Empowered Ladies & Gents of Orange County

What a great day to educate and answer investor questions—it's a core part of what I love to do. If you would like to join us next time, please send a PM or email to [email protected]
to be added to the invitation list!

“Steeped in good conversation, our Beacon Pointe Pasadena team partnered with Charles Schwab to host a high tea at the Huntington Gardens for women investors in their community.

Managing Director and Partner Vanessa Burnett, CFP®, Senior Wealth Advisor Debra Curry, CFP®, and Wealth Advisor Courtney McCutchan, CDFA®, CFP® led the group through our allWEALTH® process and shared examples of how we help clients with customized solutions and multi-generational financial planning.

Thank you to everyone who came to the event!”

"Necessity is the MOTHER of Invention" — Literally! 🙌
Every time I sit down with my female clients, I notice something powerful: women are natural problem-solvers. They walk in already thinking "What could go wrong, and how do I fix it?"
That instinct is exactly what makes women exceptional at building financial security.
The greatest inventions in history were born from identifying a need and filling it — your financial plan should work the same way. Spot the gaps. Build the solution.
That problem-solving mindset you already have? It's your greatest financial superpower. 💡

What's one financial "problem" you've been meaning to solve? Drop it in the comments — I'd love to hear!

Alaska — truly a cruise of a lifetime.

I had the privilege of helping my client plan a National Geographic cruise to Alaska for 14 family members—including a strategy to allow her to make it financially possible for all. She shared the photos with me yesterday, and they say it all:

A brother-in-law who was able to go as respite while caring for his wife.

Five teenage cousins who bonded in ways that will last a lifetime.

Moments that went far beyond a vacation.

Now? They’re already talking about how to do it again.

This is why I love what I do.

A parent/grandparent passes away, and the family discovers secret accounts! WHAT??
No one knew the money existed, where it was, or how it was titled. Now there may be messy legal and emotional consequences. Nobody should be forced to deal with more complications while mourning your loved one!
I’ve seen families forced into court due to mistitled accounts The process was long, miserable, expensive, and completely avoidable.
PRO TIP:
Signing your estate plan (wills & a trust) is not the last step! There are more steps and better to be proactive now. Plus you need to share enough information so your family isn’t left with a mess on their hands. Most adult children over 25 can handle this information—and certainly those older. Mine do- they are 27 and 30.
At a minimum, families should know:
Who are the trustees
Who are the beneficiaries (for assets AND family heirlooms)
Who has Medical Power of Attorney (who should each have an electronic copy)
One hard truth:
Don’t expect family members to become mature at the time of death. Old childhood resentments will resurface, even in the best families.

If you aren't sure or have questions, we help our clients identify steps they may have overlooked. We can help!
Thoughtful information sharing during life can significantly reduce confusion, resentment, and conflict later.
Estate planning isn’t just about documents—it’s about communication.
hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

You can also follow on Instagram to see more.

Empowered Ladies & Gents

Happy New Tax Year (already!). 💁‍♀️ The PERFECT time for a quick look at your 2025 tax picture and discover if any new tax rules may help you pay LESS!

I’m spending this season meeting with clients (and their tax advisors) to be sure their strategy truly works for them—and that they’re not paying too much.

Recently, we showed a new client that she was overpaying every year simply because of how her RMDs were set up. A few small changes helped her save on taxes and qualify for a much larger Senior Credit ( new for 2025).

When was the last time anyone reviewed your tax strategy? 😊

7 Big Tax Changes for 2026 What to know about the new deductions from the One Big Beautiful Bill

Hello! I’m Debra Curry, a CFP® with over 30 years of experience in the financial industry. My passion is helping you build true financial confidence—no matter where you’re starting from.
This community is a supportive space where you can learn, grow, and make empowered decisions about your financial life. Welcome!

Daniel Pink: Here are 5 things I wish I knew at 21 (now that I’m 61):

1. Don’t work with jerks.

Even if they’re smart or well-connected—jerks will drain you. They’ll ruin your energy, your progress, your joy.

2. Shortcuts are scams.

If it’s meaningful, it’ll take time. The “quick route” usually leads nowhere—or backwards.

3. Nobody’s watching you.

You think people are judging you. They’re not. They’re too busy thinking about themselves.

4. You’ll regret inaction more than action.

It’s the jobs you didn’t go for… the risks you didn’t take… that will haunt you.

5. Build a body of work—not just a résumé.

In the long run, people don’t hire credentials. They hire evidence. Proof. Work that speaks for itself.


If you’re in your 20s, steal this list.

I’ve had 40 years to earn it.

My company, Beacon Pointe, is running a short survey to better understand how women think about and manage their finances. It takes only a few minutes, is completely anonymous, and will help shape future research and resources.

Our goal is 10,000 responses by the end of February—we’re still about 3,000 away.

✨ For every 1,000 responses, we’ll donate $1,000 to Girls Who Invest.
✨ After completing the survey, you’ll be entered to win prizes including a Louis Vuitton handbag, Dyson Airwrap, LED face mask, Bose headphones, an estate plan, or a financial plan. (Or choose a charitable contribution or gift card instead.)

Please take the survey and share it with at least 10 women you know:

🔗 https://herworthinsights.com/

Thank you for helping amplify women’s voices and experiences around wealth, work, and worth. I look forward to sharing the results!

Her Worth Insights We know based on experience that women are missing out on an opportunity to improve their financial future. There is an opportunity to rewrite the money work playbook – with real data on how women…

Prices are rising in ways that are easy to miss if you’re not paying attention—return windows cut in half, mail-in returns used to be free now come with fees, and more subtle changes are happening all the time.

It’s the same with personal finance. Many people make decisions based on rules that no longer apply. One of my most important roles is keeping clients up to date: changes in tax law, estate planning rules, and retirement-saving strategies can make a meaningful difference in their long-term financial outcomes.

So ask yourself: who’s looking out for you? A DIY approach can easily overlook important updates, and missing them can be costly

Holiday returns got worse while you weren’t looking: what changed at big retailers Return policies are tightening fast: shorter windows at places like Sephora and Ulta and stricter fine print, even if returns still run into January

Empowered Ladies & Gents is now on Instagram!

Join us today!📲

Empowered Ladie$ & Gent$ (@empowered_ladies_and_gents) • Instagram photos and videos 10 Followers, 14 Following, 3 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Empowered Ladie$ & Gent$ ()