Invest in Her Future: Teaching Women and Girls to Be Financially Resilient
Elizabeth Hall · Posted on: March 5th 2025 · read
Financial resilience starts with early education and planning. By learning the "language of money" and seeking guidance without hesitation, young girls and women can build confidence and long-term security.
But, learning to confidently manage your money and putting in place a good financial plan can feel daunting, especially for women - so, how do you get started on your journey to financial security? We asked Liz Hall, one of our financial planning partners, for her tips on learning the “language of money” and equipping young girls with essential money management skills to ensure they grow up to become financially resilient women.
Here are the insights that Liz shared:
On starting early
The biggest misconception I hear is that ‘financial planning’ is something only the “oldies” do!
The truth is that ‘time’ is the key ingredient to building your financial resilience, and so the earlier you start, the better. I grew up in a world where mums would have a ‘secret’ tin somewhere in a cupboard where they would put away money for “for a rainy day”. Planning for unexpected expenses in the future is what created a resilience in the household finances.
I’d ask young people to keep this in mind and start a financial plan now to ensure their own financial resilience. Resilience is never built up overnight, it grows and takes root inside a financial plan with multiple horizons recognising or anticipating typical ‘life’ events.
The biggest misconception I hear is that ‘financial planning’ is something only the “oldies” do! The truth is that ‘time’ is the key ingredient to building your financial resilience, and so the earlier you start, the better.
On teaching kids about money
Well, like many people of a certain age I remember very well (and with great affection) my grandmother giving me a few pennies to save, and a few pennies to spend on sweets!
By the time I was six years old, I had learned that money is fascinating, in some places it grows and in others it shrinks. This realisation is what every plan is built on, no matter how wealthy we become.
My advice to parents and caregivers is to open a savings account with a small amount of money and show your kids how to “grow some and spend some”!
"Money is fascinating, in some places it grows and in others it shrinks. This realisation is what every plan is built on, no matter how wealthy we become."
On women seeking financial advice
We shouldn’t walk on eggshells about this – many women may not be so open about their circumstances with a male adviser, because of a certain amount of vulnerability perhaps, or fear of seeming unworldly. It is another unfortunate misconception that you must speak with a man to make a financial plan; it was true just a few years ago but not anymore. The number of female financial advisers is increasing dramatically, not least because as an occupation it fits very well with a woman’s instinctive ability to listen, empathise and support. I see growing resilience in the finances of women of every age, which I believe is a direct result of more women entering the financial industry.
It is another unfortunate misconception that you must speak with a man to make a financial plan. The number of female advisers is increasing dramatically, which is directly helping more women build financial resilience.
On empowering ourselves
To be a financially resilient woman of any age, but especially earlier in life, it is essential to learn the ‘language of money’. Once mastered, your world is simply bigger because you are confident.
For instance, every day on the news, we hear updates such as “today the FTSE closed up or closed down”, “ the pound is strong against the euro or up against the Yen”, or “the Bank of England is increasing interest rates”. This isn’t news for a handful of elderly men in pinstripes in their west end clubs - it’s for all of us – and especially for the woman thinking about using her ISA to pay for additional tutoring for a child, or treating herself to that girl’s weekend in Paris, or worrying if the mortgage payments will mean the loss of Netflix!
So, empower yourself - there is no substitute for simply wanting to know what it all means and then seek out the meaning and detail in what you hear. Start by asking people who you trust about how they’ve built their financial stability, but don’t just ask them what an ISA or LISA is - instead, ask them; “what does it do, where I can get one, and who can guide me”
On what inspires her work
Many of my clients have been through troubles which they have only survived because of their financial resilience - they inspire me to do the job.
There are also many who have reached out fearing all is lost, only for me to explain why things may not be as dark as they think and there is a way to cover that liability that is keeping them awake at night! When I see the sudden release of stress simply from knowing ‘we can do something’ I feel as elated as they do; this is always inspiring.
I also work with a great team! A misconception about financial advisers is that we somehow work in isolation. To build our clients’ financial resilience and lead them on their journey to financial stability takes a great team, one where we support the client and one another.
It is essential to learn the ‘language of money’. Once mastered, your world is simply bigger because you are confident.
On encouraging more women in finance
Now is the time to join us!
There are somewhere near 67 million people in the UK, whilst there were just 27,941 financial advisers in December 2023. The opportunity for longevity in role is unparalleled.
More and more women are joining the profession and as this happens, the earnings potential for women has changed dramatically. Since 2021 average earnings for women in the industry has gone up 52% versus 14% for men - proof if you needed it that the more of us that are in, the more resilient we become.
Not only is this profession one that is a natural role for women, but it is also one that at policy level, is being influenced by the real-life experience of women, and where services and financial tools are being tailored to the life aspirations of women.
Liz’s top tips to help you improve your financial skills and security
- Educate yourself
- Invest early
- Create a budget and review regularly
- Protect yourself with insurance
- Negotiate for better pay and benefits in your working life
Contact us for assistance
We hope you have enjoyed this conversation with Liz and have learned some valuable tips on how to get started on your financial journey. Liz is a member of MHA Wealth, our national team of financial planners. Please contact us with any questions or learn more about our financial planning services here.
Important information
MHA Wealth is the trading name of MHA Wealth Ltd, a company registered in England (1916615) with registered office at The Pinnacle, 150 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 1LZ. MHA Wealth is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with registered number 143715 and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. MHA Wealth is a member of the MHA group. Further information on the MHA group can be found at https://www.mha.co.uk/about-mha-group
This communication is for general information only, is a marketing communication, and is not intended to be individual investment advice, a recommendation, tax, or legal advice. The views expressed in this article are those of MHA Wealth or its staff and should not be considered as advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a particular investment or product. In particular, the information provided will not address your personal circumstances, objectives, and attitude towards risk.
