The Empowered Mom’s Financial Freedom Blueprint

Learn from the past. Live in the present. Create the future.

Structure Your Savings to Last a Lifetime

You’re juggling a lot—career, kids, spouse, household, and a never-ending to-do list. That’s why our process is designed to lift the financial burden from your shoulders and replace it with clarity, strategy, and peace of mind. In just a few focused meetings, we’ll help you turn freed-up daycare cash into a plan that supports your goals now and 30 years from now.

After becoming a mom herself, Marisa saw firsthand how overwhelming it can be to manage a career, raise a family, and stay on top of finances. After working with countless professional women facing the same challenges, she realized they didn’t just need financial advice, they needed someone who understood their reality. That’s what inspired her to create The Empowered Mom’s Financial Freedom Blueprint.

It’s not just about numbers and spreadsheets. It’s about empowering women to take control of their financial futures, to feel confident and secure in their decisions, and to finally free up the mental space to focus on what matters most: raising thriving kids and excelling in their careers. Because we believe that when moms thrive, families thrive, and our communities thrive too. Our Empowered Mom’s Financial Freedom Blueprint is a personalized strategy that guides you through 9 simple steps to get you where you need to be.

“I help high-earning working moms turn the end of daycare expenses into a confident financial strategy—one that protects their families, builds long-term wealth, and frees them from financial stress.”

— Marisa Menzel

Empowered Mom’s Financial Freedom Blueprint

Phase 1: Clarity & Connection
Our journey begins with a conversation, not a consultation or lecture. Together we’ll explore your financial story, define your vision for the future, and create a snapshot of your household, income, values, and current approach.
Phase 2: Retirement Readiness Report
We project your future income needs, compare them to your current track, and build a realistic life projection considering housing, travel, family support, and more.
Phase 3: Investment Strategy Session
Your investment approach is tailored to your goals, timeline, and comfort with risk. We review your current portfolio to ensure your accounts align with your priorities.
Phase 4: Account Setup & Transitions
We put your plan into action by opening new accounts, transferring assets, and managing the paperwork. Everything is set up to work seamlessly under your new strategy.
Phase 5: The Gap & Growth Plan
Through “what-if” scenarios, we show how different savings paths impact your future. A clear gap analysis highlights where you stand versus where you want to be.
Phase 6: Protection Planning
We evaluate your life insurance needs and design a coverage plan that balances affordability with long-term security and helps give us an idea of how much coverage you’d need to protect your family.
Phase 7: Final Allocation & Policy Setup
Together, we finalize investment and insurance allocations, and complete applications if needed. You take full ownership of your new strategy.
Phase 8: Plan Recap
We provide a before-and-after summary report so you can visualize your progress and celebrate milestones along the way.
Phase 9: Annual Reset
Your plan evolves with your life. We schedule yearly reviews and adjust for major life events, keeping your strategy aligned with your goals.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do you work with?

I love working with high-earning working moms—especially those who are finishing up daycare payments and want to reallocate that money toward long-term financial security. If you’re juggling career, a spouse, family, and financial goals, you’re in the right place.

Do you work with dads too?

Absolutely. While many of my clients are women – particularly working moms, I also work with men and dads. If you’re the point person for your family’s money and want a clear, efficient plan, you’re in the right place.

What makes your approach different from other financial advisors?

I blend structured strategy with real-life empathy. As a mom and a Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®), I get both the numbers and the nuance. My 9-phase blueprint simplifies complex decisions, so you feel in control—not overwhelmed.

How much does your service cost?

I charge an advisory fee on investments so that we both have the same goal of growing your investments. And I’m paid a commission on life insurance by the carrier—not you.

Do I need a certain income or net worth to work with you?

If you’re earning a strong income, recently freed up cash flow (like from daycare), and you’re ready to make strategic moves for your family’s future, you’re likely a good fit—even if you’re still building wealth. Many of my clients reallocate $10k-$20k/year that had been to daycare into their financial plan.

I already have a financial advisor. Why would I switch?

Many advisors only focus on investments. I offer a holistic, mom-focused approach that integrates investments and insurance, and measures which path gets you closer to the amount of income that you’re looking for.

What if I don’t have a lot of time?

My process is designed for busy professionals. We break it down into steps, handle the paperwork, coordinate account transfers, and guide each step.

How do I get started?

We begin with a free Discovery Call to see if it’s a good fit. From there, we map out your next steps and begin building your personalized financial strategy.

Schedule an Appointment

Do you only work with moms in Wisconsin?

While many of my clients are based in Madison and surrounding areas, I can work virtually and am licensed to work with clients in many states across the Midwest and beyond.

You talk a lot about retirement, but that seems a long way off. Why should that matter to me now?

Because right now, time is your greatest asset—and you only get it once.
As a parent with young kids, it’s easy to focus only on the immediate: daycare, school schedules, family logistics. But this phase—right after daycare ends—is also one of your most powerful financial windows. If you can redirect even a portion of what you were spending on childcare into an efficient retirement strategy, the long-term impact can be significant.

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