Barbara grew up relying on her father (the “R” of H&R Block), then her husband, to manage her inheritance. But early in Barbara's marriage, she found out her husband was a compulsive gambler. And here’s the insane part — she continued to let him handle all their finances because that’s how scared and intimidated she was by money.

That didn’t change until a devastating financial crisis became a personal wake-up call. Barbara received tax bills for over $1m for illegal deals her ex got them in. He’d left the country. She didn’t have anywhere close to $1m. And her father wouldn’t lend her the money. Barbara had three daughters — one just a baby, and she was not going to raise them on the street. That’s when Barbara knew she had to get smart. And she did.

Barbara shares her journey to financial independence in hopes of inspiring, and even better, motivating YOU to become smart (or smarter) with money… and earn more than you’re making now. It’s much simpler and more in your control than you may realize.

She discovered a surprising series of insights that all these women shared — insights that enabled them (and eventually, her) to get smart about money. Those insights became the core of her first book, Prince Charming Isn’t Coming: How Women Get Smart About Money (Penguin).

Suddenly, Barbara was a financial expert, with a whole new career, traveling the country educating women about money. But she couldn’t make money, at least not very much, no matter how hard she worked. That’s when her mentor, Karen McCall, told her, she was an underearner.

“I am not!” Barbara protested. “I’m a writer. Everyone knows writers don’t make money!!!”

Barbara truly believed that until she decided to focus her research on women’s earnings. Rather than concentrate on the wage gap and gender barriers, she turned her attention to the women who were breaking those barriers.