By Cindy Groenewald

It’s very important for women, regardless of their age or marital status to take a much more active role in their financial lives. I don’t say this light heartedly as I end up sitting with woman, of all ages who think they don’t earn enough, or because they think that they do not know or have enough knowledge regarding this subject leading them to think that they should avoid seeing a Financial Advisor. NO! NO! NO! Every woman needs to understand her finances and the options that are available to her.
By taking a more active role, women will gain more clarity, confidence and control of their lives. To do so, women need to learn as much as possible about money.
From both young and more mature women, I still often hear the message that money is a man’s responsibility. That idea paves the way for women not to worry as much about what would happen if they needed to take on multiple caregiver roles and/or be financially independent.
But today’s women need to be more confident about finances for a variety of reasons. Women have spent fewer years in the workforce, although I have found more than ever, women are in many cases the main breadwinner due to earning more than their partners and therefore need to understand the implications should something happen to them as well as the ripple effect that this will have on their family left behind. Many women send money home to support parents or siblings and women are living longer than men. We need to take a very active role on educating ourselves on our finances.
“Equipped with the right attitude and education, women can feel empowered and confident about their financial future.”
Here are some things women can do to be more confident about their finances and the options available to them;
• Make a budget. Start simple, by listing what money is coming into the household and what is going out. What are monthly expenses, for example food, utilities and rent?
• Prioritize. If you are paying a monthly fee for a gym or a class and you haven’t used it, cancel the membership. The fee can be used for something else or to pay off a bill. Look into cheaper alternatives for other expenses, enabling you to save.
• Invest in your own retirement. There are many options available depending on goals and needs and some of these could have some attractive tax breaks.
• Protect against the unknown. Look into your current portfolio as well as what you have/and if you have benefits with your employer, ensure that you have the coverage to hedge against risk.
• Ensure you have a Will and Living Will in place.
Getting a better understanding about money takes work, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Equipped with the right attitude and education, women can feel empowered and confident about their financial future.
Contact us today, let’s take control of your financial future.