A Window Is Opening" — And I’m Ready (Even if It’s a Little Terrifying)

“Women have a window opening now to prepare, act and make their mark on the future of wealth.”— Forbes Business Council, Nov. 18, 2024

Reading The Great Wealth Transfer: An $84 Trillion Investment Opportunity For Women — and bam — that sentence hit me like a ton of bricks. It stopped me in my tracks.

Here’s the deal: over the next two decades, we’re going to see the largest generational wealth transfer in history — an estimated $84 trillion is expected to be passed down, and women are poised to inherit a significant portion of it. In fact, by 2030, American women are projected to control much of the $30 trillion in financial assets that baby boomers will pass along (McKinsey & Company).

Let that sink in.

It’s an exciting time. And if we’re being honest… it’s also a little terrifying. Because with wealth comes responsibility. And power. And systems that weren’t built with us in mind.

I’ve been soaking up as much as I can. I listen to My First Million — a podcast where they interview entrepreneurs after they make their money, and explore the mindset shifts that come with success. I can only dream of the day I’m wrestling with the “next-level” problems that come from sudden wealth — but in a way, I’m preparing now by listening, learning, and surrounding myself with people further along in the journey.

That includes saying yes to new opportunities, even the ones that scare me — especially the ones that scare me. I keep coming back to a line from Derek Sivers’ Hell Yeah or No:

“Whatever scares you, go do it.” (p. 131)

So, I did. I stepped into a new role as Program Manager for UpStart Maine, an organization working to be the Bangor region’s innovation hub — connecting entrepreneurs to the resources they need to grow.

One of my goals? Hosting events that bring conversations like this to the forefront — the kind of honest, real-talk that entrepreneurs (especially women and underrepresented founders) are craving, but often having alone. Because this wealth transfer won’t happen in a vacuum. It takes community to be good stewards. It takes intention. And it takes ecosystems that are ready to rise.

Let’s build them — together.