Financial planning often begins with a deeply personal question that many women know well: “Am I going to be OK?”
It’s a question thatVolare Wealthoften hears, especially from women managing major life transitions, such as divorce, widowhood, retirement, or career change. These moments are rarely just financial; they’re emotional and logistical, as well as deeply intertwined with family, health, and identity.
ForChris Wedell, a financial advisor with two decades of experience, that reality has shaped both her career and approach.
“Women carry an enormous mental load,” she says. “They’re managing households, careers, caregiving, and often their parents’ needs, too. Money becomes the No. 1 stressor, because it touches all of it.”
A Different Kind of Financial Conversation
Wedell’s path into the financial industry was personal. Growing up in a household where money was a constant source of stress, she became determined to understand it, not just to improve her own circumstances but to break a cycle. Along the way, she discovered something that continues to drive her work today.
“The financial services industry hasn’t always spoken to women in a way that resonates,” she explains. “So much of the language is about beating the market or chasing returns. Women tend to think about money differently. They want to understand it. They want to know how it supports their values, their families, and their future.”
That insight led Wedell to co-foundStrongHer Money®, an educational platform designed to help women engage with their finances in a way that feels accessible and relevant. The platform uses newsletters, podcasts, and events to build education and connection in place of intimidation.
Listening First, Planning Second
At Volare Wealth, the work often begins not with a spreadsheet but with listening. “People want to be heard,” Wedell says. “But more than that, they want to know someone genuinely cares.”
That listening becomes especially important for women coming out of major transitions. After a divorce or the loss of a spouse, many arrive with uncertainty about what they own, where assets are held, or what life might look like on the other side. “The waiting and the not knowing is often the hardest part,” Wedell explains. “Once you can lay everything out, even if it’s not perfect, there’s relief in clarity.”
Financial planning, in this context, becomes a way to take something off a woman’s plate. Clear planning and contingencies help Wedell’s clients manage the mental burden that uncertainty can create. “If we can say, ‘You’re on track here, and here’s what happens if something changes,’ that removes one major source of stress,” she says.
Why Trust Is the Starting Point
Trust remains one of the biggest challenges in the financial industry, particularly for women who often feel excluded from the conversation. Wedell notes that a significant percentage of women change financial advisors after the loss of a spouse, a statistic that she finds deeply troubling.
“That tells me they never truly felt connected in the first place,” she says. “My goal is for clients to feel supported long before a crisis ever happens.”
The guidance is not limited to finances. Clients often seek Wedell’s input on life decisions that affect their financial picture. “Those are money conversations, but they’re also life conversations,” she says. “You can’t separate the two.”
Supporting Women Throughout Their Financial Journey
In addition to one-on-one planning, Wedell and her team regularly host educational and community events focused on issues that women face, including financial confidence, wellness, and the invisible mental load that many carry. While specific events vary throughout the year, they’re designed to create space for conversation, learning, and connection to other women.
The goal is for women to walk away from these conversations feeling more confident, informed, and supported. “Love isn’t a word you hear often in finance,” she says. “But it matters. We care deeply about the people we work with, and we want them to feel that.”