As a financial advisor, I often tell clients: “The best investment you can make is in yourself and your dreams.”
And there are few better examples of this than Barbara Hillary.

Barbara Hillary wasn’t a famous explorer growing up. In fact, for most of her life, she was a nurse living in New York City. She faced more obstacles than most of us can imagine: surviving breast cancer, overcoming lung cancer (losing a significant portion of her breathing capacity), and navigating a world where few believed in the boundless potential of an African American woman from Harlem.

Yet, at the age of 75, Barbara did something that stunned the world: she became the first Black woman to reach the North Pole.
And just a few years later, at 79, she stood at the South Pole too.

She didn’t inherit millions. She didn’t have a secret sponsor. Barbara Hillary fundraised, planned, and budgeted her way to the top of the world — literally.

The Financial Lessons Hidden in Barbara’s Journey

Barbara’s story isn’t just one of personal bravery; it’s also a masterclass in financial empowerment:

• Dream Big — and Budget for It
  Barbara didn’t let money stop her. She researched the costs (over $20,000 for her polar expeditions), started fundraising campaigns, sought sponsorships, and meticulously tracked every dollar. She treated her dream like a real financial goal — just as someone would with retirement, college savings, or a new home.

• It’s Never Too Late to Start
  Many believe financial planning is for the young. Barbara shows us that it’s for the determined. Whether you’re 25 or 75, having a vision for your future and creating a step-by-step financial plan to achieve it is possible — and necessary.

• Invest in Experiences, Not Just Things
  Barbara’s legacy isn’t built on material possessions. It’s built on the awe-inspiring experiences she chased. She reminds us: real wealth is the ability to live fully and create memories that outlast any bank balance.

• Resilience is a Financial Skill
  Life threw illnesses, financial hurdles, and societal biases at Barbara. But resilience — the ability to adapt and persist — is just as important in financial life as it is on the ice fields of the North Pole.

Barbara’s Legacy: What She Teaches Us Today

Barbara Hillary didn’t just plant a flag on the world’s coldest frontiers; she planted a flag in our hearts that says:
“Dare to dream. Plan to achieve. Live to inspire.”

If you have a goal — whether it’s starting a business, retiring early, sending your grandchildren to college, or traveling the globe — you can achieve it. It starts with a dream, a clear plan, and the courage to stick with it, even when it feels impossible.

In your financial journey, think of yourself as an explorer.
Map your route. Gather your resources. Plan for the storms.
And when the odds look tough, remember Barbara — standing tall against a frozen horizon, smiling into the impossible.

Ready to start planning your own “North Pole” adventure?
Let’s talk. Your dreams deserve a strategy — and you deserve to reach your summit.

*Prepared By Jonathan Neher