International Women’s Day March 8th – From Permission to Power: Women & Financial Independence
Every year on March 8th, the world recognizes International Women’s Day, a moment to reflect on progress, acknowledge challenges, and recommit to equality.
When we talk about women’s advancement, we often focus on leadership roles, pay equity, and representation. But one of the most profound transformations in modern history happened quietly in banking offices and lending institutions.
There was a time when a woman could not:
Open a credit card in her own name
Secure a mortgage without a male co-signer
Obtain business financing independently
Financial independence was not assumed it required permission. It was only October 1974 with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), women could get credit or a mortgage in their name only without a male cosignor.
Today, women can own property, build businesses, invest, borrow, lend, and create wealth independently. That shift is not just economic. It is foundational to equality.
From Access to Autonomy
Prior to October 1974, financial institutions could legally refuse loans to unmarried women or require a male co-signer. Today, women hold about 34% of mortgages in Canada. (as of October 2025)
Access to credit and mortgages changed everything.
Owning property means building equity.
Having credit means building opportunity.
Having financial control means having choices.
Choices about career.
Choices about relationships.
Choices about retirement.
Choices about legacy.
Financial independence is not about rejecting partnership it is about eliminating dependency.
Why Financial Planning Matters, Especially for Women
Despite the progress, statistics consistently show that women:
Live longer than men
Often take career breaks for caregiving
May earn less over a lifetime due to wage gaps
Are more likely to manage finances alone later in life
Longevity + income gaps + caregiving responsibilities create a distinct financial planning reality.
Planning is not optional. It is strategic protection.
The Power of Women Advising Women
There is something uniquely powerful about women speaking openly with other women about money.
Not surface-level conversations, but real discussions about:
Retirement income planning
Divorce or separation protection
Business ownership
Risk management
Investment confidence
Estate planning
Wealth transfer
Many women were never encouraged to engage deeply with finances. Some were excluded from the conversation entirely. Others deferred to a spouse or partner because it felt easier.
But empowerment begins with understanding.
When women sit across from another woman advisor, the dynamic often shifts:
Questions feel safer
Concerns feel validated
Goals feel personal
Strategy becomes collaborative, not intimidating
It becomes less about being told what to do and more about building a plan aligned with your life.
Planning for Yourself Is Not Selfish - It is your Right
Relying on someone else for financial security is a vulnerability.
Building your own financial foundation is strength.
Whether married, single, divorced, widowed, or partnered, every woman should:
Know where assets are held
Understand debts and obligations
Have her own credit profile
Participate in investment decisions
Have a personal retirement strategy
Maintain appropriate insurance coverage
Independence does not mean isolation. It means preparedness.
Equality Is Ongoing and So Is Financial Literacy
International Women’s Day is not only about celebrating how far we’ve come.
It is about asking:
Are you actively involved in your financial plan?
Do you understand your retirement trajectory?
Could you confidently make decisions if you had to tomorrow?
Are you building wealth intentionally or passively hoping it works out?
Equality in law has largely been achieved.
Equality in financial confidence is still evolving.
Your Next Step: Build a Plan in Your Name
This International Women’s Day, don’t just celebrate progress participate in it.
If you are ready to:
Gain clarity around your financial future
Build a retirement strategy that reflects your longevity
Protect your income and your assets
Create wealth intentionally
Feel confident in every financial decision
I invite you to sit down with me.
Let’s have an honest, strategic conversation about your goals, your risks, and your opportunities, and build a plan that is truly yours.
Your future should never rely solely on someone else’s decisions.
It should be designed by you,with guidance, structure, and expertise supporting you every step of the way.
This March 8th, choose ownership.
Choose clarity.
Choose to plan.
Kristin Jubinville
