Creating Our Own Table: Navigating Career Pivots with Clarity and Confidence
Life rarely moves in straight lines. More often, it takes us on winding paths, asking us to adapt, shift, and pivot in ways we never expected. Some pivots are subtle — a new role, a shift in focus, a chance we choose to take. Others arrive in the form of life events we didn’t ask for but must rise to meet: illness, caregiving, career disruption, divorce, widowhood, retirement, or even the spark to start something new.
I’ve lived through more than a few pivots myself. Each one taught me something about resilience, about listening to that inner voice that says “where there is a will, there is a way.” And each one eventually led me here — to co-founding Sorelle Wealth Partners, a boutique firm dedicated to helping women in transition find clarity and confidence in their financial and personal lives.
This is the story of why those pivots mattered — and how they shaped not just my career, but the way I show up for the women we serve.
The Caregiving Pivot
Several years ago, my mother fell ill. As an only child, the responsibility of caregiving fell to me, and without hesitation, I stepped into that role. I moved back home to help her — and in doing so, I also stepped into one of the most profound pivots of my life.
Caring for a parent changes you. It forces you to see life differently — to value time, health, and family in ways you can’t truly understand until you’re in it. It also forced me to rethink my own career path. During that season, I made the decision to pursue financial planning in earnest.
I became an Accredited Financial Counselor® and eventually took a role as a paraplanner. It was a humbling, exciting shift. For the first time, I was working directly with families on the real, everyday decisions that could help them feel more secure and confident about their futures. I knew I was in the right place.
The Military Spouse Pivot
Before that, my life as a military spouse had already trained me to pivot more than once. Military life means moving frequently, adapting to new communities, and learning to manage the home front when your partner is deployed. I wasn’t a passenger in my husband’s career, but his career shaped mine in ways I couldn’t ignore.
I learned to be resourceful. I learned what it means to hold everything together when life feels uncertain. And I learned what many women already know: that we often absorb the quiet, everyday responsibilities of household and financial life — sometimes without recognition, but always with impact.
Those experiences made me deeply empathetic to women who juggle caregiving, careers, and family responsibilities all at once. They also gave me a front-row seat to the transitions women face more often than men — stepping in and out of the workforce, putting their own aspirations on pause, or managing everything alone during seasons of change.
The Entrepreneurial Pivot
Fast forward to my most recent pivot: leaving my previous firm and co-founding Sorelle Wealth Partners.
The decision wasn’t easy. I had built relationships, gained experience, and grown within that firm. But over time, I realized something fundamental: I couldn’t find a seat at the table where I was. My voice, perspective, and vision for serving women in transition didn’t fully fit within the structure that already existed.
So instead of waiting for a seat to open, I chose to create a new table altogether. Together with two incredible women — each bringing her own depth of expertise, empathy, and vision — we launched Sorelle Wealth Partners. Our mission is clear: to provide the kind of wealth planning support that truly meets women where they are, especially during life’s pivotal transitions.
That decision felt both exhilarating and terrifying. But as with every pivot before, fear wasn’t a roadblock — it was fuel.
The Emotional Side of a Pivot
Every pivot I’ve experienced has come with a swirl of emotions: excitement for the new, fear of the unknown, empowerment in the decision, and sometimes even grief for what was left behind.
If you’ve ever stood at a crossroads in your life, you know this feeling. It’s a mix of possibility and vulnerability. You’re aware that your decisions will shape not only your career but also your relationships, your finances, and your future.
For women, these emotions are amplified because so many of our pivots aren’t purely professional. They’re intertwined with caregiving, family responsibilities, and deeply personal choices. The pivot isn’t just about a job change — it’s about identity, purpose, and survival.
And yet, in those moments, we often find a well of strength we didn’t know existed. That’s the magic of a pivot: it reveals what you’re truly capable of.
Why Women Pivot More Often
One of the reasons I’m so passionate about serving women in transition is because I see, again and again, how frequently women are asked to pivot.
Caregiving: Whether for children, aging parents, or both, women often step away from careers or reshape their lives to meet the needs of those they love.
Household Management: Even when working full-time, many women carry the mental and emotional load of managing household finances, schedules, and daily responsibilities.
Relationship Changes: Divorce, widowhood, or supporting a partner’s career can each force significant financial and personal adjustments.
Later-Life Entrepreneurship: It appears that increasingly, women over 50 are starting businesses as part of their “next chapter.” It’s exciting, but it also comes with risks and financial complexity.
These aren’t small pivots. They’re life-altering transitions — and too often, women navigate them without the clarity, confidence, or support they deserve.
Building Sorelle: Our Own Table
Sorelle Wealth Partners was born out of this recognition. My partners and I believe women deserve more than a seat at someone else’s table — they deserve a table designed for them, with their needs, challenges, and aspirations in mind.
At Sorelle, we are more than financial planners. We are coaches, confidants, and advocates. We blend technical expertise with empathy, using tools like behavioral finance, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) insights, and project-based planning to create strategies that honor both the numbers and the emotions behind them.
We help women:
Gain clarity about where they are today,
Build confidence in their ability to make decisions, and
Create connection with a supportive community that lifts them up.
It’s about more than managing wealth. It’s about aligning finances with life’s deeper values — and empowering women to take ownership of their futures.
Practical Lessons from My Pivots
Looking back on my own pivots, a few lessons stand out — lessons I now share with clients navigating their own transitions:
Fear is Not the Enemy
Every meaningful pivot comes with fear. Instead of avoiding it, let it fuel you. Fear is often a sign that you’re stepping into something that matters.Surround Yourself with Support
None of us can do it alone. Find the women (and men) who lift you up, cheer you on, and help you get back up when you fall. Community is everything.Clarity Comes from Action
You don’t need to have every answer before you take the first step. Start where you are. Each small action builds clarity and confidence.Your Next Chapter Is Yours to Write
Whether you’re re-entering the workforce, starting a business, or rebuilding after loss, remember: your story isn’t over. A pivot is just the beginning of the next chapter.
An Invitation to Reflect
If you’re reading this and find yourself at a crossroads, I want to invite you to pause and reflect:
What transition are you facing right now?
What emotions are swirling for you — fear, excitement, uncertainty, hope?
What would it look like to approach this pivot not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity?
These are the kinds of questions we explore with our clients every day at Sorelle. Because your financial life isn’t just about numbers — it’s about meaning, purpose, and the kind of life you want to build.
Your Next Pivot Could Be the Start of Something Extraordinary
The truth is, none of us avoid pivots. Life will continue to ask us to adapt, shift, and grow. But how we move through those pivots — and who we invite to walk alongside us — makes all the difference.
I’ve lived through caregiving, career shifts, military life, and entrepreneurship. Each pivot came with challenges. Each also came with unexpected gifts. And each one has prepared me to serve women who are navigating their own transitions.
If you’re facing a pivot right now — whether chosen or thrust upon you — know this: you don’t have to navigate it alone.
At Sorelle Wealth Partners, we’re here to help you gain clarity, build confidence, and step into your next chapter with courage and purpose.
👉 Let’s start the conversation. Your pivot doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It can be the spark that ignites your next great chapter. Reach out, and let’s explore what’s possible together.
Jackie Kelly is an investment adviser representative with Savvy Advisors, Inc. (“Savvy Advisors”). Savvy Advisors is an SEC registered investment advisor. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the speakers and authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Savvy Advisors. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but are not assured as to accuracy. Sorelle Wealth Partners is a business name used for marketing purposes. All advisory services are offered through Savvy Advisors. Sorelle Wealth Partners and Savvy are not under common ownership or control.
