Mahjong, Money, and the Magic of Finding Your Guide

Last week, I tried something I’ve wanted to do for years—Mahjong.

It always seemed like this mysterious, beautiful game that I’d see in movies or hear about from friends, but for some reason, I never found my way into a group. You know how that goes—you need someone to bring you into the circle. Someone to say, “Come sit with us. You’ll love it. I’ll teach you.”

Enter Melinda...

Melinda invited me to join her Mahjong group, and suddenly, there I was, tiles in hand, learning the ropes, laughing at my beginner mistakes, and soaking it all in. It was fun, a little chaotic at first (so many rules!), but mostly—it felt like a whole new world had just opened up to me.

And it made me think… this is exactly how many women feel about investing and retirement planning.

They’ve heard about it. They know they should be doing it. But it’s always felt like it belonged to someone else’s world. A world with confusing terminology, high stakes, and—let’s be honest—not a lot of invitations that feel welcoming.

But here’s the thing: just like Mahjong, you only need one person to invite you in. One person to say, “Hey, I’ll sit with you. I’ll explain the rules. You’ve got this.”

For Mahjong, that person was Melinda.

For your finances? That could be me.

Sure, Mahjong has its complex rules—like remembering that you can’t declare Mahjong if your winning tile is a Joker or the sneaky detail that you can't pick up a tile from the discard pile unless you can play it right then. It’s a lot at first.

But once someone walks you through it? You find your rhythm. You start to see patterns. You begin to enjoy the game.

Investing is the same way.
It might feel intimidating now. Retirement might feel out of reach or like something “other women” have figured out. But with the right person guiding you—someone who explains the rules, helps you understand your options, and reminds you that you don’t have to know everything to start—you’ll find that confidence. You might even find it… dare I say… fun.

So if you’ve been waiting for your Melinda—someone to invite you into the circle of financial clarity—I’m right here.

Call me your Investments Mahjong Teacher.
Let’s line up those tiles, make a plan, and go for the win.
Mahjong!