Investing Isn’t Just for Rich People—It’s for You, Too

I was 27 years old the first time I stepped into a wealth management firm.

I walked into a massive, 20-story building, recommended to meet with a wealth manager because I had built a real estate portfolio worth well over a million dollars. That portfolio, built with strategy, discipline, and risk-taking, had given me access to a world I had never stepped into before—a world of high-net-worth individuals, white-glove financial services, and elite money conversations.

But the moment I entered that space, I felt like I didn’t belong.

The First Time I Felt Wealthy—And The First Time I Felt Out of Place

I remember walking through the lobby, checking in, and waiting in a sleek, modern space that felt nothing like me. It was sterile, corporate, filled with people who looked nothing like me. No Black women in sight. No one my age. No one who gave me even the slightest sense that I belonged in that room.

Still, I was there for a reason.

A trusted person had suggested I speak with this firm to manage my growing wealth. And, to be honest, I thought, Maybe this is what rich people do. Maybe this was the next step on my wealth journey.

So I sat in that massive boardroom, waiting for the meeting to begin.

Two middle-aged white men walked in, sat down, and started laying out what they could do for me. They spoke in polished financial terms, using language I only partially understood. They were polite, professional, and calculated. They made it clear that my money was welcome here.

But I wasn’t sure I was.

When Wealth Feels Like a Club You’re Not Invited To

I don’t even remember exactly what they were offering.

What I do remember is that I didn’t trust it. Not because they were necessarily doing anything wrong, but because something in me knew that this space wasn’t built for me. I knew I was only in the room because my portfolio was valuable—not because they actually saw me as someone they were eager to serve.

And I left that meeting thinking:
No, thank you.

Not because I wasn’t interested in growing my wealth—I absolutely was. But because in that moment, I realized how many Black women never even get access to rooms like that. How many of us are never even in the position to say “yes” or “no” to those kinds of opportunities.

Because to even get in the door, you had to have already reached a certain financial level.

That experience stuck with me. It showed me how gated wealth management was, how many barriers were put in place before people like me could even get a seat at the table.

And it made me so damn grateful that things are different now.

Wealth Is No Longer Just for “Them”—It’s for Us, Too

Back then, if you weren’t already wealthy, you didn’t get invited into wealth-building spaces. You had to already have money, assets, and connections to even learn what to do next.

Now? We have access.

✔️ You don’t need a million-dollar real estate portfolio to start investing.
✔️ You don’t need a six-figure salary to build wealth.
✔️ You don’t need an invitation to learn how money actually works.

We have technology, financial literacy, and accessible investment platforms that remove the traditional barriers. And yet, so many Black women still believe investing isn’t for them—that it’s only for people with money to spare, not for those of us who are just trying to get by.

But let me tell you this right now:

Investing isn’t just for the rich. It’s how people GET rich.

Your Job is Your Seed—Now It’s Time to Grow It

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this:

The money you make from your job, business, or hustle is NOT your wealth—it’s the seed you plant to create wealth.

Wealthy people don’t just make money. They use money. They grow money.

And if you want to build real financial security, you have to start seeing your paycheck, your savings, and your side income as a tool to create more.

That means:
✔️ Taking a small percentage of your income and investing it—even if it’s just $50 a month.
✔️ Opening an investment account even if you don’t know everything yet.
✔️ Learning how money moves, so you can make it move for YOU.

Because let me tell you something: Inflation is already eating your savings. Your money is already losing value just sitting there.

If you don’t start making your money work for you, you will always have to work for it.

How to Start Investing (Without Feeling Overwhelmed)

If you’ve never invested before, I get it—it feels intimidating.

You hear terms like stocks, index funds, dividends, compound interest and think, Whew, this is too much.

But I promise you, it’s not as complicated as they make it seem. You don’t need a finance degree. You don’t need to spend hours a day studying the stock market. You don’t need to be rich to start.

Here’s what you do need:

✔️ A brokerage account. This is where you buy investments. Think of it like a bank account, but for wealth-building. Fidelity, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab are all great options.

✔️ A simple first investment. If you don’t know where to start, begin with an index fund like VOO (S&P 500) or an ETF like SCHD (high-dividend stocks). These are low risk, long-term growth investments that will make your money work for you.

✔️ A habit. Investing isn’t about getting rich overnight. It’s about consistently putting money in—month after month, year after year—so that your wealth grows over time.

If you can save, you can invest.
If you can pay a bill every month, you can invest every month.
If you can put money into someone else’s business (AKA buying things), you can put money into your OWN financial future.

It’s Time to Make the Shift

For years, I thought investing was something other people did.

Now? I know better.

And I want you to know better, too.

You don’t have to be rich to invest.
Investing is how you build wealth.
And the sooner you start, the better.

You don’t have to walk into a 20-story building and meet with some stuffy wealth managers to get started. You don’t need millions.

You just need a decision.

To stop letting your money sit in a savings account collecting dust.
To stop waiting for someday to get serious about your financial future.
To start putting your dollars to work for YOU.

Because if you don’t start investing, you’ll always be working for someone who did.

Let’s Talk

Are you investing yet? If not, what’s holding you back? Drop a comment below or join Wealthy Women Conversations, where we’re having real discussions about building wealth on OUR terms.

And if you’re ready to start investing but don’t know where to begin, grab a “Beginner’s Investment Journal” (you can find them on Amazon) to help you track, learn, and grow your money step by step.

Final Word: You Belong in Wealth-Building Spaces

If no one has ever told you this, hear me now:

Investing is for YOU.

You don’t need permission.
You don’t need a million dollars.
You just need to start.Because one day, you’ll look back and be so glad you did.

Slower, Wealthier, Happier