Quietly and steadily, the number of women making six figures or more is increasing and continues to rise at a rate faster than for men. From entrepreneurs to corporate executives, from white-collar professionals to freelancers and part-timers, women are forging careers with considerable financial success.

In "Secrets of Six-Figure Women, " Barbara Stanny, journalist, motivational speaker, and financial educator, identifies the seven key strategies of female highearners: A Profit Motive, Audacity, Resilience, Encouragement, Self-Awareness, Non-attachment, and Financial Know-How.

Based on extensive research and hundreds of interviews, including more than 150 women whose annual earnings range from $100,000 to $7 million, Barbara Stanny turns each of the six-figure traits into a specific strategy for upping earnings. By rigorously fine-tuning them, readers can, step-by-step, climb the income ladder.

"When it comes to money, are you controlled by fear? Do you underestimate your worth? Are you ready to go to the next level, but can't seem to get there?"

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be an underearner. Underearners are self-saboteurs who don't live up to their earnings potential, says Barbara Stanny, a financial educator, motivational speaker, and career counselor. Whether they make $10 an hour or six figures a year, they tend to live paycheck to paycheck, are often in debt, and have a high tolerance for low pay.

Ironically, many work incredibly hard. The good news is that underearning is a self-imposed condition. By focusing on overcoming it, underearners will not only earn what they deserve, but live a richer life.

With techniques and exercises that have helped thousands of people, Stanny teaches five essential steps to financial independence and brings a message of empowerment to all those who chronically undervalue themselves.

"Prince Charming Isn't Coming" opens with the author's own story. Daughter of one of the founders of H&R Block, she grew up relying on her father, then her husband, to manage her money. But a devastating financial crisis became a dramatic wake-up call. She knew she had to take charge. But how? Her own journey to financial enlightening is inspiring. She began by interviewing financially successful women from diverse backgrounds. As a result of her research, she discovered a surprising series of insights that smart women shared, insights that enabled them to go from feeling stupid to becoming smart about money. These insights, which she calls The Seven Realizations of Financial Enlightenment, form the core of her financial journey and are at the heart of this book. "Prince Charming Isn't Coming" is not your typical financial fare. In this heartfelt and informative book, the author weaves together practical advice, inspiring anecdotes, and her own poignant experiences, along with savvy, practical checklists of steps to help you begin your own journey immediately.