Financial futures
Women are taking a leading role at the financial firm Cambridge Partners; they share with Avenues key strategies to help women navigate their financial journey.
At Cambridge Partners, a team of five women is reshaping the way financial advice is delivered – with empathy, clarity, and a focus on empowerment. Pip Kean, Ashley Salt, Liv Winchester, Margot Lensen, and Hannah Meikle sit at the heart of the firm’s advisory team, bringing a collaborative and considered approach to guiding clients through their financial journeys.
While their work supports a wide range of clients, the team has developed a specialised offering known as Women’s Wealth – a series of targeted services designed to empower women to take control of their financial futures. It’s a response to the reality that women often face unique financial circumstances, from career breaks and pay gaps to longer life expectancy and lower lifetime savings.
“It’s just being able to help people begin to understand what they need to know to be able to make decisions for themselves, but also give them the power and belief that they can do it,” says Margot Lensen, Financial Adviser.
That sense of empowerment is central to everything the team does. Financial advice, they believe, is not just about numbers – it’s about building confidence, capability, and independence.
Principal and Financial Adviser Ashley Salt agrees. “We want to help them build their financial capability.”
For many clients, that journey begins during moments of change – whether navigating separation, stepping into financial responsibility, or planning for the future. Cambridge Partners has even developed a resource, A Path to Tomorrow, to support women through the emotional and financial complexities of separation or divorce.
But beyond individual circumstances, the team is also addressing a broader issue: the wealth gap.
“We often talk about the wage gap, but we don’t often talk about the wealth gap,” says Finacial Adviser Hannah Meikle. “Women typically have a lot less invested than men over the course of their lifetime… that leads them to have fewer choices, and that’s something that we want to change.”
For the team, it comes back to one key idea: optionality.
“Optionality is key,” Margot explains. “We want people to be in relationships because they want to be, in jobs because they want to be, and to have the freedom to leave things that no longer serve them.”
This philosophy is reflected in the practical support they offer, from cash flow planning to retirement strategies, investment advice, and intergenerational wealth planning. KiwiSaver guidance is another key focus, helping clients maximise long-term savings and make informed decisions early.
Education plays a crucial role in that process.
“I think that seeking advice is one thing that women do really well, because we do ask lots of questions,” says Principal and Financial Adviser Pip Kean. “We all pride ourselves on making sure our clients feel educated and then therefore feel empowered to make decisions.”
That emphasis on collaboration extends beyond the client relationship. The team works closely with lawyers, accountants, and other professionals to create a seamless, holistic approach – particularly important during times of transition.
Ultimately, the goal is simple: to help clients step forward with confidence.
Whether building wealth, planning for retirement or navigating life’s unexpected turns, the Cambridge Partners team is invested in more than just financial outcomes. They are invested in people – and in helping them create secure, fulfilling futures on their own terms.