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Why You've Got To Check Out Today's Episode:
Life has a way of throwing curveballs we never see coming. For Anna Felix, founder of Stronghold Partners, that moment came when she was widowed in 2010. Already carrying heavy medical debt from a serious car accident years earlier, she suddenly found herself starting from below zero financially, emotionally, and practically.
What she discovered on that journey is something too many of us overlook: most women and men are unprepared for the unexpected. Insurance gaps, lack of emergency savings, or simply not having a financial plan in place can leave us vulnerable. Even worse, many advisors failed to listen to Anna’s unique situation. One even suggested she just “marry rich,” advice she refused to accept.
Instead of giving up, Anna decided to take matters into her own hands. She dove deep into financial strategies that are not always mainstream, and what she found changed her life. Along the way, she realized she was not alone. Other women were saying, “I didn’t know you could do that. I didn’t know you could grow money tax-free. I didn’t know you could protect yourself from market swings.”
Now, Anna teaches what she calls the 3 S’s of Smart Money. These are practical strategies that help people:
Save consistently, even in small amounts.
Shield themselves from risk with the right tools and planning.
Structure their money to grow in a way that supports the future they want.
Her mission is simple: make sure her clients are always better off after a conversation than before it. That might mean uncovering hidden gaps in a financial plan, showing someone how to build an emergency fund, or helping a newly divorced client face their fear of money head-on. Time and again, Anna has seen how small steps lead to confidence, peace of mind, and even better sleep at night.
The takeaway from her story is powerful: you do not need to have it all figured out or be wealthy to start. You just need to take one step, no matter how small, toward organizing and securing your financial future.
As Anna says, “Often you’re way better off than you think. But even if you’re not, you need to know what to do moving forward. And that is where a plan begins.”
If you are ready to start that conversation, Anna offers a complimentary Smart Money Chat, where you can review your current plan (or lack of one) and discover practical ways to strengthen your financial foundation.