Skip to content
  • About Us
  • Foundation
  • News & Insights
  • Member Directory
  • Job Board
  • Sign In
  • Join
Boston Chamber
  • Events
        • Events

          • Overview
          • Events Calendar
          • Chamber Awards
          • New Chamber Event Series
        • ...
          Limited Series
          Transportation First | State of the Airport

          The Transportation First Series offers a platform to discuss the challenges faced by our region, with the input of experts and changemakers.

          06/12/2025

          2:45pm - 4:30pm

          Hybrid | Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Public Policy
          2025 Government Affairs Forum | Senator Edward J. Markey

          Hear from Senator Edward J. Markey, a consumer champion and leader on energy, environmental protection, and telecommunications policy.

          06/16/2025

          9:45am - 11:00am

          Boston Marriott Long Wharf

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Women's Network
          A Fireside Chat with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, Boston University

          This Women's Network event will offer an insightful conversation with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, the 11th President of Boston University and both the first woman and the first Black woman to lead the institution since its founding in 1869.

          06/18/2025

          11:30am - 1:00pm

          Fairmont Copley Plaza

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Insights
        • Transformational DEI Certificate

          This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
          Boston’s Future Leaders

          Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.

          Read More
          Authentic Professionalism for Early Career Professionals

          Join us on June 12 for a highly interactive virtual workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Small Business
          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
        • Policy & Impact

          • Overview
          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

          Business Climate
          Read More
          Climate & Energy
          Read More
          Health Care
          Read More
          Housing & Development
          Read More
          Talent
          Read More
          Transportation
          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          Read More
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For over 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          Massachusetts Apprentice Network

          The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
  • Membership
        • Membership

          • Overview
          • Membership Benefits
          • Membership Levels
          • Member Stories
          • Request a Meeting
          • Join Today
        • Chamber Membership
        • About Us
          Our Impact

          Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.

        • Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
        • Membership Directory
          Not sure if you’re a member?

          Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.

        • For our members

          • Member Resources
          • Member Deals
          • Sponsorship Opportunities
          • Connect with your Member Services Rep
          • Sign In
  • join
Bostonchamber
Boston Chamber
  • Events
        • Events

          • Overview
          • Events Calendar
          • Chamber Awards
          • New Chamber Event Series
        • ...
          Limited Series
          Transportation First | State of the Airport

          The Transportation First Series offers a platform to discuss the challenges faced by our region, with the input of experts and changemakers.

          06/12/2025

          2:45pm - 4:30pm

          Hybrid | Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Public Policy
          2025 Government Affairs Forum | Senator Edward J. Markey

          Hear from Senator Edward J. Markey, a consumer champion and leader on energy, environmental protection, and telecommunications policy.

          06/16/2025

          9:45am - 11:00am

          Boston Marriott Long Wharf

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Women's Network
          A Fireside Chat with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, Boston University

          This Women's Network event will offer an insightful conversation with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, the 11th President of Boston University and both the first woman and the first Black woman to lead the institution since its founding in 1869.

          06/18/2025

          11:30am - 1:00pm

          Fairmont Copley Plaza

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Insights
        • Transformational DEI Certificate

          This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
          Boston’s Future Leaders

          Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.

          Read More
          Authentic Professionalism for Early Career Professionals

          Join us on June 12 for a highly interactive virtual workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Small Business
          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
        • Policy & Impact

          • Overview
          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

          Business Climate
          Read More
          Climate & Energy
          Read More
          Health Care
          Read More
          Housing & Development
          Read More
          Talent
          Read More
          Transportation
          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          Read More
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For over 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          Massachusetts Apprentice Network

          The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
  • Membership
        • Membership

          • Overview
          • Membership Benefits
          • Membership Levels
          • Member Stories
          • Request a Meeting
          • Join Today
        • Chamber Membership
        • About Us
          Our Impact

          Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.

        • Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
        • Membership Directory
          Not sure if you’re a member?

          Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.

        • For our members

          • Member Resources
          • Member Deals
          • Sponsorship Opportunities
          • Connect with your Member Services Rep
          • Sign In
  • join
  • About Us
  • Foundation
  • News & Insights
  • Member Directory
  • Job Board
  • Sign In
  • Join

How to Reach Your Full Financial Potential

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

April is Financial Literacy Month, which means there is no better time for you to prioritize your financial wellness.  

The Chamber’s Women’s Network recently hosted an event called Women & Financial Wellness, hosted at Bank of America’s Boston headquarters, which focused on the ways in which attendees can reach their full financial potential. The event began with an exploration of Bank of America’s research – Women, Money, Confidence: A Lifelong Relationship – which uncovered insights into the strengths and challenges, as well as comfort, confidence, and influence of women around various financial matters. Next, a panel of financial experts discussed their own experiences and advice for women looking to grow their understanding in this area.  

In case you missed it, we’ve rounded up the key takeaways from the event that can help you be confident, empowered, and ready to take action on your financial future.  

Where We Are Now 

For Bank of America’s study, they interviewed 3,500 women and 1,500 men across ages, income levels, and ethnicities, to help paint a wholistic picture of the current state of women’s confidence in their finances. 

Lisa Margeson, Managing Director, External Affairs at Bank of America highlighted that while nearly half of women say they feel confident about their finances (which has risen in the last 5 years), only 28% feel empowered to act on them. We are at a pivotal moment for women’s financial freedom, and 1 in 5 women say it is time to make a change to their finances.  

Additionally, “women are more confident when it comes to the tactical, short-term, everyday tasks,” said Lisa, such as paying bills, managing a budget, and paying off debt. But many are less comfortable with activities around building wealth, such as choosing a financial advisor, managing investments, and creating a diversified portfolio.  

The problem here: when women are less confident, that leads to less involvement with larger and longer-term financial decisions, shared Lisa. There is still largely the belief that “men are more knowledgeable” when it comes to these kinds of decisions.  

The good news? Younger women are more comfortable and more empowered with financial conversations than their older cohorts.  

To continue this progress, Lisa emphasized that “education and comfort with investing is a crucial next step for growing that empowerment.”  

It’s Never Too Early to Jump In  

One piece of advice that the panelists all highlighted – the importance of not waiting to get involved in your finances. As Megan Cooney of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management shared, “every day you wait [to invest], there really is an impact on your portfolio.” She suggested that you start small, and gain comfort that way first.  

Another thing to remember is that you can’t time the market. “Keep the long-term perspective, because the volatility that we’re seeing right now is really out of your control,” shared Megan. But you should ask yourself: What’s your risk tolerance? How aggressive are you being? 

At the end of the day, you want to be proactive with your financial strategy. 

When it comes to planning for retirement, two questions you should ask yourself are: how much money will I need to have the kind of retirement I want? And where will my income in retirement come from?  

Moderator Amanda Ross of Bank of America also underlined that “the conversation around retirement planning also needs to take into account all the things that happen before retirement.”   

Ask Questions & Find Your Sounding Board 

When it comes to growing your financial confidence and knowledge – asking questions is key! 

Gabby Salmon at Bank of America described how one thing that differentiates younger women is that they are more willing to take on risk but want to be in charge of what they’re doing. “Don’t be afraid to ask the questions,” she emphasized.  

Whether it’s your group of friends, your family, or your financial advisor—there’s power in collaboration. “Women are such big collaborators,” noted Gabby, and encouraged us to share advice and pass along information to our tight-knit networks.  

Amanda described how important it is for women to also lead by example — “Women leaders need to be disciplined by talking about [finances] if they want to continue the momentum for the younger generations.” 

Megan added that at your peak earning years is when it’s a smart idea to engage with an advisor. Using a financial advisor as a sounding board to bounce ideas off of can help you be more tax efficient and know the various types of accounts to contribute to.  

Since everyone has different priorities, it’s important to ensure your advisor is on the same page as you. “You want your financial advisor to understand what you’re looking to accomplish long-term,” Megan shared.  

 

Planning for Career Interruptions & the Role Employers Play 

In Bank of America’s research, women take four years on average out of the workforce, primarily for caregiving. While the majority of them don’t regret the time they took off, Lisa reflected on her own time, saying, “had I known back then what I know now, I would have planned for it, and used my time off differently.” One alarming stat that sets women back: many women who return to the workforce, return for less pay.  

To counteract this, Lisa advised those taking time outside the workforce to use any downtime for ongoing learning, keeping up with your networks, and pursuing topics that could help you advance your career when the time comes to go back.  

Amanda also asked the panelists – how can employers better serve their employees’ needs? 

Lisa suggested that employers offer employees caregiving resources, help them with their career interruptions, and make it easier for people to find their way back to you. 

“The employers that allow people to live full lives are pretty critical to keeping caregivers in the workforce,” added Leslie Forde, CEO & Founder of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs. 

Ultimately, women who leave the workforce for a period of time are still crucial to our economy and a lack of resources and support available for them can hinder many talented women from progressing in their careers. 

These days, many people are starting to demand more from their employers which will (hopefully) help us continue to make progress in the coming years.  

You May Also Be Interested In

Women’s Network
Women's Network

Women’s Network Lunch | The Ingredients for Empowerment & Success

Jun 13, 202311:30am – 1:00pmMoonshine 152

Two extraordinary chefs will share their journeys in the culinary industry and the secret ingredients to maintaining positive energy through trying circumstances.
Register Nowarrow-go
Women’s Network

Advice from Executives at the Cornerstone of Innovation in the Creative Economy

The Women’s Network: Creative Workforce Innovation panel provided meaningful examples of the creative economy in Boston—from job creation to business and policy.
Read Nowarrow-go
Pinnacle Awards

Beyond Women’s History Month: Calling on Women to Continue Sharing Our Stories 

Maya R. Said, Sc.D., Founder and CEO, Outcomes4Me 2023 reflects on winning the Pinnacle Awards Honoree for Achievement in Entrepreneurship.
Read Nowarrow-go
265 Franklin Street
Suite 1701
Boston, MA 02110
Get Directions
Contact us
  • Events
  • Learning & Development
  • Economic Inclusion
  • Policy & Impact
  • Our Networks
  • Membership
  • join
  • About Us
  • News & Insights
  • Member Directory
  • Job Board
  • Sign In
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

© 2025 Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.

Popular Resources

  • Small Business  
  • News & Insights  
  • Member Resources  
  • Small Business  
Close