Financial Confidence
and the Power of Having Options
Our March Power of She event featured thoughtful conversation about financial confidence and the role money plays in creating freedom and flexibility in our lives. Our featured guest, Amanda Petri of Confetti Wealth, guided the discussion with practical insight and a refreshing perspective on buiding wealth. Rather than focusing only on retirement, the conversation centered on something that resonated deeply with many in the room: financial freedom is about having options. For some, that may look like leaving a corporate role to start a business. For others, it could mean stepping back for a season, supporting family priorities, or simply knowing that work and income decisions are being made from a place of strength rather than necessity. Amanda reminded us that confidence with money begins long before retirement planning. It starts with understanding the building blocks that support long term flexibility.
The Foundations of Financial Freedom
These are the core areas that create stability and opportunity during both expected and unexpected life transitions.
Understanding Your Cash Flow
Financial clarity starts with knowing where your money is going each month. One framework shared during the presentation was the 50/30/20 approach, which allocates after tax income toward three priorities.
50 percent for essential living expenses such as housing, transportation, groceries, utilities, and insurance
30 percent for discretionary spending including hobbies, travel, and charitable giving
20 percent directed toward savings goals and debt reduction
While every situation looks different, the framework helps create awareness and encourages intentional decisions about spending and saving. Amanda also highlighted how small recurring expenses can quietly impact long term financial progress. Something as simple as a daily purchased lunch can add up to roughly $2,600 per year, while coffee habits and subscription services often represent another overlooked expense category. The goal is not restriction, but awareness so money can be directed toward what matters most.
Building an Emergency Fund
One of the most important steps toward financial independence is creating a financial buffer. Amanda recommends maintaining three to six months of living expenses in easily accessible cash reserves. These funds are designed to support life’s unexpected moments such as job transitions, medical costs, or urgent home repairs. For those building this fund, even small contributions can make a difference. Saving as little as $5 per day gradually builds momentum and confidence.
Protecting Your Income and Assets
Another key element of financial resilience is ensuring that insurance coverage aligns with your current life stage. Important areas to review regularly include health insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, and home and auto protection. Each plays a role in protecting the financial progress you are working to build.
Creating Tax Flexibility
Tax diversification was another important concept discussed during the event. By holding assets across different types of accounts such as traditional retirement accounts and Roth accounts, individuals can create greater flexibility when planning withdrawals later in life. Amanda also explained how certain lower income years can present opportunities to convert retirement funds into Roth accounts, allowing for potential tax advantages in the future. These decisions often benefit from guidance from a financial advisor and tax professional.
Making Sense of Retirement Accounts
Many women expressed uncertainty around managing multiple retirement accounts across different employers. Amanda walked through common options for handling these accounts, including leaving them with a previous employer, transferring them to a new employer plan, or consolidating them into individual retirement accounts. Understanding how each option affects access, control, and tax treatment is an important step in maintaining an organized financial strategy.
A Room Full of Insightful Questions
As with many of our Power of She events, the most valuable moments often come from the women in the room. Conversations extended beyond retirement planning into topics like career transitions, balancing risk and security, and how financial preparation can create the confidence to pursue new opportunities.
The takeaway echoed throughout the event was simple and powerful.
“Financial planning is not only about preparing for retirement. It is about creating the freedom to make thoughtful decisions throughout your life.”
Resources for Those Who Could Not Attend
If you were unable to join us, consider reviewing these foundational steps discussed during the event:
Track monthly cash flow and identify spending patterns
Build three to six months of emergency savings
Review insurance coverage to protect income and assets
Understand the types of retirement accounts you hold and how they are managed
Explore opportunities for tax diversification with a financial professional
Small steps in each of these areas create stronger financial footing and greater confidence over time.
Continue the Conversation
If you are looking for additional practical insight, check out our next event recap from Joy Henry on Tax Strategy and how to make the most of your annual return. Power of She events are designed to spark thoughtful discussion, provide useful guidance, and connect women who are building meaningful work and lives with intention.
Amanda Petri | Private Wealth Advisor, Confetti Wealth | Power of She Contributor
We love sparking conversations that inspire growth. If this post resonated with you or if you have questions, we'd love to hear from you!📩 confettiwealth@ampf.com
📱 (952) 857-1487
💻 Confetti Wealth Power of She
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