From Personal Trials to Purpose-Driven Finance: Marigny deMauriac’s Journey
When chronic illness and caregiving collide with entrepreneurship, resilience becomes more than a buzzword—it’s a guiding principle. Marigny deMauriac turned her own battles with health and family care into the foundation for two ventures: a financial planning practice tailored to women in transition, and ThinkCap Labs, an innovation studio devoted to tools that expand access and capital for women founders.
Name: Marigny deMauriac, CFP®, CEPA®, AAMS®, ABFP®
Companies: deMauriac Financial Planning | ThinkCap Labs
Challenge & Lesson:
"As the founder of a thriving financial planning practice focused on assisting women in life's transitions and a pre-seed innovation studio focused on building products that unlock visibility, access, and capital for women founders, my journey has been shaped as much by perseverance as by navigating the unseen and often isolating challenges of both chronic illness and familial care work.
Personal Health Challenges
At 38, I was diagnosed with frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)—a painful condition that severely limits mobility. For nearly a year, I couldn’t raise my arm to dress myself or open doors without debilitating pain. Though often dismissed as solely orthopedic, it’s now recognized as a possible early symptom of perimenopause, which can begin in the mid-30s. Symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, and sleep issues are frequently overlooked or misattributed. After a manual manipulation procedure and six months of physical therapy, I gradually regained mobility and strength.
At 40, I was diagnosed with endometriosis, affecting at least 1 in 10 women. I searched for answers for over 20 years before receiving a diagnosis through laparoscopic surgery. I now manage its ongoing impact—chronic pain, digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, and fatigue. I also live with hypothyroidism, a condition that subtly but persistently affects energy, metabolism, and mood.
Managing these layered chronic health conditions while running a client-centered business requires me to rebuild my systems with intention. I streamline my workflow, incorporate automation, and narrow my services to align with what is sustainable—not just profitable. These changes ultimately make my business stronger and more aligned with my values.
Family Caregiving Responsibilities
Alongside managing my own chronic health conditions, I served as the primary care coordinator to both of my aging parents. For nearly two years, I supported my father through his battle with stage 4 colon cancer, attending treatments, managing care coordination, and ultimately managing his succession after his passing.
My mother simultaneously experienced a series of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and recurring hospitalizations, which necessitated transitioning her into a senior living home (that she now loves) and monitoring her health more closely. Navigating healthcare systems, financial logistics, and emotional responsibilities while maintaining my business taught me the deep resilience required of so MANY women in the “sandwich generation."
These experiences profoundly shaped my mission to assist women in challenging life transitions. I now approach financial planning with a deep understanding of the invisible burdens many women carry—chronic health issues, caregiving, grief, trauma—and I’m committed to building tools and services that empower women to create financial independence and security for themselves without sacrificing health and wellbeing."
Marigny's story shows that true innovation often springs from personal hardship. Translating her health battles and caregiving responsibilities into empathetic services and products, she’s forged a path that empowers women to navigate life’s toughest transitions with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
