Women Supporting Women: Financial Circles That Empower

Financial success doesn’t just take dollars and cents. Knowledge, community, and support can make a big difference when building a solid financial foundation. For women looking to build wealth and financial independence or simply get a better grip on their money, one of the most powerful tools available isn’t a high-yield savings account or an investment app–it’s other women.

Across the country, women-led financial circles are changing the game. These groups provide a space for mentorship, accountability, and shared financial wisdom, helping women support one another in building stronger financial futures.

Why Women’s Financial Circles Work

Women often face unique financial challenges. On average, women earn less than men over their lifetimes, take more career breaks for caregiving, and live longer. Women typically need more resources to live through retirement comfortably but have fewer financial resources. Traditional financial advice doesn’t always take these realities into account. That’s where women’s financial circles come in.

These groups focus tend to focus on:

• Financial Education: Learn and teach budgeting, investing, and wealth-building strategies tailored to women’s needs.
• Mentorship: Experienced women guide others through financial decisions, career moves, and income growth.
• Accountability: Encouraging each other to set goals and follow through on financial plans.
• Resource Sharing: Discuss tools, financial products, and strategies that worked for them in the past so others can find the same successes.

For many women, these circles become a trusted space to discuss money. Open financial discussions and sharing are often discouraged, though they can be very helpful to everyone involved.

Types of Women’s Financial Circles

Not all financial circles look the same. Some are informal groups of friends, while others are structured, membership-based organizations. Here are a few models to consider:

Peer Money Coaching Groups

Peer money coaching groups focus on financial literacy and goal-setting. Members meet regularly to discuss their finances, share wins, and troubleshoot money-related challenges. Some, like Smart Women Smart Money, offer structured programs to guide members through debt payoff, saving, and investing. You can create a group that meets in person or online using a platform like Zoom.

Business and Entrepreneur Circles

For women looking to start or grow a business, even a side hustle, entrepreneur financial circles offer critical guidance. Groups like Women’s Business Centers and NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) connect female entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding resources, and networking opportunities.

Investment Clubs

Investment clubs bring women together to learn about stocks, bonds, and other investment opportunities. Members usually pool their money to invest as a group, learning the ins and outs of the markets in a low-risk environment. Organizations like Better Investing offer resources to help women start their own clubs.

Mutual Aid and Lending Circles

In many cultures, community-based lending circles have long been a way for women to support each other financially. For example, in parts of Africa and the Caribbean, locals run a type of shared lending group called a susu. Organizations like Mission Asset Fund help women in the U.S. participate in lending circles, where small groups contribute money monthly and take turns receiving a lump sum—an interest-free alternative to loans.

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How to Start or Join a Women’s Financial Circle

If you’re looking to start or join a financial circle, you have options:

• Check local organizations. Women’s business groups, libraries, and community centers often host financial meetups.
• Look online. Facebook groups, Meetup.com, and LinkedIn have plenty of women-led money communities. While you’re there, be sure to connect with us on Instagram!
• Join an established program. Organizations like Ellevest’s Women’s Circles or Ladies Get Paid offer structured networking and financial growth opportunities.
• Start your own. Gather friends or colleagues and decide on a format—monthly book club-style discussions, investment meetups, or structured accountability groups. When you create a women’s financial circle, you’re in charge of how it operates!

The Power of Women Supporting Women

At the heart of financial circles is something more than just money: it’s empowerment. When women mentor, invest in, and hold each other accountable, they’re better positioned to build generational wealth, close pay gaps, and create financial security for themselves and their families and communities.

No matter where you are on your financial journey, joining (or starting) a financial circle could be one of the smartest money moves you make. Because when women support women, everybody wins.

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