Money, Taxes, and Power: What Every Woman Should Know

Key takeaways from Tina Mistry, CFP®, at the 2026 Central California Women’s Conference

What does financial power mean to you?

For some women, it may mean having the confidence to ask questions about their investments. For others, it may mean saving for retirement, preparing for a life transition, or knowing where to find important financial documents.

During her presentation, “Money, Taxes, & Power: What Every Woman Should Know,” at the 2026 Central California Women’s Conference, Tina Mistry, CFP®, CEO and Senior Financial Advisor at Portfolio Advisors Inc., encouraged women to think about financial power as having options and the ability to make informed choices.

You don’t need to know everything about money to get started. Knowing where you stand, asking questions, and taking one step at a time can make a meaningful difference.

Here are some of the ideas Tina shared during her presentation.

Know Your Financial Life

A good starting point is understanding the basics of your financial life: what you own, what you owe, and where important information is kept.

Whether you are single, married, divorced, widowed, or navigating another life transition, you should be able to participate in the financial decisions that affect you.

Consider creating a one-page financial inventory that includes:

• Bank, investment, and retirement accounts
• Debts and ongoing financial obligations
• Insurance policies and beneficiary designations
• Estate planning documents and where they are stored
• Contact information for your financial and legal professionals

You don’t need to memorize every detail. The goal is to know what exists and where to find it when you need it.

Take the next step: Set aside time to create or update your financial inventory. Keep it somewhere secure and make sure the appropriate people know how to access it.

Build Simple Financial Habits

Many of us have financial goals we intend to work on when life slows down. We want to save more, review our accounts, or finally update those beneficiary forms.

But life gets busy, and good intentions can easily be pushed aside. Creating a simple system can make those goals easier to follow through on.

For example:

• Set up an automatic transfer to savings each payday.
• Review your retirement contributions once a year.
• Add a reminder to check your beneficiaries.
• Schedule a recurring financial check-in with your spouse or partner.

Take the next step: Choose one financial task you can automate or add to your calendar this month.

Make Room for Your Own Future

Women often spend a great deal of time caring for the people around them. That care is meaningful, but it’s also important to make room for your own financial future.

If you have access to a retirement plan through work, take time to understand how it works and whether your employer offers matching contributions. When you receive a raise, consider whether you can direct a portion of it toward retirement savings.

For women who have taken time away from work for caregiving or other reasons, retirement planning may require a different approach. Depending on your circumstances, a spousal IRA may be an option to discuss with your financial or tax professional.

There may be seasons when saving more simply isn’t possible. The goal is to keep your future part of the conversation and revisit your plan as circumstances change.

Take the next step: Review your current retirement contribution. If it fits your budget, consider increasing it by 1%, or set a date to review it again.

If You Work for Yourself, Explore Your Retirement Options

Business owners, consultants, and self-employed professionals often put considerable time and resources into building their businesses. It’s also important to consider how you are building financial security outside of the business.

Depending on your situation, retirement savings options may include a solo 401(k), SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or another type of plan. The right choice depends on factors such as your income, business structure, whether you have employees, and your goals.

Take the next step: Ask your CPA or financial planner which retirement plan options may be appropriate for your business.

Think About Taxes Throughout the Year

For many people, taxes come to mind when it’s time to gather documents and file a return. But there is value in thinking about taxes before filing season.

Tax preparation looks at what has already happened. Tax planning considers how decisions you make today may affect your future tax situation.

Some topics to review with a tax professional may include:

• Tax withholding or estimated payments
• Pre-tax and Roth retirement contributions
• The timing of investment sales
• Charitable giving
• Retirement withdrawal strategies

Taxes are only one part of a financial decision, but understanding their potential impact ahead of time can help you make a more informed choice.

Take the next step: Before year-end, ask your tax professional whether there are any areas of your financial plan that would benefit from a review.

Prepare for Life’s Changes Before They Happen

Illness, divorce, the loss of a loved one, or a move can bring financial decisions at an already difficult time. While you can’t plan for every possibility, getting organized in advance can help you and your family know where to turn.

Consider whether you know:

• Where your important documents are located
• Who is listed as beneficiary on your accounts and insurance policies
• How your accounts are titled
• What insurance coverage you have
• Which professionals or family members you would contact for help

If you share financial responsibilities with a spouse or partner, make time for both of you to understand the household’s financial picture. One person may handle the day-to-day details, but both should know where to find important information.

Take the next step: Have one conversation about where your accounts, documents, and key contacts are located.

Focus on What You Can Control

Market headlines, inflation, interest rates, and changes in tax laws can create uncertainty. While you can’t control those things, you can decide how you prepare and respond.

Depending on your circumstances, that may mean reviewing your savings, making sure your investment approach still aligns with your goals, or talking with your advisor before making a significant change.

A financial plan can help you distinguish between news that deserves your attention and news that calls for action.

Take the next step: Write down one financial concern that is outside your control. Then identify one action you can take in response.

Protect Your Time and Energy, Too

Financial well-being includes more than the balance in your accounts. Your time and energy are resources, too.

Tina encouraged attendees to consider a financial “not-to-do” list alongside the usual to-do list. It might include:

• Checking investments less frequently
• Reviewing subscriptions you no longer use
• Saying no to an obligation that doesn’t fit your priorities
• Asking for help with a task you have been putting off

Simplifying one area of your financial life can make it easier to focus on what matters most to you.

Take the next step: Identify one financial task, expense, or obligation you can simplify, delegate, or eliminate.

Recognize the Signs of Financial Abuse

Financial independence also includes having access to information and being able to participate in decisions that affect your life.

Financial abuse can take many forms. It may include being denied access to accounts, being pressured to take on debt, having spending closely controlled, or being prevented from working. It can also involve someone hiding assets or intentionally keeping another person uninformed about household finances.

If any of this sounds familiar to you or someone you care about, consider speaking privately with a trusted person or a confidential support resource when it is safe to do so.

You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out Alone

Financial decisions can touch many areas of your life, and no one is expected to be an expert in all of them.

A financial planner, CPA, estate planning attorney, insurance professional, or workplace benefits representative can each help with different parts of your financial picture. Working with the right people can also help you understand how those pieces fit together.

Asking for help is a way to become more informed and make decisions with greater confidence.

Take the next step: Make a list of the professionals already in your corner and consider whether there is an area where you could use additional guidance.

Choose Two Steps to Get Started

At the end of her presentation, Tina asked attendees to choose two actions they could take. You don’t have to tackle everything at once.

Your two steps might be:

• Increasing your retirement contribution
• Reviewing your beneficiaries
• Locating or creating estate planning documents
• Checking your Social Security record
• Automating a transfer to savings
• Talking with your family about money
• Scheduling a financial planning conversation

Choose the steps that matter most to you, write down when you’ll take them, and give yourself room to make progress at your own pace.

Financial confidence grows as you learn more about your options and take part in the decisions that shape your life. Wherever you are starting, there is a next step you can take.

Ready to start a conversation? At Portfolio Advisors Inc., we help individuals and families bring the pieces of their financial lives together. Visit our website to learn more.

Watch the Presentation and FAQ

Would you like to learn more? Watch Tina Mistry’s “Money, Taxes, & Power: What Every Woman Should Know” presentation from the 2026 Central California Women’s Conference.

You can also watch the FAQ video, where Tina answers questions from attendees and continues the conversation about financial planning.

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