Hi I’m Maura Madden.
I’m a feminist financial planner and educator. I work with midlife women* (30s, 40s, 50s) who are already making a good living, or are stay-at-home moms who want to be financial equals in their relationships. I want you to be able to dream about your future and then make it happen, financially.
And there are so many things conspiring against you…
- The gender wage gap and gender wealth gap
- Inertia caused by financial Overwhelm
- The massive and confusing financial services industry
- Lack of education about money matters
- The mixed messages we receive from society about money
It’s easier to avoid.
I get it. There is an appeal to avoiding things. (Ask me about the state of my closets.)
But the appeal of avoidance is NOTHING compared to the pride and power we feel when we finally do the thing we’re constantly worrying about.
That’s why I help you take control of your money, your future, and your dreams.
Being the boss of your money means upping your financial game — and really, truly getting in the game.
- No more feeling inadequate or intimidated
- No more avoiding
- No more doing the bare minimum
- No more background-worrying all the time
- No more letting other people tell you what to do with your money
This is your money and your life and you get to be in control.
Let’s develop the money know-how you need to plan your financial future…on your terms.
Because women + money = power
Here’s How I’m Different Than a Conventional Financial Planner
- This is about personal-skill-building. My mission is to up-level your financial skills so that you’re in charge of your money. I don’t want you to passively hand over the decisions to me; I want you to know your money and what to do with it, better than anyone.
- This is about your values. To me, money, finances, the stock market and investments are vehicles for what matters to you. They’re not ends in themselves; they’re significant because they make living your values and your dreams possible.
- This is about you getting what you need. Often the focus in financial planning is what the planner finds exciting and important; meanwhile the client’s eyes are glazing over. In my planning process, you are the center. What you need to learn and decide is the focus of our meetings.
- I believe in hand-holding. A lot of planners don’t want to deal with your fears or emotions or shame about money — they don’t think that’s their job. I do. I think money is power that has been systemically withheld from women for generations. So yeah, we’re going to have some emotions about that — and NOT dealing with them is what can derail you and prevent you from implementing your own plan. So it’s CRITICAL that we talk about how you’re feeling and release some of those stories. All that to say: Your whole self is welcome here.
- Context Matters. We need to understand the economic, social, and political systems which surround us. I want to help you understand that a lot of what your navigating isn’t your fault.
- I don’t want to be the boss. I want you to leave this process able to be the boss of your own money and the best money-manager your life has ever seen.
How I Got Here…
Some Facts About Me
- 20+ Years working in the personal finance industry
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation obtained in 2014
- Certificate in Personal Financial Planning, College of Financial Planning
- BA, English from Binghamton University
- MA, Education from New York University
Digging Deeper
Throughout my career I have worked with college students and seniors, with men and women, with experienced and novice investors. I have noticed that often firms and resources are structured in a way that is more accessible to men, leaving women feeling ignored or even inadequate. Money is viewed as an end rather than a means and the personal is largely bypassed in favor of theories and statistics. Many women who are left uninspired, disinterested, and overwhelmed. After years of witnessing these patterns, I have discovered my passion for working with women who feel out of place in the traditional financial advisory world.
Lifelong education is one of my core values. My commitment to education is reflected in my own degrees as well as my experience as both a classroom teacher and an educator, leader, and mentor in corporate spaces. I enjoy learning myself and facilitating the learning of others. There are enough people telling women what to do, I want to help them understand how to do it.
My dedication to feminism began as a child being raised by a single feminist mother. Originally I learned from second wave feminists such as Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, and Naomi Woolf. Over time my knowledge and convictions in this area continue to grow and morph (remember, my commitment to lifelong learning) as I seek to incorporate intersectional feminist practices (h/t Kimberly Crenshaw). I recognize the necessity of viewing feminism in the context of equity and social justice. I am committed to receiving ongoing business coaching from insightful feminists including Kelly Diels, Lauren Elizabeth, and Jessica Lackey. I continue to learn daily from feminists and thought leaders such as Roxanne Gay, Audre Lourde, Adrienne Maree Brown, Bridgid Shulte, C.V. Harquail, Sonya Rene Taylor, and Emily Nagoski.
What all of this means for you
I am invested in helping you to truly understand your personal finances so that you can live your best life. I have the knowledge and experience, you have the desire to take charge (or maybe you just wish you had the desire to take charge, it is all rungs on the same ladder and we can definitely work with that.) Together we will get you set on the right course to achieve your financial goals.