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Beyond the Pink Ribbon: Protecting Your Health, Your Wealth, and Your Future | Kaytlin Hall

Writer: Kaytlin Hall, MBA MFP®
Kaytlin Hall, MBA MFP®
2 days ago
3 min read
Protecting your health, wealth, and your future

By Kaytlin Hall 


October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while we often associate this time of year with pink ribbons, fundraising walks, and reminders to schedule mammograms, the meaning behind this month goes much deeper.


Breast cancer has touched my life in several ways. My aunt and one of my mother's closest friends are both breast cancer survivors. More recently, my friend Rebecca Rothstein has been navigating difficult preventive medical decisions after learning she carries a BRCA1 gene mutation, which increases her risk of developing certain cancers. Her mother, who also carries the mutation, is a breast cancer survivor.


Rebecca's story is especially remarkable because of the steps she and her family have taken for future generations. Through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-M), they were able to identify an embryo that did not carry the family's BRCA1 mutation.


Rebecca has also undergone a hysterectomy and is planning a preventive mastectomy as part of her ongoing healthcare journey. These are deeply personal decisions that require careful consideration, medical guidance, and tremendous courage.


The IVF and genetic testing cost approximately $25,000. While that's a significant financial commitment, it also highlights something I find incredibly important as a financial advisor: Financial planning isn't always about preparing for what might go wrong. Sometimes it's about creating the freedom to make the choices that matter most to us.


I'm grateful to Rebecca for sharing her experience and helping raise awareness. Her story is an incredible example of how medical advancements, thoughtful planning, and personal decisions can shape the future of a family.


As a financial advisor who works with women and families, I often talk about saving for retirement, investing for our children's education, and building long-term wealth. But financial planning is about more than reaching a certain number in an investment account.

It's about having options.


Whether that means taking time away from a career, pursuing fertility treatments, caring for a loved one, or making an important healthcare decision, having financial flexibility can make a meaningful difference.

For women in particular, financial independence means having a voice in these decisions and the resources to pursue what matters most to them.


As women, we often spend so much time taking care of everyone else that our own needs fall to the bottom of the list. We plan for our children's futures, manage family responsibilities, and make sure the people around us are supported.


But our own health, financial security, and long-term goals deserve that same attention.

This October, I encourage you to think beyond the pink ribbon. Learn about your family health history, have conversations with your healthcare providers, and take time to consider what financial independence and flexibility mean for you.


Because financial planning isn't just about growing your wealth. It's about giving yourself the freedom to make decisions that protect the life you've worked so hard to build.


Sources: 




Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management is an investment advisor located in California and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration of an investment advisor does not imply any specific level of skill or training and does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission. Gerber Kawasaki only transacts business in states in which it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Additional information about the firm is available on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website at adviserinfo.sec.gov.


Kaytlin Hall is a Financial Advisor of Santa Monica, California-based Gerber Kawasaki Inc., an SEC-registered investment firm with approximately ~$5.16B billion in assets under management and assets under advisement as of 10/05/26. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific tax or investment advice. Consult your tax professional regarding your individual situation. To determine which course of action may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Readers shouldn't buy any investment without doing their research to determine if the investments are suitable for their situation. “All investments involve risk and one should consult a financial advisor before making any investments. Past performance is not indicative of future results."

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