Taxes
Zoe Team and Samantha Garcia, CFP® (Zoe Network Advisor)
8 min read
Address six core areas: budgeting, saving/investing, estate planning, life insurance, childcare, and education.
Budgeting is actually cash flow planning—track monthly income versus spending to secure your family’s future.
Prioritize your own retirement and savings goals before earmarking funds for your children’s education.
Key elements include a Will (names caregivers), a Trust, Advanced Health Care Directives, and Power of Attorney, which designate decision-makers if you become incapacitated.
Evaluate the long-term financial impact of leaving the workforce, including lost salary growth and retirement contributions, alongside the immediate cost of childcare.
Prioritize your own retirement and savings goals. You can easily borrow for college later, but borrowing for your own retirement is rarely an option.
Financial planning can seem overwhelming, even without the responsibility of having kids. But financial planning for moms of young children is even more important.
When raising young kids, there is a seemingly endless laundry list of things to think about. From Is this normal for their age? to Am I doing this right?, being a mom is no easy ride. Add life stressors and sometimes it feels like there are endless demands on your very limited time. While there are many things to think through and decisions to make when you have kids, planning for your current and future financial life shouldn’t be put off – think of it as fundamental to protecting your family.
Financial planning can seem overwhelming, even without the responsibility of having kids, but as a mother it is even more important. There are six key areas of focus that you should be addressing as a parent of young children: budgeting, saving & investing, estate planning, life insurance, childcare costs, and education financing.
In my experience as a financial advisor, budgeting has a negative connotation for many families. It shouldn’t: It is critical to your success. Budgeting doesn’t necessarily mean tracking every single dollar, but it does mean having a good idea of what is being spent on necessary and discretionary items each month, as well as knowing how much you are saving each month.
While some people enjoy tracking every dollar and cent, most can take a higher-level look at how much they’re spending on the broad categories and how much they’re managing to save. Budgeting should really be called cash flow planning– how much is coming in every month and where is it going? Without an accurate view of this, it is difficult to plan for your future.
Saving and investing are critical to setting up a successful future. There are some key differences between the two. Savings are not meant to earn a return – the point is to have money safely set aside for emergencies, travel, or short-term goals. Investing, on the other hand, is an active process: The objective here is to grow funds to meet your long-term goals. Retirement is one of the most common long-term goals and funds earmarked for this should be invested rather than saved.
Investing can seem overwhelming with so many investment options to choose from. It takes time to comb through investments and decide which ones are right for you. But what happens when life takes a turn and those investments are no longer appropriate? Working with an experienced advisor who understands your situation can not only save you time – they’ll help provide confidence and clarity while building an investment strategy specific to your needs and making adjustments as necessary.
An advisor can help in times of market turbulence when it may be nerve wracking to watch your investments. They can walk you through your strategy and explain the best action plan, which more often than not is staying the course.
As a mom of young kids, estate planning is creating a plan for your loved ones if you are unable to make decisions for yourself – or if your life is cut short. This planning consists of four elements:
A Trust
A Will
Advanced HealthCare Directives
A Power of Attorney
A trust may not apply to every situation, but the other three should be in place for everyone. An Advanced Health Care Directive and Power of Attorney name people you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make those decisions for yourself. A Will and Trust set out what will happen to your belongings when you are gone. A will establishes a caregiver for your child(ren) in the event you predecease them before they turn 18. Zoe’s Estate Planning Guide can be a great resource as you navigate estate planning decisions. Determining your ultimate wishes can prompt uncomfortable discussions – but they’ll ensure that your loved ones know your wishes.
Life Insurance can provide money for those left behind and can be an important planning tool for safeguarding your spouse and/or children. Life insurance proceeds can pay off the mortgage on the home so your family can continue living there; it can also provide college funding for a child if something were to happen to one or both parents. You can tailor your life insurance to your situation and what’s important to you. Your policy’s coverage will depend on your income level, debt level, and desire for college funding for your kids, for example. Zoe’s Life Insurance Guide is a helpful tool if you have more questions on the topic.
The costs of childcare drive many women out of the workforce – and these costs are increasing. Some women have to make the tough decision of continuing to work and pay for childcare or leave the workforce altogether. This is a very personal decision, but it is also a financial decision. Understanding all the financial ramifications can be empowering and help in your own decision-making process.
In coming to a decision, it’s important to bear in mind that women who choose to leave the workforce to raise their children not only lose out on the earning capacity from the years they are out of the workforce, but they also lose out on the growth of their earning potential. And that can have a lasting impact. On top of these are missing out on retirement benefits and the compounding growth lost on the retirement plan contributions that you wouldn’t be making during this time.
While financial considerations should not be the only driver of your decision, it is important to understand them fully. If you continue working or decide to return to the workforce, planning for who will care for your child, where that care will take place, and how to budget for those costs are also matters you’ll need to contend with.
Lastly, it is important to consider whether or not you would like to save and invest for your child(ren)’s education. This should only be considered after you meet your own saving and investing goals. When your child is ready to pursue college/higher education, taking out loans for this is relatively easy. It is much harder to borrow for retirement and lifestyle goals!
If you can meet your own goals, it may be time to consider financing college education or funding your child’s future goals. This may include a 529 plan for college savings, a savings account or a UTMA (investing) account. If you have met your own goals, you can make monthly contributions or include birthday and holiday presents from family and friends to these accounts. I personally have all 3 for my son! When he gets money for his birthday or for holidays, we talk about what to do with the money and then put the plan into action.
While it may feel like financial planning is the least of your worries as a mom of young children, financial planning can ensure tremendous peace of mind for your family long term. In fact, financial planning encompasses much more than saving and investing. It involves taking a holistic approach to your situation and making sure decisions are thought through and important actions are taken. While being a mom to a young child can be difficult at times, it also brings the greatest joy. In my experience being a parent to a young child and working with those who have young children, when these items are addressed, we are happier and are free to be more present with our children. It feels like a burden has been lifted off our shoulders.
Financial planning can seem overwhelming, even without the responsibility of having kids. But financial planning for moms of young children is even more important.
When raising young kids, there is a seemingly endless laundry list of things to think about. From Is this normal for their age? to Am I doing this right?, being a mom is no easy ride. Add life stressors and sometimes it feels like there are endless demands on your very limited time. While there are many things to think through and decisions to make when you have kids, planning for your current and future financial life shouldn’t be put off – think of it as fundamental to protecting your family.
Financial planning can seem overwhelming, even without the responsibility of having kids, but as a mother it is even more important. There are six key areas of focus that you should be addressing as a parent of young children: budgeting, saving & investing, estate planning, life insurance, childcare costs, and education financing.
In my experience as a financial advisor, budgeting has a negative connotation for many families. It shouldn’t: It is critical to your success. Budgeting doesn’t necessarily mean tracking every single dollar, but it does mean having a good idea of what is being spent on necessary and discretionary items each month, as well as knowing how much you are saving each month.
While some people enjoy tracking every dollar and cent, most can take a higher-level look at how much they’re spending on the broad categories and how much they’re managing to save. Budgeting should really be called cash flow planning– how much is coming in every month and where is it going? Without an accurate view of this, it is difficult to plan for your future.
Saving and investing are critical to setting up a successful future. There are some key differences between the two. Savings are not meant to earn a return – the point is to have money safely set aside for emergencies, travel, or short-term goals. Investing, on the other hand, is an active process: The objective here is to grow funds to meet your long-term goals. Retirement is one of the most common long-term goals and funds earmarked for this should be invested rather than saved.
Investing can seem overwhelming with so many investment options to choose from. It takes time to comb through investments and decide which ones are right for you. But what happens when life takes a turn and those investments are no longer appropriate? Working with an experienced advisor who understands your situation can not only save you time – they’ll help provide confidence and clarity while building an investment strategy specific to your needs and making adjustments as necessary.
An advisor can help in times of market turbulence when it may be nerve wracking to watch your investments. They can walk you through your strategy and explain the best action plan, which more often than not is staying the course.
As a mom of young kids, estate planning is creating a plan for your loved ones if you are unable to make decisions for yourself – or if your life is cut short. This planning consists of four elements:
A Trust
A Will
Advanced HealthCare Directives
A Power of Attorney
A trust may not apply to every situation, but the other three should be in place for everyone. An Advanced Health Care Directive and Power of Attorney name people you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make those decisions for yourself. A Will and Trust set out what will happen to your belongings when you are gone. A will establishes a caregiver for your child(ren) in the event you predecease them before they turn 18. Zoe’s Estate Planning Guide can be a great resource as you navigate estate planning decisions. Determining your ultimate wishes can prompt uncomfortable discussions – but they’ll ensure that your loved ones know your wishes.
Life Insurance can provide money for those left behind and can be an important planning tool for safeguarding your spouse and/or children. Life insurance proceeds can pay off the mortgage on the home so your family can continue living there; it can also provide college funding for a child if something were to happen to one or both parents. You can tailor your life insurance to your situation and what’s important to you. Your policy’s coverage will depend on your income level, debt level, and desire for college funding for your kids, for example. Zoe’s Life Insurance Guide is a helpful tool if you have more questions on the topic.
The costs of childcare drive many women out of the workforce – and these costs are increasing. Some women have to make the tough decision of continuing to work and pay for childcare or leave the workforce altogether. This is a very personal decision, but it is also a financial decision. Understanding all the financial ramifications can be empowering and help in your own decision-making process.
In coming to a decision, it’s important to bear in mind that women who choose to leave the workforce to raise their children not only lose out on the earning capacity from the years they are out of the workforce, but they also lose out on the growth of their earning potential. And that can have a lasting impact. On top of these are missing out on retirement benefits and the compounding growth lost on the retirement plan contributions that you wouldn’t be making during this time.
While financial considerations should not be the only driver of your decision, it is important to understand them fully. If you continue working or decide to return to the workforce, planning for who will care for your child, where that care will take place, and how to budget for those costs are also matters you’ll need to contend with.
Lastly, it is important to consider whether or not you would like to save and invest for your child(ren)’s education. This should only be considered after you meet your own saving and investing goals. When your child is ready to pursue college/higher education, taking out loans for this is relatively easy. It is much harder to borrow for retirement and lifestyle goals!
If you can meet your own goals, it may be time to consider financing college education or funding your child’s future goals. This may include a 529 plan for college savings, a savings account or a UTMA (investing) account. If you have met your own goals, you can make monthly contributions or include birthday and holiday presents from family and friends to these accounts. I personally have all 3 for my son! When he gets money for his birthday or for holidays, we talk about what to do with the money and then put the plan into action.
While it may feel like financial planning is the least of your worries as a mom of young children, financial planning can ensure tremendous peace of mind for your family long term. In fact, financial planning encompasses much more than saving and investing. It involves taking a holistic approach to your situation and making sure decisions are thought through and important actions are taken. While being a mom to a young child can be difficult at times, it also brings the greatest joy. In my experience being a parent to a young child and working with those who have young children, when these items are addressed, we are happier and are free to be more present with our children. It feels like a burden has been lifted off our shoulders.
Disclosures: Zoe Financial, Inc. ("Zoe Financial") is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Zoe Financial provides investment advisory services and access to independent registered investment advisers through its platform. The information provided by Zoe Financial is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or as an offer to buy or sell any security. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Clients should consult with their own financial, tax, or legal professionals before making any investment decisions. The material presented by Zoe Financial is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. Material presented has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, however Adviser cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information, and certain information presented here may have been condensed or summarized from its original source. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Zoe Financial does not provide legal or tax advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as legal or tax advice. SEC Registration does not constitute an endorsement of Zoe Financial by the SEC nor does it indicate that Zoe Financial has attained a particular level of skill or ability. The sole purpose of this material is to inform, and it in no way is intended to be an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any security, other investment or service, or to attract any funds or deposits. Investments mentioned may not be appropriate for all clients. Before making any investment, each investor should carefully consider the risks associated with the investment, as discussed in the applicable offering memorandum, and make a determination based upon their own particular circumstances, that the investment is consistent with their investment objectives and risk tolerance. Lower expenses do not guarantee better investment performance. Certain information contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events, results or the performance of a fund may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements.
Disclosure: This page is not investment advice and should not be relied on for such advice or as a substitute for consultation with professional accounting, tax, legal or financial advisors. The observations of industry trends should not be read as recommendations for stocks or sectors.
Investment advisory services are provided by Zoe Financial, Inc. (Zoe Financial), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Learn more about Zoe Financial on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Brokerage services are provided by Zoe Securities LLC and Apex Clearing Corporation, members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Learn more about Zoe Securities and Apex on FINRA’s BrokerCheck website.
The information in the visuals above is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual user's account, balance, or return. Zoe Financial does not provide tax or legal advice.
Explore the Zoe Wealth Platform with AI
Some of this content may have been generated with the assistance of AI. Please review and sense-check all outputs, as AI tools can occasionally produce incomplete or inaccurate information.
In certain situations, you may be required to disclose that the content was “generated by AI.” Please confirm any specific disclosure or labelling requirements with Compliance.
(646) 680-9244
support@zoefin.com
666 Third Ave, 6th Floor
New York, NY, 10017
Copyright © 2026 Zoe Financial, Inc. | All rights reserved
Find an Advisor
Retirement Planning
Disclosure: This page is not investment advice and should not be relied on for such advice or as a substitute for consultation with professional accounting, tax, legal or financial advisors. The observations of industry trends should not be read as recommendations for stocks or sectors.
Investment advisory services are provided by Zoe Financial, Inc. (Zoe Financial), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Learn more about Zoe Financial on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Brokerage services are provided by Zoe Securities LLC and Apex Clearing Corporation, members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Learn more about Zoe Securities and Apex on FINRA’s BrokerCheck website.
The information in the visuals above is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual user's account, balance, or return. Zoe Financial does not provide tax or legal advice.
Explore the Zoe Wealth Platform with AI
Some of this content may have been generated with the assistance of AI. Please review and sense-check all outputs, as AI tools can occasionally produce incomplete or inaccurate information.
In certain situations, you may be required to disclose that the content was “generated by AI.” Please confirm any specific disclosure or labelling requirements with Compliance.
(646) 680-9244
support@zoefin.com
666 Third Ave, 6th Floor
New York, NY, 10017
Copyright © 2026 Zoe Financial, Inc. | All rights reserved
Find an Advisor
Retirement Planning
Disclosure: This page is not investment advice and should not be relied on for such advice or as a substitute for consultation with professional accounting, tax, legal or financial advisors. The observations of industry trends should not be read as recommendations for stocks or sectors.
Investment advisory services are provided by Zoe Financial, Inc. (Zoe Financial), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Learn more about Zoe Financial on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Brokerage services are provided by Zoe Securities LLC and Apex Clearing Corporation, members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Learn more about Zoe Securities and Apex on FINRA’s BrokerCheck website.
The information in the visuals above is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual user's account, balance, or return. Zoe Financial does not provide tax or legal advice.
Explore the Zoe Wealth Platform with AI
Some of this content may have been generated with the assistance of AI. Please review and sense-check all outputs, as AI tools can occasionally produce incomplete or inaccurate information.
In certain situations, you may be required to disclose that the content was “generated by AI.” Please confirm any specific disclosure or labelling requirements with Compliance.
(646) 680-9244
support@zoefin.com
666 Third Ave, 6th Floor
New York, NY, 10017
Copyright © 2025 Zoe Financial, Inc. | All rights reserved
