Picture this: a passport thick with stamps, a closet where designer bags line the shelves like art, a kitchen you genuinely enjoy cooking in, and the freedom to say yes to last‑minute trips without doing mental math at the airport gate. For many women that mix of security and indulgence is the real fantasy; not just having money, but having a life that feels expansive, beautiful, and entirely their own.
That is exactly where Shanna J. Kehoe starts. “True wealth advising is not about telling people how they should live with money,” she said. “It is about understanding how they already live, how they want to live, and helping the two come together in a way that feels natural.”
As a partner and wealth advisor at Carson Wealth in Las Vegas, Shanna blends technical expertise with something more human: curiosity about how people actually move through their days. “Most people show up thinking they need rules and formulas. Save this. Invest that. Retire at this milestone. But life does not unfold according to a checklist. It unfolds according to personality, priorities, and the unexpected,” she said. In her world, money is not the dream, it is the tool that can help quietly support the dream wardrobe, the dream home, the dream calendar.
“Carson Wealth is dedicated to helping clients gain clarity around their financial lives and confidence in their decisions,” Shanna explained. “We deliver comprehensive planning, investment management, and tailored advice that adapts as life evolves. Whether someone is building a business, raising a family, planning for retirement, or navigating major transitions, we provide the structure and support to help them live intentionally and achieve what matters most.”
Her version of “money matchmaking” begins with a conversation that rarely mentions numbers in the first few minutes. “When I sit down with someone for the first time, I focus on their narrative,” she said. “What brings them energy. Where they feel stretched. What they value most. How they want their life to feel in the next stage. Those answers reveal far more than any balance sheet ever could.” The math comes later. “Money matchmaking happens when we take those insights and build a plan that supports the real person,” she said. “A plan that adapts as life evolves and stays rooted in what truly matters. Numbers show us direction, but personal values give the plan purpose.”
Her own life gave her a crash course in risk, resilience, and what it really means to bet on yourself. After 15 years with a previous firm, Shanna made the decision to leave, build her own practice, and do it all with children. “Navigating major career changes while raising twins gave me a firsthand understanding of the balance between courage and preparation,” she said. “Those experiences taught me that meaningful growth happens when you pair a clear vision with a strong foundation.” That perspective now lives inside her planning philosophy: vision plus structure, desire plus discipline.
“This is the same approach I use when guiding clients,” she said. “Smart risk is not about dramatic leaps. It is about strategic steps that are supported by thoughtful planning.” When clients wonder whether a once‑in‑a‑lifetime trip, a dream renovation, or an early retirement is “too risky,” she brings them back to the framework. “When clients have clarity about their goals and a structure that protects their financial wellbeing, they can pursue opportunities with confidence,” she said. “Accountability becomes less intimidating when your plan is connected to a life you genuinely want. It feels like taking care of yourself, not restricting yourself.”
Shanna is quick to push back on the idea that a good financial plan has to be complicated to be effective. “The best financial plan is one a client can actually use,” she said. “People do not need more complexity. They need clarity and structure that fit the way they naturally live.” That starts with vision, not products. “We begin by exploring what they want life to look and feel like. What brings joy. What drives purpose. What they want more of and what they want less of,” she said. “Once we know that, we build a money structure that supports those intentions both today and in the future.”
“A dynamic plan blends cash flow habits, goal-based savings, intentional investing, and regular touch points so we can adjust as life evolves,” Shanna said. “It is not meant to be rigid. It is meant to give clients freedom and confidence as their needs and dreams change.” That might mean automating savings for annual girls’ trips, mapping out a path to a second home, or structuring investments so stepping back from a high‑pressure job does not feel like financial free fall.
Her signature phrase, “You have one life. Do what you love.,” comes from personal experience, not Pinterest. “I say it because I lived it,” she said. “I made a major life decision recently that required courage, honesty, and a willingness to believe in what is possible.” That decision reaffirmed her belief that planning should make room for what lights you up whether that is world travel, a dream business, or simply slower mornings and less rush. “That experience reminded me that people are capable of reinventing their lives at any stage as long as they have clarity and support.”
For those stuck in what she calls default settings: debt that never seems to move, autopilot spending, a job that no longer fits, Shanna starts with mindset and a single concrete step. “For anyone feeling stuck, the first mindset shift is understanding that intention is more powerful than circumstance,” she said. Then she moves to the practical. “The first money move is getting clear on your spending. Not to restrict yourself, but to reconnect with what matters. Awareness is what opens the door to new choices, new freedoms, and a life that feels more authentic.”
Her clients are often successful on paper, but unsure if their money actually reflects the person they are becoming. They might crave a lifestyle that feels elevated yet grounded—a home that feels like a sanctuary, travel that feels immersive rather than rushed, the space to say no without panicking about what it means for their paycheck. For Shanna, those longings are not frivolous; they are clues. When clients talk about wanting both security and spontaneity, she listens for the underlying values, such as freedom, connection, beauty, adventure and then helps map the dollars to match.
“Money should feel empowering, not overwhelming,” she said. “It should open doors, not close them.” In her view, wealth is not just about net worth. “My work is centered around helping people create lives that feel rich in every way,” she said. “Rich in time, relationships, freedom, joy, and possibility.”
That richness is what she wants clients to feel in their day-to-day lives, not just in a quarterly statement. “When your money aligns with the life you love, everything begins to shift,” she said. “You move through the world with more intention, confidence, and clarity.” In other words, the real “money match” is not between you and a portfolio. It is between your deepest priorities and the way every dollar moves in and out of your life.
For Shanna, the magic happens when a client looks at their plan and finally sees themselves in it—the latte habit and the retirement account, the kids’ activities and the five-star getaway, the mortgage payment and the cushion that lets them sleep at night—all reflected honestly on the page. The formulas matter, but only after life comes first.
Disclosure: This article is not intended to provide specific legal, tax, or other professional advice. For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, always consult with a tax or legal advisor.
Meet Shanna J Kehoe
As a partner and wealth advisor at Carson Wealth in Las Vegas, Shanna J Kehoe, CFP®, CWS®, helps clients design financial lives that feel as intentional as they look on paper. After over 20 years in the industry and a bold decision to build her own practice while raising twins, she brings both technical skill and lived experience to every conversation. Shanna focuses on comprehensive planning, investment management, and “money matchmaking” that aligns cash flow, investing, and long-term goals with what truly matters most. She believes clarity, structure, and support can turn financial anxiety into confidence and possibility.
Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors.
Money should feel empowering, not overwhelming. It should open doors, not close them...My work is centered around helping people create lives that feel rich in every way.