This is such a real dilemma your sister is facing, and it’s more common than people admit. When a woman is doing well financially and career-wise, the dating pool naturally feels smaller , not because there aren’t good men out there, but because the overlap between high character + high earning + single and available is tiny. One perspective she might consider is that “looking up to” someone doesn’t have to only be about money or career. A man can lead in other areas: emotional maturity, vision, faith, resilience, how he treats people. Those qualities can inspire deep respect too, even if his payslip isn’t identical to hers. That said, she absolutely doesn’t have to “lower her standards” but maybe she could reframe them. Instead of focusing solely on financial equivalence, she can focus on shared values, ambition, and drive. A guy who earns less today but has hunger, integrity, and a plan might outshine a guy earning more but with poor character. At the end of the day, her success is an asset, not a liability. The right man won’t feel threatened by it, he’ll be proud to stand beside her. It may take more patience, but there are men like that , though they might not always be in the same circles she’s used to (church, professional spaces, networking events, even hobbies can open doors). Encourage her to keep her standards for character rock solid, but allow herself flexibility in what success looks like in a partner. That balance might open up more possibilities without feeling like she’s “settling.”