Teresa asked why.
I smiled.
"Because nobody should feel like they're sitting at the wrong end."
We built a practice focused on helping small businesses understand their finances, protect their independence, and make decisions with confidence.
Eventually, I began offering free financial workshops through a local women's support organization.
I never shared private details of my clients.
But I spoke openly about the importance of financial access, secure accounts, independent advice, and understanding documents before signing them.
At the first workshop, only seven women attended.
One sat near the door, clutching her handbag.
Another kept her phone face down, glancing at it whenever it vibrated.
I recognized those small movements.
At the end, the woman near the door approached me.
"My husband says I'm terrible with money," she whispered. "But I used to manage the accounts at my father's shop."
I smiled gently.
"Then you already know more than he wants you to remember."
