Britney is becoming a bit brittle. The cracks are showing, literally and figuratively for this young woman who has since her very young years earned fortunes for everyone: family, ex-spouse, and herself.

Trouble is, she's having to face some growing up in the meantime. Those in the "star" business know that fame is fleeting. Photogenic pretty looks fade quickly. New singing idols crop up by the thousands.

'Hard' bodies - both natural and robotlike fakes can be pasted on almost everyone. Fans are incredibly fickle. The media, money backers, advertisers, and promoters are risk averse - never willing to leverage anything but a sure thing.

The most successful stars stay out of the limelight, except for carefully controlled image sightings, and concentrate on achieving real financial security. These lessons, if they were ever absorbed, seem to have been just as easily forgotten in spite of the disappointment (and scathing remarks) about her recent lack of performance at the MTV awards. Why would it matter anyway?

Her past earnings history has been spectacular. A $10 million deal with a soft drink company, four number one albums by age 18 earned by dancing, singing pop sexy teen tunes, revenue piling in at $15m a year, life only became better and better.

When you are princess of the world, the money never stops. So the mantra becomes, have fun, buy what you want whenever you want and just party on. So much to see, do and be; everyone watching you and wanting to be just like you.

What does it matter to spend $25,000 a night for a room that hundreds of other people have slept and partied in. OK, they change the sheets, but it is still not home. Buying a new home for $9m is no effort even though the old one is on the market for $26m. You're a money machine, honey!

That was then, and this is now. She is older, she is a Mom, she is out-of-shape, she is responsible for two small children, the cost of raising them, plus college, plus divorce/alimony to shrewd Kevinline (reported at $19m+).

The running of her household (bodyguards, nannies, cooks, maintenance) could be in the several hundreds of thousands per month. She is it, with a very large I.

Her situation is further complicated because she has absolutely no concept that she (her physical and mental self) is in business, a big business.

How could she understand those concepts of financial projections, budgeting, present value of future dollars, generally, taught in college when she never finished high school?

However unbusiness savvy she may be, she is Chief Executive Officer of Britney Inc. responsible for marketing her product across the globe. She is the single largest asset and largest liability, literally an empire built on her intangible image - take that away, and there is nothing left.

Regular boring corporations strive their entire commercial existence to exceed profit growth assumptions by investing in their infrastructure.

Britney Inc. is no different, but challenged to operate to an even higher level. As her own best asset, if she does not continually upgrade her investment in herself, i.e. working out, releasing new 'saleable' songs, performing professionally, and exceeding fan expectations, her revenue shelf-life will be very short indeed.

Britney, whether she realizes it or not, is now facing investment vulnerability. Reputed to have a net worth of $65m, at her current rate of financial and career burn, if renewable resource income streams evaporate, it is entirely possible that before she reaches her 35th birthday, she could face financial ruin - if less than $15m is being poor in Hollywood's oversize world (See chart).

These observations will generate little sympathy. Many people will never experience such luxury and have little patience for talented people who enjoy self-destructing.

With no accountability, personally or professionally, the biggest losers are the children, since they need care far into the future. Britney needs a financial plan and needs it now!

Question is, since everyone else has been fired, will she have the courage to implement a radical disciplined approach to regain popularity, build revenue sources and enjoy long-term financial security by hiring a qualified independent (free of conflicts of interest) Certified Financial Planner?

The odds of recovery are not looking so good these days. But I have faith, that maybe, embracing good old-fashioned working her way back will be just the ticket up.

The article expresses the opinion of the author alone. Under no circumstances is the content of this article to be taken as specific individual investment advice, nor as a recommendation to buy/ sell any investment product. The Editor of the Royal Gazette has final right of approval over headlines, content, and length/brevity of article.

Martha Harris Myron CPA CFP® is an internationally qualified dual citizen (US and Bermuda). She is a Wealth Manager at Argus Financial Limited, specializing in investment advisory services and comprehensive financial planning solutions for private clients seeking the good life and lifestyle transitions. DirectLine: 294 5709 Confidential email can be directed to marthamyron@northrock.bm