"It's easy to prioritize reinvestment into your business, team, or marketing over setting money aside for emergencies—but without a reserve fund, you're one unexpected hiccup away from financial disaster.” - Sarah Nicole Nadler

Last week, the Federal Reserve announced they're holding interest rates steady—despite earlier promises to cut them twice in 2025. Why the shift? Inflation has proven more stubborn than expected, and economic growth is slowing down.

In fact, in their report the Fed now predicts just 1.7% economic growth this year. That's down from 2.8% in 2024.

What does this mean for you, as a female entrepreneur who wants to use her business profits to build personal wealth?

Let's talk about it.

Tip #1. The Fear Response (Hint: You're NOT The Problem)

The media likes to throw around big headlines shouting about how the economy is slowing down, and that results in many people going into cash-hoarding mode.

You'll notice more money objections. Customers buying less, delaying investments, and hesitating to spend.

First thing to know is this:

Cash-hoarding is just a mechanical response to fear-mongering media. It's not you. It's the headlines.

Remember if you have a failed launch, or seem to be hearing a lot more money objections to your offer than usual, this is not a reflection on your business or your offers.

The Fix: Sharpen your sales skills. In a tighter economy, buyers need more trust and confidence to take action. You may need to get better at guiding potential clients from cold to close.

As a female entrepreneur, this is your cue to lean in—not back down.

If you're a content creator, use this opportunity to educate your audience. Don't let them panic! Instead, use educational content (reels, captions, carousels, etc) to address the fear and overcome the objection. This builds trust and will make them more likely to shop or spend with you.

And most importantly—don’t take hesitation personally. It’s not you. It’s the market. Which means it’s temporary and beatable.

Tip #2. High Interest + Inflation = Time To Protect Your Business

Let's be real: inflation isn't just some abstract concept.

You feel it every time you fill up your gas tank, order inventory, or pay for groceries. When both inflation and interest rates are high—like they are right now—it creates a perfect storm that can quietly chip away at your profit margin if you’re not prepared.

Here’s how it plays out for a lot of female entrepreneurs:

• Your expenses go up. Supplies, services, software—everything costs more.

• Your clients are more cautious. They can delay purchasing or try to negotiate lower rates.

• And if a surprise expense hits? You’re suddenly putting it on a high-interest credit card or scrambling for a loan—at the worst possible time (= when rates are high).

I’ve seen it too many times: a six-figure business owner with great offers, steady revenue, but no financial buffer.

One slow month,

One delayed client payment,

...or one emergency—and the whole operation starts to wobble.

And with interest rates this high, borrowing your way out can quickly become a debt trap.

The Fix: Start building (or padding) your emergency fund now. Even if it’s just $500 or $1,000 to start with, a cash cushion can give you the breathing room to make smart decisions—not panic-driven ones.

If you already have an emergency fund, now’s the time to revisit:

• How much it covers. Can it get you through 1-3 months of operating expenses?

• Where it’s kept. If it’s just sitting in a checking account earning 0.01%, you’re missing an opportunity—shift it into a high-yield savings account (more on that in a minute! 😉)

• How it fits into your bigger wealth strategy. Your emergency fund isn’t just a safety net. It’s the beginning of a great habit (saving) which will allow you to also start an investment fund to get your money working for you.

Want a practical benchmark?

I tell my clients to think of their emergency fund like business armor. It’s not exciting—but it protects everything else you’ve worked so hard to build.

And for the record?

You don’t have to pay off your debt before you start saving and investing. Inside Confident InvestHER Academy, I teach you how to strike that balance—so you’re building wealth while staying protected, even in a high-interest economy.

Tip #3. Profit Margins Matter (Now More Than Ever!)

As costs rise across the board—whether it’s software subscriptions, materials, or even team wages—it’s easy to see your revenue staying the same while your take-home dwindles.

That’s why it’s so important to zoom in on your margins and make small adjustments that protect your bottom line.

Take my client Audrey, for example.

She was feeling burned out, trying to keep up with rising expenses without increasing her client load.

Instead of working harder, we did a quick margin audit.

The solution? A simple 5% price increase.

It was enough to restore her cash flow and eliminate the pressure to take on more clients! She maintained her freedom and her profitability 😉

If you're frowning right now 'cuz you have NO CLUE what your profit margins are (or how to track them) please know:

That's totally normal.

BUT...

If you can find a simple system to follow for keeping track, you will find that tiny shifts make a BIG difference!

Grab my FREE Business Budget Template & Expense Tracker for Female Entrepreneurs

With every episode of Fierce Feminine Finance, I like to empower you with a POWERFUL free resource that goes with the episode which you can implement right away to create some of the same results, if not better, in your business.

This week, since we are talking about tracking your profits during times of high inflation, I want to invite you to grab a copy of my simple yet powerful tracker bundle. It will help you get way more clarity than QuickBooks or your accountant can offer. Track income, expenses, and profit margins in real time, so you can make CEO-level decisions with confidence.

You can download it right away by clicking here or on the photo above 👆

Tip #4. High Rates = Higher Returns on Your Savings (Don't Miss Out!)

There’s a silver lining to high interest rates that most people overlook—your cash savings can finally start working for you again.

For years, traditional savings accounts earned next to nothing.

But now, with the Fed holding rates high, high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs), annuities, certificates of deposit (CDs), and other fixed-rate products are paying out at rates we haven’t seen in over a decade.

This is huge, especially for women who:

• Want a secure place to park their emergency fund

• Are saving up to make a big investment (think: rental property, buy a business, etc)

• Have short-term savings goals (like a house, car, or maternity leave fund)

Here’s a short list of financial products that actually become MORE attractive when interest rates are high (like they are right now), and how to use them:

• Move your savings out of low-interest checking accounts and into HYSAs that are paying 4%+.

• Consider locking in a portion of your savings into CDs, money market accounts or annuities for predictable, fixed returns—especially if you’re not planning to touch that money for 6–12 months.

• Allocate a portion of your investment contributions to newly-issued bonds such as the US Treasury Bond.

• Consider becoming a lender yourself! Private lending to startups, small businesses, inventors or real estate investors can create a passive income stream.

Tip #5. Buy The Dip: The Window of Opportunity You'll Want to Be Ready For

Even though the Fed is holding interest rates steady for now, they’ve publicly stated that they still plan to cut rates twice in 2025. If that happens, a major opportunity is coming—and those who are prepared will earn big returns.

When rates drop, it often signals the start of:

• Lower mortgage and loan rates

• Greater access to business capital

• Improved consumer confidence

• And often… a boost in the stock market

If you’ve been considering buying real estate, investing in large equipment for your business, or getting started in the stock market, this could be your golden window.

Like my clients Shannon and Molly. They built up their savings while their $7-figure business had high profits, and when the timing was right they invested in a strip mall that now gives them passive income from rents as well as expansion space and a new location for their business.

This is what seasoned investors call "buying the dip." And it’s one of the fastest ways to build wealth if you're playing the long game.

Imagine being able to scoop up shares of a company you believe in at 10–20% less than last quarter. That’s the kind of move that pays off 5, 10, even 20 years down the line.

But here's the key: you have to know what you're buying and why.

Preparation is key. That means:

• Improving your creditworthiness and financial documentation now

• Building cash reserves so you’re ready to move when the time is right

• Making an investment plan in advance—so you’re not reacting, you’re responding

How To Prepare: Start Thinking Like the 1%. The difference between the wealthy 1% and the middle class often comes down to how they think about and treat money. Read books (contact me on social media for a list of my favs). Attend my live trainings. Follow the wealthy 1% stock choices (this isn't financial advice... I said FOLLOW them, not necessarily invest in the same things!).

The transparency and access to the movements of the wealthy 1% we have today are your greatest weapon and shield against financial disaster. Use it.

Summary

Your business is your passion, but your finances are your ticket to freedom. By understanding how markets move and what that means for you, you can transform your full time business into a legacy of personal wealth and freedom. If you're ready to step into the role of being an InvestHER in your business, not a hustler, and learn to be a good steward of your money, click here to learn more about my Confident InvestHER Academy program.