Lena Rizkallah has carved out a niche giving financial advice to women in their 40s and 50s, often helping them navigate transitional moments in their lives. For these clients — who may be going through a divorce, starting a businesses or taking on a new creative project — Lena helps frame out a financial plan that can enable the vision. "Money equals freedom," she says.

Born to Palestinian parents who immigrated to the US and raised in a suburb of Washington D.C., Lena followed a winding path to Beacon.

In this interview, we talk about:

• The Gaza catastrophe through the eyes of a second-generation Palestinian immigrant

• Lena's decision to give up a career as an Immigration lawyer to work in finance

• Her "moving to Beacon" story as a single woman, and why she kept her NYC apartment

• Her panels and speakeasies focused on women and female business owners

• What Gen X women have in common; common money mistakes; "Think big"

• The current investment climate; why economic doomerism is wrong

Lena's website: https://www.lenarizkallah.com/

Photo by Michael Isabell: https://www.michaelisabell.com/ Beaconites is recorded at Beacon AV Lab: https://www.beaconavlab.com/