Money is deeply personal. It influences the careers we pursue, the risks we take, the investments we make, the families we support, and the futures we imagine for ourselves.
For women, especially those building careers in dynamic industries such as commercial real estate, the conversation around money is not just about budgeting or investing. It is about confidence, access, education, and having the right guidance at the right time.
That was the focus of a recent conversation led by Laura Fallon-Burns, CFP®, Investment Advisor at Deschutes Investment Consulting, for the NAIOP Oregon Women’s Network, a group dedicated to connection, conversation, and professional growth for women in commercial real estate.
The discussion centered on a question many professionals quietly carry: How do we think about money, how do we talk about it, and how does it show up in our careers, investments, and long-term goals?
Women are engaged investors, but education still matters
According to the Charles Schwab Women Investors Survey 2025, 90% of women investors surveyed said they feel they are on the right track to achieve their financial goals, and 80% said long-term goals are a bigger priority than short-term goals when it comes to investing.
That confidence is encouraging, but the survey also highlights a key tension: many women wish they had started sooner. Schwab found that 85% of women investors surveyed said they wish they had started investing sooner, while 77% said they delayed saving and building wealth because they did not have enough extra earnings to set aside.
For Laura, that is where financial education becomes powerful.
“Many women are already making thoughtful financial decisions,” Laura said. “The opportunity is helping them connect those decisions to a bigger plan so they can see how their career, savings, investments, retirement plan, and long-term goals all work together.”
Talking about money can build confidence
One of the most important takeaways from the Schwab survey is that women are not avoiding financial conversations. In fact, 86% of women investors surveyed said they discuss financial information or advice with others. Most commonly, they discuss money with family and friends, but 22% said they talk with colleagues.
That matters in professional networks like NAIOP Oregon Women’s Network, where women from brokerage, lending, development, architecture, engineering, and related industries come together to learn from one another.
Schwab’s survey found that women discuss financial information for several reasons: to learn new financial information or advice, to support others during financial challenges, and to feel more confident in their financial decisions.
In other words, money conversations are not only about numbers. They are about community, mentorship, and reducing the stigma that can still surround financial decision-making.
The barriers are real
While many women feel optimistic about their financial goals, the barriers they face are also real. Schwab found that the top challenges women investors faced when they first began investing were lack of financial knowledge or education at 54% and limited funds or money at 53%.
Ongoing challenges also affect women’s ability to invest. According to the survey, 31% said lower pay or salary impacted their ability to invest, 20% cited career pauses to care for children or others, and 14% cited fewer job opportunities.
These findings reflect what many professional women already know: financial planning does not happen in a vacuum. Career growth, caregiving, compensation, business ownership, real estate decisions, divorce, inheritance, retirement timing, and family obligations can all shape a woman’s financial life.
That is why Laura encouraged attendees to move beyond isolated financial decisions and begin thinking in terms of a full financial framework.
A practical framework: Know your accounts
One of the core concepts Laura shared was the importance of understanding the different types of accounts that may show up throughout your financial life.
Deschutes’ financial wellness education often begins with what the firm calls the “five financial accounts”: checking and savings accounts, Roth IRAs, Traditional IRAs, brokerage accounts, and workplace retirement plans such as 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plans. The presentation also emphasizes setting SMART goals, understanding debt, learning how credit works, and knowing the difference between types of financial advisors.
For professional women, this account structure can help organize financial decisions into clearer categories:
Cash and emergency savings help cover living expenses, short-term needs, and unexpected costs.
Workplace retirement plans may provide tax advantages and, in some cases, employer matching contributions.
Roth and Traditional IRAs can support long-term retirement savings outside of an employer plan.
Brokerage accounts may help build wealth for goals that do not fit neatly into retirement accounts.
The goal is not to make everyone an expert overnight. The goal is to help women understand what they have, what each account is designed to do, and how those accounts can support their future.
Investing can be empowering
The Schwab survey found that 91% of women investors surveyed said managing their investments gives them a feeling of empowerment, and 83% said investing is something they enjoy.
Those numbers challenge the outdated idea that women are hesitant or disengaged when it comes to investing. In reality, many women are thoughtful, disciplined, and long-term oriented investors.
Schwab found that women identified patience, discipline, consistency, and planning as key investing strengths. The top investing lessons women reported learning included staying invested through market volatility, understanding risk tolerance, diversifying, reviewing investments regularly, and creating a plan.
These principles align closely with the kind of financial education Deschutes brings to clients: helping people understand their options, make informed decisions, and stay grounded through changing markets and life transitions.
Why guidance matters
The Schwab survey also found that many women prefer a blended approach to financial decision-making. Forty-two percent said they prefer a combination of doing their own research and working with financial professionals, while 33% prefer relying on the guidance of financial professionals.
That is where the role of an advisor can be especially meaningful.
A good advisor should help clients understand their financial picture, ask better questions, clarify tradeoffs, and make decisions that align with their goals. For women navigating demanding careers, family responsibilities, compensation decisions, real estate investments, retirement planning, or business ownership, that guidance can provide both structure and confidence.
Deschutes Investment Consulting is an independent SEC-registered financial advisory firm founded in 1997. The firm works with individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plan sponsors, with a focus on financial literacy, long-term planning, and unbiased advice.
Start with the conversation
For Laura, the message is simple: talking about money is not something to avoid. It is one of the first steps toward greater clarity.
Money conversations can help women understand what they want, what they already have in place, and what gaps may need attention. They can also help normalize the fact that many people are still learning, still building, and still figuring out how to connect their day-to-day financial choices with their long-term goals.
Whether the conversation starts with a retirement plan, an investment account, a career decision, a real estate opportunity, or a question about how to get started, the most important step is often the first one.
Because financial confidence is not built all at once. It is built through education, thoughtful planning, and the willingness to ask better questions.
Ready to have a more thoughtful conversation about your financial future?
Laura Fallon-Burns, CFP®, and the Deschutes Investment Consulting team help individuals and families understand their financial picture, plan for the future, and make informed decisions with confidence. Contact Deschutes to start the conversation.
FAQ
Why is it important for women to talk about money?
Talking about money helps women build financial confidence, ask better questions, and make more informed decisions about saving, investing, career growth, retirement planning, and long-term financial independence.
What financial topics should professional women be thinking about?
Professional women should consider cash flow, emergency savings, workplace retirement plans, investment accounts, debt, credit, insurance, estate planning, compensation, career transitions, and long-term goals. These areas often work together and should be viewed as part of a larger financial plan.
How can women become more confident investors?
Women can build investing confidence by learning the basics, understanding their account types, setting clear goals, staying invested through market changes, diversifying appropriately, and working with a financial advisor when they need guidance.
What are the most common barriers women face when investing?
Common barriers include lack of financial education, limited extra income to invest, lower pay, career pauses, caregiving responsibilities, and uncertainty about where to start. Financial planning can help women identify these challenges and create a strategy around them.
What types of accounts should women understand?
Women should understand checking and savings accounts, workplace retirement plans such as 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plans, Roth IRAs, Traditional IRAs, and brokerage accounts. Each account has a different role in saving, investing, taxes, and long-term planning.
Why does financial planning matter for women in commercial real estate?
Women in commercial real estate may have variable income, bonuses, commissions, equity opportunities, real estate investments, or ownership potential. Financial planning can help align career growth, cash flow, taxes, investing, and long-term wealth-building decisions.
How can a workplace retirement plan help women build wealth?
A workplace retirement plan allows employees to save and invest consistently for retirement. Many plans also offer tax advantages and may include employer matching contributions, which can be an important part of long-term wealth building.
What should women ask before working with a financial advisor?
Women should ask whether the advisor is a fiduciary, how the advisor is compensated, what services are included, how often the plan is reviewed, and whether the advisor can help with planning beyond investments, such as retirement, taxes, estate planning, and life transitions.
How does Deschutes Investment Consulting support financial education?
Deschutes Investment Consulting focuses on helping individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plan participants understand their financial options, ask better questions, and make thoughtful decisions through education-centered financial guidance.
Who is Laura Fallon-Burns, CFP®?
Laura Fallon-Burns, CFP®, is an Investment Advisor at Deschutes Investment Consulting. She helps clients think through financial planning, investing, and long-term decision-making with a focus on education, clarity, and confidence.
Source: https://content.schwab.com/web/retail/public/about-schwab/charles-schwab-women-investors-survey-2025_findings.pdf