Owning Your Future: Why Women Must Make Themselves a Priority
Updated: Oct 12
Reflections from the 2026 WLP Fall Symposium on financial independence, life planning, and the importance of investing in your own future.
Women are often the planners, caregivers, problem-solvers, and steady support systems in the lives of those around them. We manage careers, raise children, support spouses, care for aging parents, and make countless decisions to ensure the people we love are taken care of.
But in the process of caring for everyone else, how often do we put our own futures on hold?
This was one of the most meaningful and recurring themes during “Owning Your Future: Financial & Life Planning for Women Living and Thriving Independently,” a panel discussion at the 2026 WLP Fall Symposium hosted by USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy.
Moderated by Kimberly Sikorski, Co-Founder of BEKS Business Services, the discussion featured panelists Monique Hayes, Sara Kamperman, and Amanda Stevens, who shared professional insights and personal perspectives on financial independence, preparedness, and planning for life's transitions.
Although the conversation explored everything from retirement savings and investing to estate planning and long-term care, one message continued to emerge across all three panelists:
Women spend so much time preparing for the needs of others that they often postpone planning for themselves.
When Everyone Else Comes First
For many women, putting others first becomes second nature.
We make sure our children have what they need. We support our spouses and partners. We help aging parents navigate medical appointments, financial decisions, and changing care needs. We manage households, careers, and responsibilities that seem to grow with every passing year.
Meanwhile, our own retirement planning, healthcare directives, financial organization, and long-term security can become things we'll address later.
But when exactly is later?
One of the important messages from the panel was that taking care of ourselves financially is not selfish. It is a necessary part of creating a secure and intentional future.
Just as we advocate for the needs of those we love, we must learn to advocate for our own.
Financial Planning Is More Than Managing Money
A central topic of the discussion was the difference between having a financial plan and having a life plan.
Financial planning often focuses on numbers: income, savings, investments, debt, and retirement accounts.
Life planning asks broader questions.
What do I want my future to look like? How might my circumstances change? Who will make decisions for me if I am unable to make them myself? What resources and relationships will I need as I grow older?
A meaningful financial plan should support the answers to those questions.
Whether someone is single by choice, married, divorced, widowed, or navigating another chapter of life, financial decisions should reflect personal goals, responsibilities, and values.
The goal is not simply to accumulate financial resources. It is to create the freedom, security, and confidence to make choices about how we live.
Financial Independence Begins With Being Informed
Financial independence does not necessarily mean handling every financial responsibility alone.
It means understanding your financial circumstances and actively participating in decisions that affect your future.
That includes knowing where your accounts are held, understanding your assets and liabilities, reviewing insurance coverage, and being familiar with important financial and legal documents.
Too often, major life events such as divorce, illness, or the death of a spouse become the catalyst for taking a closer look at these matters.
The panel reinforced the importance of becoming informed before circumstances require it.
Taking an active role in your financial life today can make navigating tomorrow's challenges less overwhelming.
Planning for the Unexpected
Estate planning and long-term care were also important parts of the discussion.
Many people associate estate planning with significant wealth, marriage, or having children. But planning for healthcare decisions, financial responsibilities, and the management of personal assets is relevant to adults in many different circumstances.
Similarly, long-term care is an issue that often receives attention only when a family member begins needing assistance.
For women who have spent years caring for parents or other loved ones, these conversations can be particularly meaningful.
Who would help care for you if the need arose? Have you communicated your wishes? Do you understand your options and the potential financial implications?
These may not be easy conversations, but having them proactively can provide clarity and help reduce uncertainty.
Surround Yourself With the Right Advisors
Another recurring theme was the value of finding trusted professionals who understand your individual needs and priorities.
Financial advisors, estate planning attorneys, insurance professionals, and other qualified experts can play important roles in developing a comprehensive plan.
However, selecting an advisor should be about more than credentials or financial products.
It should involve trust, communication, and the ability to ask questions without feeling intimidated or dismissed.
The panel explored how different experiences with financial advisors can shape a woman's confidence in financial decision-making.
Women should feel empowered to seek professionals who listen, explain their recommendations clearly, and understand the life goals behind their financial decisions.
Being financially independent doesn't mean doing everything yourself. It means being an informed participant in the decisions being made.
Making Yourself a Priority Starts With Small Steps
Taking ownership of your future doesn't require having every answer today.
It can begin with simple, intentional actions:
Review your financial accounts and understand your current financial position.
Evaluate your retirement savings and long-term goals.
Review insurance coverage and consider potential future care needs.
Make sure important estate planning and healthcare documents are in place or discuss them with qualified professionals.
Organize essential records so they are accessible when needed.
Identify trusted advisors who can help you make informed decisions.
Set aside time regularly to review your own financial and personal priorities.
Most importantly, recognize that your future deserves a place on your list of responsibilities—not somewhere at the bottom.
Empowerment Through Conversation and Connection
The 2026 WLP Fall Symposium brought together women with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives to share knowledge and encourage meaningful conversations.
The event also featured actress and author Kimberly Williams-Paisley as its special guest speaker.
For Kimberly Sikorski, moderating the financial preparedness panel was an opportunity to participate in a conversation that extends well beyond finances. It was about helping women recognize the importance of their own well-being, choices, and long-term security.
At BEKS Business Services, we believe leadership includes sharing knowledge, supporting others, and contributing to conversations that strengthen our communities.
The insights shared by all three panelists reinforced a message worth remembering:
You can spend your life taking care of the people you love, but you must also make time to take care of yourself.
Because owning your future begins with recognizing that your future matters, too.
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