Although you've reached the last pages of this book, I hope you see this as a beginning rather than an end. We've traversed a lot of material together. You were invited to think about how your beliefs about money may be undermining your financial freedom. We delved into all the asset classes, looking at what they are, how they work, and where you can find investments that align with your values. We also talked about how you can shift your relationship with money so it is no longer a taboo topic but rather a subject that you can feel comfortable discussing with a trusted group of family or friends. Most importantly, we asked you to consider the possibility of investing in an entirely new way.

If you've reached this point in the book, I hope you've been moved and encouraged in some way. Perhaps you were inspired by the stories you read of the pioneering women who helped launch values-aligned investing or the stories of the women leading the charge today. Maybe you feel more confident in your knowledge of investment terminology, your investment options, and ways you can educate yourself going forward. You might have already downloaded some of the tools and started taking action with some of your assets. I hope all of these things are true—and more!

There are a few core concepts that are important to take with you.

YOUR MONEY MATTERS.   My first hope is that you've come to understand that your money matters—probably more than you realized. Where we invest has an impact on the world—for better or for ill. As women, we have the opportunity to use our money to create the kind of world we want to see for ourselves and future generations. The potential is already there. We just need to step into it!

YOU CAN BE A SUCCESSFUL INVESTOR.   Second, I hope you feel more knowledgeable, confident, and empowered around your money than you did on page one. I hope you have come to believe that investing doesn't have to be an onerous task, something we need to pass on to the men in our lives, or avoid. It can be interesting, even fascinating. And it is something that we as women can absolutely do—and do well!

While it's true that successful investing takes some work and attention, that doesn't mean the process can't be fun. And that's especially true if you choose to learn, or invest with, other women. Investing is definitely something that you can take on and succeed with. As Oprah Winfrey famously said, “The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work.”

YOUR CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.   Third, I hope that you now know that you can invest with your values without giving up financial return. It's not an either-or situation. You can truly have both. Adding your values to your investments is an integral part of the overall investment process. Not only do you not give up financial return, you also gain peace of mind, a sense of inner integrity, and a new level of fulfillment around your money. You can know your money is growing, be proud of what you invest in, and be endlessly delighted by the positive impact you can have.