Building Your Financial Dream Team—Must-Have Advisors for Women
Glory Gray dives into the importance of building your financial dream team.
As a woman navigating your financial future, you don’t have to do it alone. Glory explains how you can take the CEO role in your financial life and surround yourself with the right professionals to help you succeed.
Glory walks you through the five key people every woman should have in her corner. She discusses the benefits of each and what to look for to find the best team member for you.
If you're unsure where to start or feel overwhelmed by the process, don’t worry — you can build your team at your own pace. Glory shares practical advice and even offers a free tool, the Financial Dream Team Checklist, to help you take the first step in creating the support system you need to make confident financial decisions.
Ready to stop flying solo? Read on for insights that will empower you to build the financial life you deserve.
Table of Contents
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Building Your Financial Dream Team
Must-Have Advisors for Women
Why You Need a Financial Team
Here’s the thing: women are incredibly resourceful. We figure things out. We search online. We talk to friends. We gather snippets from podcasts, social media, and the odd article we bookmarked months ago.
But when it comes to building real, lasting wealth — especially in this stage of life — doing it all yourself just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Think of it like your health. You wouldn’t diagnose and treat everything yourself, right? You’d call your doctor, maybe a specialist, maybe even a physiotherapist. It’s the same with your finances. You deserve that same level of professional support.
And no — you don’t need to be wealthy to start working with a financial planner, accountant, or lawyer. Often, building your wealth starts by working with them.
Because when you have the right financial team around you, you save money, reduce stress, and avoid those painful, often costly, mistakes. But maybe even more important — you start to feel more confident. You make decisions faster. You feel clearer. When your mind is clear, you start thinking bigger. You start believing in yourself, and that’s what you want.
Who Belongs on Your Financial Team
Let’s walk through the key members of your dream team. And don't worry — this doesn’t mean hiring five people tomorrow. Think of this as a menu. You’ll add the right people at the right time.
Financial Planner or Financial Advisor
This is your go-to person for the big picture — retirement goals, investment strategies, planning for real estate, education costs, or even how to structure your budget so you can breathe a little easier.
A good advisor doesn’t just hand you a one-size-fits-all plan. They listen. They get to know your goals — and what you’re worried about. Maybe you’re recently divorced. Maybe you're looking at early retirement. Maybe an inheritance is coming and you’re not sure how to handle it. Maybe you haven’t had a recent change in your life at all but you’re feeling stuck or unsure how to prioritize your financial goals. These are the times when a financial advisor can help. They help you make a plan for all of it.
If you ever feel like you’re being talked down to or sold something you don’t understand — walk away. That’s not the advisor for you. No jargon, no judgement.
You do want someone to hold you accountable, accountable for the goals you’ve set for yourself. But they shouldn’t be pushing investment products you don’t understand, or have a lack of transparency about how they’re paid or make you feel fearful, like you’re too late to start making a difference in your financial life.
Accountant or Tax Professional
Taxes aren’t just about filing a return every April. For many women over 45, tax planning becomes more complex. Maybe you’ve got investment income, several properties, or you're self-employed. Or maybe you're supporting aging parents and wondering what tax deductions and credits might be available to you.
A solid accountant helps you keep more of your money, legally and ethically. And they should be more than a data-entry machine. The best ones will say, “Hey, have you thought about doing this differently next year?”
If your accountant only shows up once a year and surprises you with a bill you weren’t expecting — it’s time to start asking better questions or finding someone who fits you better.
Estate Lawyer
Okay, deep breath — no one loves thinking about wills and powers of attorney, but they matter so much. If you don’t have these things in place — or if they’re outdated — now is the time to take care of these.
Whether you own property with your spouse, or are separating from a partner, you want someone who understands the emotional and legal nuances that come with being a woman.
Look for someone who speaks clearly, respects your values, and helps you make decisions you feel good about. If they start throwing legalese at you without explanation or try to rush your choices, that’s a red flag.
Insurance Advisors
Let’s talk about protection. If you or people you care about rely on your income, insurance can be a real safety net. And if you’re self-employed or a business owner, it’s non-negotiable.
But — and this is a big but — not all insurance advisors are created equal. Some work for one company and can only sell you what they offer. You want someone who compares different insurance providers and helps you understand what you’re buying.
By the way, I say insurance “advisors” not just one “advisor,” because in Canada, advisors who handle property and liability insurance are licensed differently than those who sell life and disability insurance. They’re usually separate advisors and often completely separate companies, so know that going in.
You want advisors who can take a good look at all the areas of your life where there might be risk–risk of loss of income, risk of life, risk of property, risk of lawsuits. They should be able to look at these and find ways to reduce that risk for you.
If they push expensive policies you don’t need or dodge your questions? Move on. You need clarity, not pressure.
Financial Therapist (optional)
Now, this one’s not traditional — but I’ve seen firsthand how transformational it can be.
If you’ve ever thought, “I know what I should be doing with money… I just can’t seem to do it,” that’s where a financial therapist might help.
If you think you have some stories in your life that are keeping you from achieving your goals, they dig into the why behind that — fear, guilt, scarcity, or maybe that deep-seated belief that it’s too late for you to build wealth. (Spoiler: It’s not too late.)
These professionals help you rewrite those stories and start moving forward again — especially during major transitions like divorce, retirement, or receiving an inheritance.
Look for someone who has credentials in therapy or coaching with a money focus. They should be someone you feel safe being honest with and they shouldn’t be making promises that sound too good to be true.
How to Build Your Team
Start small. You don’t need to assemble the whole team overnight. Pick one area that feels like the biggest source of stress or confusion. Maybe it’s tax time and you need a better accountant. Or maybe you’re thinking ahead to retirement and want to sit down with a financial planner.
Think of this like building your personal board of directors. You want people around you who are smart, who have your back, and who respect your goals. Be clear about your values. Your team should support your version of success.
Ask friends. Talk to other women in similar life stages. And don’t be afraid to interview professionals before hiring them.
If you want some help on what to ask them, you can download my free guide, 12 Smart Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Wealth Advisor.
Summary
You are the CEO of your financial life. Whether you’re starting over, starting fresh, or simply ready to take things to the next level — every CEO needs a team.
You don’t have to do it alone anymore.
You deserve advice that’s personalized, respectful, and free from judgment. And if something hasn’t felt quite right financially? That’s not a sign you’ve failed. That’s a sign you’re ready for support.
Action Steps
This week, take 10 minutes. Write down the professionals you currently have in your corner — accountant, lawyer, planner, anyone.
Then ask yourself: Where are the gaps?
Is there one person you’ve been meaning to find? Maybe this is the month you book that consultation. Or maybe it’s time to check in with your current team and make sure they still fit the woman you’re becoming.
Now, I promised you a free gift today. And here it is: Download your free Financial Dream Team Checklist. It’s a tool that can help you build the team that works for you. And it’s absolutely free, as my gift to you.
If you need some help on your financial journey, particularly if you’re someone age 45 and beyond and need a financial planner to help you with this next phase of life, our office is accepting new clients this year. So, if you live in Canada and want to get serious about getting your financial house in order, go to GloryGray.com and get in touch with me.
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