Mind the Gap (The Pay Gap, That Is)

This guest-authored opinion piece reflects the author's opinion and not necessarily the opinion(s) of AdvisorCheck.

I was raised in a household where we worked. And I mean worked. I’m a third-generation Wyoming ranch girl, which sounds rugged—and it was—though technically I grew up in the "city" (Evanston, Wyoming, population: almost enough for a football team).

But city or not, my dad made sure I was not spared from chores. Not on his watch. For a solid year, our “family night activity” was digging postholes for what I swear was a 50-mile-long fence. And to this day, our family reunions involve things like pouring concrete and building barns—because what’s a celebration without manual labor and a post-hole digger?

One year I made the radical suggestion that maybe—just maybe—we didn’t need to keep the antique tractor we’d acquired sometime around the Civil War. Let’s just say the suggestion was not well received, and I ended up helping build a 5,000-square-foot barn in penance.

But here’s where it gets interesting: in our family, there were two girls and three boys, and we all worked. Sometimes I helped with cement; other days, I was on dinner duty. And thanks to my progressive mama, making dinner paid just as much as digging posts. She didn’t believe in “boy” jobs and “girl” jobs—and she sure as heck didn’t believe in unequal pay.

Unfortunately, women in the real world today don’t have my mom cutting their checks.

The Hidden Cost of the Gender Pay Gap

According to a 2022 AAUW report, women who work full-time year-round make about 83 cents for every dollar that white men earn. That’s not just a few cents—it’s hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a career. To put it in financial planning terms (my love language), that means a woman either has to save more of her income or end up with a less comfy retirement. Translation: I skip the fabulous boots today, while my male counterpart gets both the stylish footwear and the fully loaded retirement account. Rude.

And it starts early. Just one year after college, women are already earning only 82% of what men do—even when you control for things like education, training, marital status, and hours worked. That gap follows us through life, affecting our ability to buy homes, pay off student loans, and save for retirement. The real kicker? On average, women retire with only 70% of the income men have… and we live longer. (Great.)

What's a Girl to Do?

Now listen—I get it. No one wants to choose between a sparkly new handbag and a boring old IRA contribution. I know who’s winning that race most days. So, how do we close that gap and keep our sparkle?

Here are five fearless steps:

1. Go Where the Money Is

I’m only half-kidding when I say: go into finance. Or tech. Or engineering. Or any other field that's been historically labeled as a “boy job.” These tend to pay better—and no one is putting a “no girls allowed” sign on the door anymore. Need proof? Just listen to my Fearless Females podcast—we’ve had rocket scientists, venture capitalists, and CEOs who wear heels and hustle. The world is changing, and you belong in any room that interests you. Go where the money (and the meaning) are.

2. Ask for What You Want

Salary conversations? Don’t go in blind. Do your homework: Glassdoor, Indeed, temp agencies, your own network—all are fair game. Get the data, and go in ready to negotiate. And if you hear “no,” don’t retreat—ask what it would take to get to that number. If your company can’t tell you how to grow, it might not be the right place for your brilliance.

3. Toot Your Own Horn (Yes, Really)

I know, I know—this one’s hard. I spent years in operations, quietly making everything run while someone else got the credit. But here’s the truth: your work deserves to be seen. That doesn’t mean bragging; it means communicating your wins. A quick weekly email with what you’ve accomplished. A monthly check-in. Keep yourself top of mind when promotions (and raises) roll around. And if you need inspiration, check out my podcast episode with Laycee Kolkman, a VP in engineering who’s mastered the art of getting noticed without being obnoxious.

 4. Get a Mentor (Or as I like to call them: a Professional Fairy Godmother)

If you want to go far, don’t go it alone. Behind every confident, well-paid, glass-ceiling-smashing woman I know is someone who’s walked the path before her—who wants to help her succeed. A good mentor isn’t just a sounding board; she’s your hype woman, your strategic advisor, and sometimes your reality check.  You can have a couple of mentors at once for different areas of life. 

Not sure where to find one? Start with women you admire—inside your company, in professional groups, on podcasts (ahem). Reach out with curiosity, not a résumé. You’re not asking them to plan your whole career; you’re asking for insight, perspective, and maybe a coffee chat that turns into a career game-changer.

Bonus tip? When you become the mentor someday, pass that magic on. It’s how we build empires—one fearless woman at a time.

5. Be Fearless

This one’s close to my heart. I’ve seen it over and over—women holding back from going after that next role or leadership opportunity because they feel like they need to check every single box on the job description. Meanwhile, guys read the same list, nod confidently at a couple of bullet points, and say, “Yeah, I’ve got this.”

Confidence isn’t about knowing it all—it's about believing you’ll figure it out along the way.

So stop waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect resume. Say yes. Raise your hand. Speak up in that meeting. Apply for the job.

Channel your inner Holly—the adorable three-year-old at my church who raises her hand for everything, even when she has no idea what she’s volunteering for. She’s confident. She’s enthusiastic. And half the time, she crushes it. Be Holly.

Ladies, I’m here for you. And I’m fired up about closing the pay gap. Because when we do? I’ll be sipping hot chocolate in France, buying those sparkly retirement-presents without guilt. And so will you.

Let’s make it happen—together.

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Want to keep that money momentum going? Let's talk. I promise financial planning doesn’t have to be dry… and I always bring snacks.

Note: This article is Part 2 of a series written by Lorie Jones CFP®, MBA and Wealth Manager at Fearless Financial Advisors. Check out Part 1 here.