Lauren Smith, Financial Advisor for Women

In my most recent article, “How To Help Prepare Your Child To Manage Their Finances In College,” I focus on a common gap I see with families.

Kids head off to college prepared academically… but not always financially.

That’s where small, intentional conversations and setting expectations ahead of time can make a big difference.

Read more here: https://ow.ly/yx8P50Z19K7

In my most recent article, “How To Help Prepare Your Child To Manage Their Finances In College,” I talk about one area of preparation that often gets overlooked.

Not saving for college tuition, but the actual day-to-day financial decisions your child will start making on their own once they are away from home.

Spending, saving, credit, trade-offs… this is where real habits are formed.

Here are a few conversations I encourage families to have before they step on campus: https://ow.ly/MJoF50Z19vP

This month marks Claire Holmes’ 6-year anniversary with Winstone.

As our Director of Marketing and a member of our leadership team, Claire has helped shape not just how we communicate, but how we operate. She brings a thoughtful, intentional approach to everything she does, paired with the ability to turn ideas into something real and meaningful.

She’s also someone who consistently shows up for the team: steady, organized, and always thinking a few steps ahead.

We’re incredibly grateful for her leadership and all that she’s contributed over the years. Thank you, Claire!

I recently did a color analysis with Your Best Colors, and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I got out of it.

I’m someone who naturally looks for data and facts to guide decisions (It feels like my habits as a CFP® professional never take a day off 😅), so this felt like an interesting way to bring a little more data and intention into something as simple as getting dressed.

Going in, I didn’t have many expectations. But after testing out a bunch of different color wheels, I found out I’m what’s called a “Deep Winter” – and it actually made a lot of sense. I’ve always gravitated toward what I’d describe as jewel tones, and this helped explain why those colors tend to feel the most “me” and most confident.

The idea is pretty simple: when you understand which colors naturally complement you, it makes it easier to choose pieces that just work, whether you’re getting dressed in the morning or shopping for something new.

Not life-changing… but definitely eye-opening in a small, practical way.

So I’m curious… has anyone else done this before? What was your color designation?

In my most recent article, “What to Know About Helping Your Mom Navigate Finances Later In Life,” I share a few practical ways to start preparing for a role many people don’t expect—but often step into.

Start here: https://www.laurensmithfa.com/resources/helping-your-mom-navigate-finances

Mother’s Day is more than a celebration. It’s about recognizing the role so many women play in leading their families forward. Not just the moms who raised us, but our friends, sisters, daughters, and grandmothers.

In my work, I have the privilege of walking alongside mothers at all stages of life: having babies, raising families, supporting their adult children, becoming grandmothers… all navigating important financial decisions along the way.

So to all the moms out there who do more than most people realize: Thank you.

The care, the effort, and the thoughtfulness you bring to your families makes a lasting impact.

I’m grateful for the women I have the opportunity to work with every day.

Happy Mother’s Day.

In my most recent article, “What To Know About Helping Your Mom Navigate Finances Later In Life,” I talk about a transition I see often… but one that many families aren’t fully prepared for.

At some point, many adult children (especially women) find themselves stepping in to help their mom navigate financial decisions.

The families who handle this best aren’t reacting in the moment – they’ve started the conversation early.

Here are a few practical ways to approach it thoughtfully: https://www.laurensmithfa.com/resources/helping-your-mom-navigate-finances

About a year ago, I decided to try something completely new: Tennis.

What started as a few lessons turned into league play, extra drills, live ball, and honestly, a pretty big part of my life.

I’m a competitive person, so in any free time I had, I was trying to get better—lessons, Tennis 101, early morning workouts, whatever I could fit in. About a month ago, I finally won a fun doubles tournament with a friend, and I have to admit, it felt really good to see the work pay off.

I’m pausing to reflect because my year-round league just wrapped, and more than anything, I feel incredibly proud of the commitment I made. I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, met some incredible people, and even ended up taking a trip with new friends along the way.

It’s been eye-opening in a lot of ways, and if you ask my friends, it’s basically my whole personality now.

Here’s to continuing to try new things… even when you’re not sure how it’ll go.

Last week, Winstone had the privilege of sponsoring and participating in GiGi's Playhouse Sugar Land’s “Be-YOU-Tiful Fashion Show & Luncheon.”

For those who may not be familiar, GiGi’s Playhouse is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome and support for their families. It’s an organization we’ve been proud to support for many years.

Some of our team members, Dylan Daggett and Antonino Green, also participated in the fashion show, serving as escorts to several of the models—an experience we won’t soon forget.

It was an inspiring afternoon and a meaningful way for our team to stay connected to the communities we serve. We’re grateful to support organizations that are creating real impact through education, empowerment, and community. And we encourage you to learn more about the great work being done at GiGi’s Playhouse: https://gigisplayhouse.org/sugarland/



𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘙𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘎𝘪’𝘴 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦.

One of the most common dynamics I see: one partner handles the finances, and the other feels slightly out of the loop.

It works—until it doesn’t.

In my latest article, 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, I share how to close that gap in a way that builds confidence, not tension.

Click here to read more: https://ow.ly/b09050YNwmj

Two people can have the exact same net worth—and be in very different financial positions.

That’s why understanding your number is just the starting point. How it’s structured, how it’s growing, and how it supports your goals matters just as much.

In my latest article, 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝗪𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐭, I break this down in a simple, practical way.

Click here to read more: https://ow.ly/flgR50YCnSg