As I've grown in my career and in myself, along with so many women around me, my appreciation for the sisterhood has grown. Where women were my rivals they are now my supporters; where they competed in a win/lose environment they now look for mutual success. When and how did this shift happen in my life?

Women: pay attention to your disconnection from your money. The average age of widowhood is 56. Women, you need to take control. What is important to realize, as well, is that this isn't an all or nothing proposition. Many of the women who were direct investors also maintained a relationship with an advisor. You don't have to make an absolute choice to go it alone.

Many of us hate organizing our financial lives but love dreaming about our futures. That might be part of the reason that only a third of women have a financial plan. It comes down to the myths we have built up about financial planning.

What is princess math? Your favourite department store is having a half price sale. The gift was originally $200 but you are saving $100. Princess math says -- I was going to spend $200 anyway so now I can buy that purse. The reality is, though, most women aren't flush with money. The problem is that deep down, we know our actions have consequences.

In my work with women, I hear women tell me that feel overwhelmed why they think of dealing with money and planning. You need to have that tough conversation with yourself, the one that scares you and that fills you with dread. You might try to ignore it or pretend you have control over it. You need a financial plan. Here's how to start.

Women relate to each other though stories, and through this process they learn and grow. Money is one of the last taboos and is something many of us are uncomfortable discussing. Creating safe and open spaces for women to talk about money is one of the missing gaps in financial and investor education.

A lack of understanding of how women do business is one of the reasons so many women are demanding female financial advisors. The industry, however, is sadly under-served by women. In 2012, less than 25 per cent of advisors are women. As a result, the business is neglecting the needs of women and is thus ignoring hundreds of millions of dollars of potential revenue and profit.