✨ Reclaiming Financial Sovereignty & Agency: For Women Who Carry (and Have Carried) It All

Michelle Petrowski, CFP®
Aug 6
5 min read

Wealth is more than money. It’s the ability to choose, to rest, to reinvent — without apology.”

A woman stands on the beach at sunset, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, contemplating the horizon as she embraces her journey towards financial independence.

We are the ones others lean on.

The caregivers. The planners. The organizers. The steady presence in the room when things fall apart — and the ones who quietly piece it all back together.

Whether it was raising children, supporting a partner’s career, holding a high-powered role, managing aging parents, or doing all of the above — we’ve carried the mental load, the emotional labor, and yes, often the financial weight, too.

And while we’ve kept everything running smoothly for everyone else…Many of us have quietly put our own financial needs, wants, and futures on pause.

Not because we’re incapable. But because we’ve been focused on caring — and that is no small thing.

Now, something inside is stirring. A quiet nudge that it’s time to turn some of that care inward. To create clarity, confidence, and freedom — not just for everyone else, but for ourselves.

That’s where financial agency and financial sovereignty come in.

🧭 The History We Carry — and Why It Still Matters

Did you know that until 1974, a woman in the U.S. couldn’t get a credit card or mortgage without a man’s signature?

That’s within one generation. We’ve come far, yes — but we’re still shedding the financial silence and systems that kept us small.

Today, many of us are handed the tools — a 401(k), a budget, maybe a Roth IRA. But few of us were taught the language of ownership — the confidence, clarity, and conviction that says:

“You’re allowed to take up space here. You belong in this conversation. And your financial decisions don’t need to be justified — they need to be aligned.”

💡 What is Financial Agency?

Financial agency is the ability to make informed, confident, values-aligned decisions about your money. Not because you’re following a script. But because you’re reclaiming the pen.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about ownership — the kind that allows you to say:

“I get to choose how this story goes.”

Financial agency looks like:

Creating a spending plan that reflects your values, not just your bills
Asking questions at the table instead of staying silent
Giving yourself permission to want more, save more, or say no more

🟢 Only 33% of women feel confident managing investments — compared to 60% of men. Source: Fidelity Women & Investing Study, 2023

It’s especially important for women who’ve stepped away from high-earning roles, whether for caregiving, burnout, a health pivot, or life transition. Agency reminds you that your power was never tied to a paycheck. You don’t age out of financial brilliance.

You own it.

Most of all, financial agency is about recognizing that you can change your direction at any time — without shame.

You're not stuck. You're not behind. You're just getting started — on your terms.

🔒 What is Financial Sovereignty?

If agency is about choice, sovereignty is about control.

It’s the ability to manage your financial life independently — without excessive dependence on a partner, employer, or outdated financial system.

Sovereignty gives you:

Clarity: You know what you have, what you owe, and where it’s going
Courage: You can walk away from what no longer serves you — a job, a relationship, a belief
Capacity: You’ve created space — emotionally and financially — to move forward with intention

🟢 More than 50% of women ages 55–66 have no personal retirement savings. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024

🟢 Women retire with 30% less wealth than men, on average — despite living longer. Source: T. Rowe Price, 2023

And if you've ever deferred long-term financial decisions to a partner, or been told you’re “not good with money,” financial sovereignty becomes even more vital.

It’s the quiet, steady voice that says:

“I’ve got this. And I get to decide what comes next.”

💸 The Great Wealth Transfer Is Coming — Are You Ready to Receive?

We are on the brink of the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history — and women are poised to inherit much of it.

💰 According to McKinsey & Company, by 2030, women in the U.S. are expected to control two-thirds of all wealth — roughly $30 trillion in assets — as they inherit from spouses, parents, and even family businesses.

This is not just about managing money.

It’s about being prepared to receive and redirect wealth in a way that reflects your values, your purpose, and your goals.

🤝 Why You Need Both financial sovereignty and agency

You can’t have financial sovereignty without agency. And agency alone doesn’t guarantee sovereignty.

Let that sink in.

You can know how money works — but still feel stuck in a system where you don’t feel free to act.

You can feel the desire for change — but without the tools or trust, it’s hard to move forward.

Together, agency and sovereignty give you:

The knowledge to take action
The freedom to apply it in a way that aligns with your real life
The power to choose, adapt, and design a future that reflects your values

You’re no longer following someone else’s plan — you’re building a life that reflects who you are ✨

💛 You Deserve a Financial Partner Who Gets It

This work is tender (even sacred). It’s not just technical — it’s personal.

That’s why the right financial partnership should never feel transactional. It should feel like a safe space — a place where you are heard, supported, and never shamed.

I work with women who are rebuilding, realigning, and rediscovering themselves. Some are post-divorce. Others are stepping back in after stepping away. Some are making six figures — and some are redefining what wealth even means.

Regardless of where you are, the goal is the same:

To feel seen. To feel steady. To stop carrying it all alone.

This is not about handing over control. It’s about sharing the load with someone who gets you — and holding space for you to finally get yourself back.

👣 Where to Begin

Whether you’re stepping into a new role, starting over, or simply seeking something more aligned, here’s where to start:

Know your numbers — not to judge them, but to understand them
Explore your money story — what have you been taught to believe about money and your role in it?
Take one aligned action — open the account, book the consultation, join the workshop
Build a support team — one that holds space and hands you the tools

✨ Final Thoughts: This Is Your Time

You’re not “starting over.” You’re starting intentionally.

And while you may have spent years carrying others — it’s time you receive support that meets you where you are.

Financial agency helps you act. Financial sovereignty helps you stay free. Together, they allow you to build a life that is not only financially solid — but emotionally true.

If you’re ready to reclaim your voice, your vision, and your value — I’d be honored to walk beside you.

This is your next chapter. Let’s make it your best one yet. Schedule a Financial Next steps conversation here.

What’s the dream you’ve been keeping on the shelf? Let’s dust it off together.

Hugs,

Michelle

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