Bright, Fierce & Fabulous Women Spotlight: Liz Windisch, CFP®

One of the benefits of becoming an entrepreneur and building my own community has been to meet incredible women, entrepreneurs or professionals with a passion to help other women thrive. In this new Bright, Fierce and Fabulous (BFF) Women Spotlight series, I shine a light on women who have had an impact on me, by sharing their story and their work in interview-form.

They may not all be French, but you’ll see that they somehow have a connection with my country. Let’s kick this off with Liz Windisch, a financial planner who I met this year at my Denver coworking space…

What does “freedom” mean to you, and especially for women at midlife?

I think freedom for women in mid-life is the ability to choose what makes them happy. That may sound cliché, but most of us have spent our whole lives doing everything for others, whether that is family or work or community.

Freedom is being able to feel comfortable saying yes to experiences they would enjoy, like a retreat in Provence, or a class they’ve always wanted to take. Freedom in mid-life, to me, looks like the ability to slow down and stop hustling all of the time. 

In France, we believe in joie de vivre — the joy of living. How do you help women bring more of that into their lives through financial planning?

Many women either feel guilty or scared to spend money, or to slow down and make less money. I really enjoy showing women their financial situation in a clear light, so that they can lift that burden of worry. It is so much easier to find joy in living if you aren’t scared! Even if their finances aren’t as robust as they would like, there is space in everyone’s budget for enjoyment, and outlining exactly what that is gives women permission to enjoy the life they have. 

Many of the women in my community dream of a trip to Provence or a long stay in France. What’s your #1 tip for making that dream financially possible?

My suggestion for making a dream trip happen is two-fold: first, give yourself permission to go. Really, truly accept that you can make it happen. Then, set aside that money and name it “Dream Trip” or “My Life in France” so that you won’t be tempted to spend it elsewhere. If you don’t currently have the funds to dedicate to the trip, find little places to save or reallocate and when you put that money aside, think: “I am now 30% ready for my trip.” 

Last one: If we were sitting in a café in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence right now, what would you order?

Rosé, of course! I love seafood, so I would have to order bouillabaisse. And chèvre with honey! Shoot, now I’m hungry and looking for flights…