Financial Health

Something I learned in nutrition school is that health comes in every size and shape and that to be truly healthy, we need to look at ourselves and our communities from a holistic lens. In the past, many of us were taught that discussing money (in all its forms: having it, not having enough of it, and what to do with it) was rude. We accept this, move on, and try to singularly figure out an institution that is much older and more encompassing than what most of us have the time or bandwidth to figure out. That being said, what many of us forget is that our physical health and wellbeing are often directly correlated with our financial health and wellbeing. This goes far beyond the simple act of having money and has much more to do with the emotional implication of money and the confidence that comes with a financial education. Simply getting to know your own financial situation and feeling a sense of agency in your relationship with your investments improves your overall health markers. With all of this riding on it, why wouldn’t you want to know the next best steps in improving your relationship with your finances?

What should seem obvious is sometimes overlooked when trying to provide a self-guided financial education. So, it’s worth pointing out that planning a financial future for someone in their 30s is going to look significantly different from someone who is 55+. This is where the information overload out there in the great swamp of a google education can be concurrently plentiful, yet lacking. Having the opportunity to learn from and chat with someone who has catered their user-friendly information directly to your situation is agreeably invaluable. So, if after thinking about all this you’re feeling like, “Great! Sign me up - where do I turn now?” You’re in luck. Woodside Farms is so excited about our new event series, “Woodside Wellness Chats.” These events are free to Chickahominy Falls and the greater community. That means everyone’s invited to the party! They’re held on the second Monday of every month and the topic rotates. Last month, our chat was a brilliantly thorough discussion on the facts and myths of cancer followed by a Q&A session, given by Dr. Mary Helen Hackney, the Medical Director of Community Oncology at VCU Massey Cancer Center. In addition to a comprehensively informative discussion, guests were also welcomed to a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception following the Q&A.

This month, our discussion is surrounding the common pitfalls and best practices for those 55+ when it comes to their financial future. Does this sound like information you or someone you know and love would benefit from? Gail Letts, CEO of Letts Consult, will moderate a panel conversion with Wealth Advisors Bonnie Sewell from Dakota Wealth Management and Alexis Grason of FJY Financial to discuss how to manage and protect your financial security. As mentioned above, this event is FREE but seating is limited so check out our website at for more information and to reserve your seats today!