Welcome, Smart Women!

The Smart Woman/Savvy Money Club exists to empower women to take control of their financial future. René Nourse was inspired to create the SWSM Club to provide financial education and virtual networking opportunities for women of all ages and backgrounds. We know women are smart! But there's a gap between being smart and becoming savvy about your finances. We want all women to have the knowledge and confidence to make good choices about their money and their future.

Smart Women are busy. They have full lives, lots of responsibilities, and often not much time to manage and plan their own financial lives. (We understand this, because we're women, too!) Our goal is to have your back—to equip you to have important conversations at the intersection of finances and lifestyle.

Our Next SWSM Event
Woman sitting at café looking skeptical

Is Social Security Really Secure? A Smart Women / Savvy Money Webinar

René Nourse, CFP®

Scheduled for July 29, 2021

(Spoiler Alert: You Betcha!) Lots of people have questions about Social Security, and the media doesn’t paint a clear picture of what to expect. René Nourse will fill you in on what you need to know to feel confident the system and your ability to get the most from your benefits.

Restaurant owner setting an Open sign on the door

Creating a COVID-19 Recovery Plan with Your Local SBDC: A Smart Women Savvy Money Webinar

Celeste Young-Ramos

Scheduled for August 26, 2021

Celeste Young-Ramos, PHR-Ca, will share tips for steering your company through post-COVID recovery, including all the free support services sponsored by your local Small Business Development Council and the Small Business Administration. Don’t operate in a vacuum. Join us to learn all about it!

Diverse group of older people doing yoga outdoors

Keeping Your Brain Healthy: A Smart Women Savvy Money Webinar

Loli Ramezani

Scheduled for September 30, 2021

Time keeps on ticking, but cognitive decline is not a necessary part of growing older! In our September SWSM webinar, Certified Senior Advisor Loli Ramezani will join us to discuss ways you can keep your brain healthy as you gain life experience.

Behind the Scenes with Reverse Mortgages: A Smart Women Savvy Money Webinar

Janice Cohen

Scheduled for October 28, 2021

Mortgage lending is mysterious to many people, and reverse mortgages even more so. Used properly and the right time, a reverse mortgage is a powerful tool for managing cash flow and protecting home equity. Janice Cohen, a licensed reverse mortgage specialist for more than 16 years, joins us to… Continue reading

Recent SWSM Content

Social Security Tips to Know Before You Apply

Published July 12, 2021 by René Nourse, CFP®

Mid-Year Vision Board Playshop: A Smart Women/Savvy Money Webinar

Recorded on June 24, 2021

Visionboarding Webinar Preview with Deborah Deras

Recorded on June 15, 2021
The Vision of the SWSM Club

We love what we do. Our expertise is in managing money—but our experiences are what enable us to connect with people.

Women outside in the sun laughing

Many times, an unexpected crisis faced by a friend or family member prompts a woman to start looking for answers to financial questions. For every woman, in every situation, the message of the SWSM Club is this:

(1) It is never too late. We encourage women to leave the past behind. Stop reflecting on what you "could" have done with your money.

(2) You can do this. You can move out of neutral and be brave, bold, and strategic about using your money.

Like you, we know what it's like to be a professional woman on an exciting career path. We know what it's like to be single, and part of a couple. We've faced the loss of family members—we know how difficult it is to say goodbye to parents, grandparents, and partners. We understand the unique needs of raising special children. We've experienced mixed emotions following divorce and the responsibility of being a single mom. We know the feeling. And, with you, we celebrate the endless opportunities to design a life of our own desiring.

 
 
The Pandemic Effect
Women working in her living room with two children

COVID-19 has changed life as we know it, and it has been especially hard on women. Women have been pulled in many directions at once—helping children with virtual school, leading and working from home, running a household despite product shortages and low-contact/high-cost shopping requirements. We also know that more than half of pandemic-related job cuts have been women. Some of you have made, or are considering, major adjustments to your lifestyle—including possibly leaving a career behind. It's a bumpy road for us all, and we'll be here to help you adjust to the "new normal," the "now normal," and the "next normal."

Meet the Women of UWM
René Nourse, CFP®

René Nourse, CFP®

Founder/CEO

My experience in financial services has made it clear to me that women are often overlooked and underserved. There are many women out there who are strong, ambitious, and independent, but remain hesitant to take control of their financial future — I started Smart Women/Savvy Money to help women focus their attention on their finances and create the lifestyle they desire and deserve.

Derenda King, CFP®/CDFA®

Derenda King, CFP®

Financial Planner

My interest in the financial services industry began in 2007 when I became responsible for finalizing the financial affairs of my mom and grandmother. I made it a mission to help other single women attain the comfort and peace of mind that comes from knowing that they could take care of themselves whether or not they had help from a spouse/partner, children, and/or their family.

Millú Ramirez, CFP®

Millú Ramirez, CFP®

Financial Planner

As a wife and a mother of three, including an autistic boy, I understand what it takes to balance a family with a demanding career. While guiding my mother, a 69-year old widow, through the process of financial planning, I witnessed her “aha” moment when she gained confidence in making the right financial decisions.  My desire to help families plan for their financial future pushed me to become a financial advisor. 

Carol Jones

Carol Jones, MBA

Financial Planning Assistant

I believe that financial education is the key for women to become confident about their money and their future. It is time for women who need answers to rise, start where they are and take control of their finances so that they can regain focus of their destiny. Smart Women/Savvy Money provides the resources women need so that they can have the financial tools to thrive at any stage of their lives.

April Charles

April Charles

Senior Registered Associate

Our goal is to help women become financially independent and help create the lifestyle they deserve. The Smart Women Savvy Money Club provides a safe environment to help bring together the moving parts so you can live fearlessly.