Women across the globe have made landmark achievements over the past decade, many of which are in the economic space. According to the BMO Wealth Institute, women currently control $14 trillion — more than 51% — of America’s personal wealth and are projected to control almost $22 trillion by 2020.1
There’s no doubt that women are growing financially and climbing the ladder at rapid speed — but the confidence gap is still there. A 2014 Prudential survey found that only 20% of women feel secure in their ability to make smart financial decisions.2
This trend is problematic, due to the fact that women typically face more complex financial challenges than their male counterparts. For one, women often take more time off to serve as caregivers for children and other family members, which can result in lower lifetime income and less savings over the long term.3 Plus, women tend to live longer than men, meaning they will likely assume the role of “chief financial decision-maker” at some point in their lives.4
So how can women empower themselves to financial fitness? Three of our advisors weigh in:
Jordan Lochner Mills, CFP® | Senior Financial Advisor
Minneapolis, MN
“One way we can all work toward gender parity is to demand equal pay for equal work. Do you know what the going wage rate is for your field? If not, it pays to do some research!
Websites like PayScale provide ranges of pay for various professions after you answer a set of questions about your education, work experience and more. You can use this information to negotiate for a raise if your current pay is subpar. If you’re successful in negotiating a raise, make it a point to increase your contributions to your 401(k) or other retirement plan so that some of it goes toward enhancing your financial future.”
Lora Murphy, CPA, CFP®, CDFA™ | Principal, Senior Financial Advisor
Milwaukee, WI and Chicago, IL
“When working with married clients, I often notice that the husband is actively saving for retirement, contributing the maximum rate to his plan — but the wife is not. Women need to make sure they are proactive in educating themselves about their finances. They shouldn’t solely rely on their husbands to make financial decisions; research has shown that women often live longer than men so it’s crucial for them to take control of their own destiny. At the end of the day, that’s the main takeaway: Invest in yourself, save for your future, gain an education and take control of your own destiny.”
Rafia Hasan, CFA, CFP® | Chief Investment Officer
Chicago, IL
“It’s particularly important for young women to start saving early. Don’t be afraid to take on risk. If you find the jargon and terminology in the investment industry intimidating, make time to educate yourself; the investment of time will be well worth it. My favorite book to share with clients is The Investment Answer by Daniel Goldie and Gordon Murray. It’s a quick read that’s easy to understand and will give you the basics. Women are naturally great long-term investors, since they are less likely to derail their investment plan by making costly mistakes like trading too often. They just need to have the confidence to tap into their abilities.”
Want to learn more? Visit our Pinterest page, which is designed specifically for women investors.
