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How to Build Credit in College
By Suhani Karanjawala We hear about credit all the time. Credit cards? Auto loans? Everyone says it is incredibly important to build a good score early on. But what does it really mean? Is it even important right now? And how can we actually go about it without...
The One Financial Risk Most People Never Plan For
By Natalie Karp, MBA, CLTC and Rona Loshak, MBA, CLTC What's the one financial risk most people never plan for? Not market volatility. Not inflation. It's the very real, very likely possibility that someday — you or someone you love will need help. Help to get...
Financial Stress and Women’s Health: How to Reduce Anxiety and Build Financial Confidence
Financial stress is one of the most common and least addressed barriers to women’s financial well-being. For many women, money stress isn’t about a lack of ambition or intelligence; it’s about navigating complex financial decisions without trusted, judgment-free...
How Are Your Taxes Calculated? Tax Brackets, Explained
Do these tax questions sound familiar? Submit your question to the Savvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline and get connected to a Savvy Ladies Volunteer. Submit your question By Kelly Phillips Erb. Reviewed and updated by Savvy Ladies Volunteer and Board Member Matthew...
Tax Returns: Who Needs To File?
This guide helps you decide whether you must file a tax return for the 2025 tax year (due April 15, 2026). By Kelly Erb. Reviewed and updated by Savvy Ladies Volunteer and Board Member Matthew E. Foreman, J.D., LL.M., Partner at Falcon, Rappaport & Berkman and his...
Tax Preparation & Filing Made Simple
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA Tax season is here! Time to panic over lost receipts, missing information on cost bases for stocks, and 1099s that won’t ever show up; or, time to spend an afternoon with your CPA; or, click a few buttons on your computer keyboard? It all...
Be Savvy With Your Tax Refund
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA One of the only positive aspects of tax season is your refund. A new pair of shoes, dress or a vacation are all tempting choices for us to spend our tax return money. While a small splurge is a must, these extra dollars also give you a...
Your Investment Portfolio Checkup: Rebalance and Strengthen
Adapted from articles by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA®, and Manisha Thakor, MBA, CFA, CFP®. Most portfolios don’t go off track because of one bad decision, they drift over time. Markets move, life changes, and what once felt like the “right mix” can quietly become...
How to Think About Picking Individual Stocks
Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA People often ask me, “Should I buy this stock I heard about?” A good planner’s honest answer is usually: “I don’t know.” Whether buying a particular stock is a good idea depends on: Is it the only stock you’ll own or one of many? How...
Create, Grow, and Protect Your Wealth: A Savvy Guide to Investing With Confidence
Adapted from articles by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA®, and Manisha Thakor, MBA, CFA, CFP®. Table of Contents: Introduction: What Does It Really Mean to “Create Wealth”? 1. Getting Ready to Invest 2. Understanding Risk, Return, and Inflation 3. Asset Allocation and...
Holiday Spending Guide: How to Stay Savvy, Joyful and Financially Confident This Season
Adapted from the following original Savvy Ladies articles: “3 Places to Save Money Around the Holidays”, “Suze Orman on Limiting Holiday Spending Damage” by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA, "Top Tips for Saving on Holiday Airfare" by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA, and “On the...
Rebuilding Your Finances After the Government Shutdown
Editor's Note: The recent government shutdown may have ended, but many women and families are still feeling its financial ripple effects. Whether you experienced furloughs, missed paychecks, or are navigating your own form of economic uncertainty or job loss, the...
Learn if a Debt Management Plan is Right for You
Looking for a trustworthy way to take control of your debt? Our partners at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling can help you get the debt management guidance you deserve. Getting out of debt requires a plan. Here, you’ll learn what a Debt Management...
When Markets Are Down: How to Make Calm, Smart Investing Decisions
By Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA When your account balance drops, it can feel personal, like you “did something wrong.” But market downturns are part of investing. The real question isn’t whether your portfolio ever turns red. It’s what you do next. In volatile moments,...
4 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Mutual Fund Investments
By Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA Understanding where your investments are and how they behave is one of the most empowering steps you can take toward financial confidence. It helps you assess your risk, cost, and whether your portfolio still matches your goals. Mutual...
How Women Really Feel About Talking Money: Insights from the Savvy Ladies Community
Breaking the silence around money and equipping women with the tools to have open, honest financial conversations are at the core of the Savvy Ladies mission. That’s why this summer, we asked our community how they really feel about money conversations. Through a...
Savvy Spending Tips: Your Guide to Smart Shopping
Smart spending isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s about making your money reflect your values. Every dollar you spend shapes your financial future. To shift your mindset, start by zooming out and looking at the big picture: define your money values, create a budget...
7 Important Financial Questions: Financial Concerns Young Hispanic Women Are Asking Our Helpline
Young Hispanic Women care about money. They are seeking answers to important budgeting questions and reaching out to the Savvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline to get answers As a Hispanic woman living in the U.S., you want to build financial security, support your...
How Hispanic and Latina Women Navigate Cultural Barriers to Build Generational Wealth
Family is the driving force for many Hispanic and Latina women in their generational wealth-building era. They want to invest in their children's and grandchildren’s futures to provide them with financial stability and better educational opportunities. But, getting...
Going Solo: How to Plan for Retirement When You’re on Your Own
By Diane Harris Sept. 21, 2024 A version of this article appears in print on Sept. 22, 2024, Business Section, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: "How to Plan for a Time When You Are on Your Own". Click here to view the original NYT Business Article...
Take Control of Your Finances With The Best 7 Budgeting Apps
by Cynthia Ibarra* In a digital era, budgeting apps are powerful financial tools, especially among women wanting to take control of their financial futures. They save time by automatically tracking your spending, motivating you with customizable financial goals, and...
