Note: I have 25 years in financial services with current securities financial advisory licenses. I am acting as a coach and consultant, not a financial advisor in this article.

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I’m not one to save much of anything nostalgic. There a drawer full of kids from holidays and school projects but I toss notes, photos, report cards. One thing I’ve held onto a February 2008 Town & Country issue featuring Aerin Lauder on the cover.

The women and wealth article was a huge awakening when I first read about how “normal” women did not know inner workings of their finances.

Belle Burden’s “Marriage memoir” published in 2026, is also causing a buzz with women who realize they don’t know enough about their Money.

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After 25 years in financial services, I can tell you this plainly:
There is a ton of information out there which is overwhelming. Women do not need more information in their inbox, we need expertise that is HOLISTIC from a true licensed expert and to ask better questions.

These people should NOT be your SOLE financial advisor:

1. Your smart but unlicensed Uncle

2. Chat GPT

3. your tax accountant

4. your spouse

Particularly in our 40s, life gets expensive, layered, and real. Planning for Retirement, slowing down work, house projects or second homes, college or private high schools. (pictured below, my parents, kids and vacation spending!)

What is also layered and complex? Tax laws, changes to financial regulations, products sunsetting and new products available.

The amount of false or incorrect information is staggering. A few weeks ago, Jon’s good friend confidently rattled off old information on 529 accounts to a table of men. The ‘friend’ was 100% sharing old, WRONG data. Your friends and family, who don’t do this for a living are likely sitting on ancient details.

This is the 40+ decade where Aging parents need help. Where marriages stretch or snap. Where careers peak or pivot or stop. Where your body starts whispering that time is not infinite.

And yet so many brilliant women still don’t know the basics of their own financial lives.

Many of were never taught to ask questions that could impact them as widowers or divorcees.

Here are my MUST ask questions.

Start here:

1- What do we actually own? stocks, bonds, Real Estate, alternative investments, cars, land, businesses. nothing?

what is a growing investment, what is debt, what do we own money on (even if it is intenial debt)?

Why ask this: Often, generalities are spoken. Knowing what the details are, each investment’s risk profile can help you understand where things sit financially today.

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2- Which assets are in my name alone, jointly or in your name?

Why ask this? if something happens, like a Divorce or the loss of a job, what do you owe that is in your name? That can ruin credit and your ability to rebound. Not all debt is bad, but even Belle’s Dad left $40 m dollars of business debt to his Widow to unwind.

True story: A friend’s husband took her minivan out of a parking lot during the divorce. All cars were in his name. She had to uber home with her kids.

3- Where is your Will? Does it need updating?

Why ask this: the impact of a will can be large or small but editing it every decade with the onset of different jobs, titles and more kids is important.

bonus question—who is the executor of your Estate? it should NOT be your parents who will pass before you do.

4- How much life insurance do we have on each of us and will it cover expenses for a year?

Why ask this? Many people don’t understand insurance or it’s purpose. It’s part, in my opinion, of a holistic financial approach. It can be used to offset so much more. But in reality, if one of you makes more than another, and someone dies unexpectedly, life insurance helps cover the bills while you downsize, get a new job

It’s also getting harder to get—so get it when you are youngers and healthy.

The cost of a funeral starts at $10k. Insurance policies can pay for death expenses and keep you in your house and your kids in college until you find a new or different job that makes sense when your spouse passes.

5-What are our fixed monthly expenses? What are we spending monthly (variable) for the last few months?

Why ask this: Even if you are happily married or single, you need to know how much you are saving for emergencies and what is a realistic retirement date.

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So many women who become widows or suddenly (or intentionally)(divorced never know the expenses that can impact divorce settlements or paying bills long-term. There’s so many apps that can help with banking and trajectory.

Always know where assets are from the tiny bank accounts to complex statements. With so much online knowing where to start and having your profile and email on the accounts will help you get personally closer to your own future.

Start asking money questions today. Ask the questions, get an advisor (I have recs in every state). You can use digital Investing and get strong advice.

Your accountant is NOT an advisor. They should work in tandem.

May your energy move you towards abundance starting with 5 questions.

In good energy, Lynn

🌘Let’s dive in to the energy of money: Book an Abundance, Wealthy & Well session.

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Lynn Mull Holistic Career Coach & Author

Career Coach | Author | WellNess Advisor | Reiki Master
I offer Clarity through Reiki healing sessions, and Holistic Career Coaching and Facilitating Teams to professional wellness. I use various tools and methods to speak, write, and provide 1.1 counsel to move out of the stuck into the actions that help you or your teams reach their goals.I found my way because I had to create it.
As a working parent and a sandwich caregiver in my early 30s, I understand the pressures to keep going, provide for my family and prioritize everyone else’s wellbeing.

I looked in many corners and could not find one coach to break into my inner blockages and move my career until Reiki and a Career Coach got me there. We can be all the things to everyone, but first, we must get aligned and intuitively move forward for our own .