Money Matriarchs Project (January 30, 2025) —Professor Laura Mattia, Ph.D., CFP®, creator of the CFP Degree at the University of South Florida (USF) and the Women’s Money Empowerment program at the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) presents the Money Matriarchs Kickoff Luncheon to introduce a new free program for local women focused on wealth-building while incorporating community bonding.  The luncheon will introduce the overall program and will include an exercise around the meaning of money and values.  The objective of the lunch is to inspire women to join the Money Matriarchs Masterclass Community and to be part of the movement.

Members of the MM Masterclass Community will participate in monthly sessions called:  Wine, Wealth and Wisdom where Dr. Mattia will walk participants through her book and supplemental educational materials.  The format of the monthly meeting will be a combination of lectures, exercises and collaborative discussions around finances, personal growth, and empowering women to take control of their financial futures - and of course there will be wine.

Both the luncheon and masterclass community membership are free to women within the Sarasota community. This initiative is part of Dr. Mattia’s lifelong mission to inspire women to harness the power of money for good, in connection with her volunteer work at WRC and with her academic research, TEDx and publications.

The kickoff luncheon will be held at:

Laurel Oaks Country Club, 2700 Gary Player Blvd, Sarasota,

Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 11:30-1:30 pm

Please RSVP for the event or learn more about the free Money Matriarchs Masterclass Community:  Wine, Wealth and Wisdom by contacting Barbara at Bfreeborn@wealthenhancement.com or 941-879-9290.

When asked what inspires Dr. Mattia, she responded, “I have had the opportunity to serve many women over the years - helping them navigate financial decisions during times of stability and times of transition such as divorce, widowhood and even retirement. Watching them gain confidence and clarity around their finances is one of the most rewarding experiences I could ask for. It is more than just numbers – it is about creating a life of possibility, independence and purpose.”

About Dr. Laura

Dr. Mattia has devoted her career to empowering women through financial education and support. For the past twenty years, she has led financial workshops at Rutgers University, Texas Tech University, and the University of South Florida. She also conducts the workshop “Financial Decision-Making During Divorce” at the Women’s Resource Center in Sarasota and offers free advice weekly through the Women’s Money Empowerment hotline. Additionally, she has presented at over a dozen national conferences addressing the financial needs of widows.

Her academic research focuses on women and finance, and she has published numerous scientific articles on the subject. Dr. Mattia’s work has appeared in major publications like ABC News, Bloomberg, AARP, and MarketWatch. Her book, Gender on Wall Street: Uncovering Opportunities for Women in Financial Services, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2018. She also hosts the Money Matriarchs podcast, which aims to inspire women to use the power of money for positive change.

Currently serving as Senior Vice President at the Wealth Enhancement Group as a Fee-Only Fiduciary advisor, Dr. Mattia is driven by her passion to help women make informed financial decisions, believing that this empowerment contributes to a better world.

Dr. Mattia holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University, a Certification in Financial Planning (CFP®) from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and both an MBA in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science from Montclair State University.

Join the network of women who share passion for financial independence!