IWD 2026: Carla Ashley-Grant – On breaking barriers and redefining women’s wealth

FOR generations, wealth building was seen as a man’s domain. Men earned, invested, and managed, while women were often left out of the financial conversation. Today, that narrative is being rewritten by women who are not only contributing to household income but leading conversations about budgeting, saving and investing. Among them is Carla Ashley-Grant, a Sagicor Life financial advisor based at the company’s Montego Bay branch, who has become one of Sagicor’s top female performers and a passionate advocate for women’s financial empowerment. Through her work, she’s helping women across Jamaica build confidence, take control of their money, and redefine what it means to create and preserve wealth.

Over the years, Ashley-Grant has worked with women from all walks of life – professionals, entrepreneurs, single mothers, and young graduates who have sought her out to help them take control of their financial destinies. Through her work, she has witnessed a transformation in how women approach money.

“Women tend to be more long-term thinkers,” she said. “We’re not risk-averse, we’re risk-aware. We want strategies that balance growth with stability.”

This mindset shift is also evident in data. According to the Bank of Jamaica, women now make up over 50 per cent of the country’s small business owners and nearly 60 per cent of university graduates, enabling them to be a formidable economic force.

“People believe that women have to be professionals to invest, but this is clearly now through the window. Women are investing and taking advantage of compound interest and are now more confident investors,” Ashley-Grant said.

When it comes to building wealth, Ashley-Grant believes the foundation lies in discipline, planning, and protection. She advises women to start with a clear budget to control spending and track goals, supported by an emergency fund to cushion unexpected expenses. Investing early, she notes, allows women to benefit from compound growth, while consistent saving for retirement and maintaining adequate health and life insurance are essential to shielding themselves and their loved ones from financial hardship.

In her professional interactions with married women, Ashley-Grant has stressed the value of partnership, communication, and, even in marriage, independence.

“A mix of joint and separate accounts can be healthy in a marriage,” she explained. “Joint accounts promote transparency on shared goals, while personal accounts maintain independence.”

For the latter, she explained that it allows each person to handle small personal goals, like helping a relative, buying a gift, or saving toward something special, without needing to justify every transaction.

Meanwhile, she encourages new mothers to be proactive with financial planning by building an emergency fund covering three to six months of expenses and increasing insurance coverage to protect their family’s future. Starting early on education savings and creating a will that names a guardian are also key steps.

“Motherhood changes everything,” Ashley-Grant acknowledged. “One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is financial security, now and in the future.”

For mothers with adult children, Ashley-Grant recommends shifting from financial support to financial guidance. She urges parents to help their children budget, save, and take responsibility for expenses, especially if they live at home.

“Setting boundaries fosters independence and allows you to refocus on your own goals,” she noted. “Redirect what you would have spent supporting them into your retirement or new investments. It’s about passing on financial wisdom, not dependency.”

“If I could leave one message, it’s this: take charge of your financial journey,“ she said. ”Educate yourself, set goals, and start where you are. The earlier you start, the greater your confidence and security will be.”

As women continue to rise, breaking barriers and taking charge of their financial futures, advisors like Carla Ashley-Grant are ensuring that the next generation does so with the tools, knowledge, and courage to live enjoyable lives.

“Women are no longer standing on the sidelines of wealth,” she said. “We’re rewriting the rules and building futures, not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.”