our lives, not a formula.

So I’m curious…
When you think about your financial future, does your plan actually reflect your reality?

Ready to start thinking about retirement in a completely different way?

Paula Swain’s new book Retiring on Purpose: A Woman’s Guide to a Comfortable, Joyful, and Intentional Retirement is here—and it’s the kind of guide many women wish they had years ago.

👉 Get your copy of Retiring on Purpose on Amazon today and start designing the retirement you actually want: https://amzn.to/4dn9qSu


05/20/2026

You Don’t Have to Be Ready to Start
This made me laugh… and pause.

A friend says, “I’m running a half marathon.”
And my response?
“I think I’ll do that with you.”

No overthinking.
No five-step plan.
No deep reflection.
Just… yes.

And then came the part that felt even more honest:
“I am practicing.”
That’s it.

Not perfectly prepared.
Not fully confident.
Just… showing up and doing something about it.

Even while admitting—I don’t love bridges.
Tunnels make me nervous.
And no, I haven’t exactly conquered those fears.
But I’m doing it anyway.

There’s something in that.
Because we tend to think we need to feel ready first.
Or fearless.
Or certain.
But sometimes the decision comes first…
and the confidence catches up later.

Not all at once.
Just step by step.

I’m curious—have you ever said yes to something before you felt fully ready? Share in the comments.

05/19/2026

This moment felt more personal than I expected.
Not polished. Not perfectly scripted. Just… real.

Because underneath the light back-and-forth, there was something deeper:
“If I can do it, anybody can do it.”
And I sat with that for a second.

Not as a throwaway line—but as a lived experience.
Coming out the other side of something like divorce… rebuilding… figuring things out… that’s not small.
It changes you.

And what stayed with me wasn’t just the idea of a coaching program.
It was why.

Not to have all the answers.
Not to position as an expert.
But to take what’s been learned—the tools, the lessons, the hard-won clarity—and offer it to someone else who might be in that same place.

Even if it helps just one person.

That kind of intention feels different.
Less about achievement…
More about meaning.

I’m curious—have you ever gone through something that changed you… and made you want to help someone else through it? Share in the comments.

Oh, and here is more about my new book:
In Retiring on Purpose, Paula Swain offers a thoughtful guide to help women create a retirement that is comfortable, joyful, and intentional.

👉 Get your copy today on Amazon and begin planning the life ahead:
https://amzn.to/4dn9qSu

I Thought I Had All the Answers… Until I Didn’tWe went into this episode with no script, no plan… and honestly, no idea ...
05/18/2026

I Thought I Had All the Answers… Until I Didn’t

We went into this episode with no script, no plan… and honestly, no idea where it would go.

And somehow—that’s exactly what made it real.

What surprised me most wasn’t what we talked about…
It was what came up after.

The realization that even when you think you’ve made the right decision…
there are always questions you didn’t know to ask.

Not because you missed something.
But because you couldn’t see that far ahead.

That’s the part we don’t talk about enough.

We talk a lot about making the “right” choice.
But not enough about what happens after—
when things surface, when you adjust, when you figure it out in real time.

This conversation reminded me of something simple… and a little uncomfortable:

👉 You don’t get to know everything before you decide.
👉 You don’t get to go back and redo it.
👉 You just learn… and move forward.

And maybe the real skill isn’t in having all the answers—
but in asking better questions next time.

Curious—
Have you ever made a decision that felt right… and then realized later there was more you didn’t know?

🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/rEolkSQo2pg

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