Clairwell Financial Planning Bridget Borel

06/02/2026

I've made a point of reading more lately. Game changer. Just finished "Strangers" by Belle Burden, which everyone in the divorce world is talking about. What did you think? I think she's an excellent writer and I hope to see more from her. Currently in "The Great Money Reset" by the brilliant and hilarious Jill Schlesinger and listening to "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans. What are you reading?

06/01/2026

This online workshop is for you if you are contemplating or going through a divorce. Led by Bridget Borel, CFP, CDFA, attorney and divorce coach Alison McFadden of , and therapist Jennifer Williams of , this 90-minute workshop guides participants through all aspects of divorce. A therapist provides educational support for managing the emotional impact. A family law attorney covers legal matters like property division and child custody, and a financial professional addresses preparation and avoiding common pitfalls. Follow the link in our bio or in the comments below to register.

05/11/2026

Divorce can force major financial shifts—sometimes overnight—and it’s easy to make expensive decisions when you’re tired, grieving, or rushing to “just be done.” This workshop is a strategic reset for women in their 40s–60s who want to protect what they’ve built, avoid common pitfalls, and feel steady again. We’ll break down the most important financial changes divorce can trigger, from income and cash flow to assets, debt, credit, and retirement security. You’ll learn the five pillars of a post-divorce financial reset and how to prioritize them based on your real life (not a generic checklist). We’ll talk through the mistakes that cost women the most—especially in midlife—and how to spot them before you sign, move, or agree. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap for your next steps, plus practical language for approaching money conversations with professionals and co-parents. Come for clarity and confidence, leave with a plan that helps your next chapter feel possible.
Can’t make it live? No worries, sign up anyway and we’ll send the email right to your inbox! Find the link in our bio.

05/10/2026

Mother’s Day is messy.

I wish I could say differently 8 years after losing my mom and 7 years after my divorce, but there it is. While there’s plenty of peace years after losing my mom, the grief is still there. While I love my life on my own, there’s still weird dynamics to navigate around family.

But really, I think we are all in the same boat, regardless of whether our mothers are living, the quality of our relationships with them, or our marital status, holidays hold a magnifying glass over our interactions with others and ourselves. That intense focus can burn a bit.

It helps, though, that' I’ve learned to better mother myself over the years, and celebrate the generous and caring mothering I see all around me — in friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors.

So today, I’ll raise a glass to everyone who mothers in any capacity, and to all of us feeling big feelings about the women who raised us. It’s okay if your insides don’t quite match the commercial saccharine images of the day. Know that you’re not alone, and I see you.

05/01/2026

It's May Day in Annapolis and I'm absolutely leaning into the celebration of flowers to mark a major milestone for a client. One of the perks of the job. 🌸💐🌷 WealthManagement

04/07/2026

From the newsletter. Want to get gems like these in your inbox? Drop a 💰or "subscribe" in the comments to sign up for our newsletter. Or find more in the link in bio.

We get it. A sudden downturn in the market does NOT feel good, especially if you are already in or near retirement. As I write in our latest blog post, taking a breath and a step back can help us gain the historical perspective of how the market has recovered from previous drops. Getting out of the market in a downturn can be one of the most damaging moves an investor can make. If we have extra cash on hand, now may be a good time to invest (so as to take advantage of a recovery when it comes). AND for our financial planning clients, we want you to rest assured knowing that WE PLANNED FOR THIS. Market drops and volatility are already assumed in your plan.

As with many things in life, the further we step back, the more optimistic the picture looks. By the end of April 2025, the S&P 500 year-to-date return was -4.92%. But let’s zoom out to the year end return of the S&P for 2025 — +17.9%.

Do I know that our portfolio returns will be positive by double digits come the end of the year 2026? Nope. I don’t.

Here’s what I do know. We don’t spend much time talking about investment performance here because we can’t control the market. I’d much rather spend time and energy on things that we CAN control.

They are less sexy than chasing market returns, but they work — living within our means, saving regularly, and choosing an investment strategy that is evidence-based and optimizes your financial plan.

The plan leads. Not the investments.

Some of you have been deploying cash into your accounts during this downturn. Honestly, that trust in our strategy has me doing a little happy dance for you, especially if calling yourself an investor feels new and out of your comfort zone.

This is how we do it — tariffs, war, global pandemics — we stay the course.

03/19/2026

Clairwell Conversation Circles are coming back this spring! On April 16, my co-facilitator is poet and musician Catherine Sipher. We will be discussing the topic of "At the Threshold", starting with Catherine's poem of the same name. We will meet virtually, 7-8:30pm ET.

What is a conversation circle? It's a structured conversation amongst a small group of women where we explore a particular topic in order to get to know ourselves and each other.

There is no charge to attend but registration is required. Please see the link in comments to register, and feel free to invite a friend! The first five participants will receive a copy of Catherine's poetry memoir, "Barely a Whisper" as a gift from Clairwell Financial Planning.

Photo by Pedro Ramos on Unsplash

We'd love to have you join us for a Conversation Circle. These structured conversations in a small group foster connection with ourselves and other women. Please help us fill our circles in a meaningful way by completing the brief survey below. Your responses remain anonymous. A confirmation email w...

02/20/2026

Divorce is often the single biggest financial transaction in a divorcee's life. Get informed and get guidance to avoid costly mistakes that could follow you for decades.

02/01/2026

Divorce is one of the most disorienting life transitions — and reliable, central support has been missing for far too long.
That’s why I’m honored to be featured in the February issue of Divorce Guide Magazine, created by — the only active, U.S. nationwide magazine dedicated entirely to divorce education and support.
Proud to be part of this work and this growing movement. Link in bio!

01/29/2026

What's a CFP professional who works with divorcées reading? The books piled up on a person’s nightstand can provide a fascinating peek into their inner-world. In trying to get acquainted with someone new, it’s one of the first questions I like to ask — “Reading anything interesting lately?” In case you are single and on the dating scene, trust me when I tell you the answer can reveal important data here! I say this because I once went out with a guy whose response was, “I don’t read unless I have to.”

Hmmmm…telling.

I’m one of those people who has LOTS of books on my nightstand at any given time. Some of them I’ll finish. Some of them I won’t. Some of them I’ll read again and again. Many of them are connected to my profession as an advisor, but I like to have some variety.

One of my goals for the year was to read more. I want to actively avoid what my kids call “brain rot,” that black hole of technology and social media that can so easily still our time and attention if we aren’t purposeful in how we use it.

Here's what’s on my nightstand now...
Let me know what you're reading and what you'd recommend I add to my list. And let me know if you want in on a book discussion of Jen Hatmaker's memoir about divorce, Awake, coming soon!