Fly! by Steph Wagner

FLY! by Steph Wagner is subtitled “A Woman's Guide to Financial Freedom and Building a Life You Love.” Wagner has extensive experience in the financial sector, and she provides context by sharing her story “from private equity executive to stay-at-home mom, to single mother facing financial uncertainty, to successful businesswoman.” Wagner readily empathizes with her readers, saying, “If I, with my financial background, feel this lost and overwhelmed, how must women without that same knowledge feel when thrown into similar circumstances?” I found FLY! to be an excellent resource filled with numerous well-explained and action-oriented steps. For example, Wagner lists a series of questions to ask a potential financial advisor and also provides links to helpful websites. Wagner writes with a confident, but collegial tone. And she notes steps to take (have a will, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, and a medical directive, also known as a living will) and then provides definitions of each for her readers who may be less familiar with these documents. FLY! feels like a text which can be adapted to meet readers where they are – whether consulting an attorney at a major law firm or choosing a free online service – especially since she suggests evaluation criteria to use. This approach extends to a discussion and explanation of investment vehicles (Mutual Funds, EFTs, etc.) and other topics. The foreword provides my favorite description: “This book isn't just a guide. It's a road map. It's full of tangible steps, real life stories, and the kind of practical wisdom that makes you feel like you're having coffee with a really smart, really honest friend.”