Women & Personal Finance

I was on my way back from a meeting when I got a call from a fellow Toastmaster who invited me to come speak at her firm about Personal Finance for Women. I didn’t have my calendar, had no idea what day was 6th Mar (8th Mar happened to be a Sunday) or even where her firm was-But I said Yes!

My friend Sushma, who invited me, is part of the HR team at Skinnovations. They are suppliers of the latest technology and systems for all existing and cutting edge treatments in the industry of aesthetic dermatology. They also have a line of Dermocosmetics, ie Skincare.

Speaking to women about sorting their finances, building wealth and financial independence on their terms, what it means to women or can do for us, is something I love and get to do just once a year, most of the time such sessions are full of men and a few women there just for the sake of listening.

The setting was a closed conference room, making it an atmosphere of discussion. The leadership team at Skinnovations has 2 ladies Ms Ranjini and Ms Ujjwala who were so warm, I lost any apprehension I had about speaking to strangers I hardly knew.

Women are wired differently, made differently and hence we relate to things differently, want and desire differently and unfortunately that is either mocked by terms like ‘girl math’ or glorified as something unknowable. Time and time again I have heard men and sometimes even women, confidently preach that women investors need things dumbed down, explained in simplified manner, women don’t understand numbers and jargon! All stuff and nonsense. How are women running teams, firms and households without understanding numbers?

One thing is for sure that we women have not seen mothers, aunts, sisters invest, hence do not naturally feel that is something to be ventured into, secondly many times we don’t see the connection between accumulated wealth and our aspirations.

At Skinnovations we had a very insightful time discussing how every time we put aside enough to keep us through a month, we are buying a month of our life where we don’t need to work. How our life decisions will be easier if they are made knowing we have a decision fund to fall back on.

We also saw uncomfortable truths like most of us do not have Life Insurance as we do not sufficiently value our earning and contribution to our families.

It felt so natural to talk of trivia, makeup, life choices, motherhood, career breaks, overthinking and everything that makes us a woman and yet invites sniggers even today.

By the end we were finally cosy enough to air our insecurities and find ways to work with it.

It was an evening to remember, not for the talk, for the insights, the aha moments or the celebration but for the wonderful women who made my day.

P.S. We are building a Financial Planning service @ Ashoonya designed especially for women. Their wealth created, their way. If you are a woman or know a woman who wants to strike a money conversation, please connect with us.