Your asset allocation also may change over time. When you are younger, you might invest more heavily in stocks than bonds and cash. As you get older and enter retirement, you may reduce your exposure to stocks and hold more in bonds and cash. You also might change your asset allocation because your goals or financial circumstances have changed. In light of these challenges, women need to pay special attention to making the most of their money.
Women tend to earn less than men and work fewer years.
Women tend to change jobs or work part-time more often, and they interrupt their careers to raise children. Consequently, they are less likely to qualify for company-sponsored retirement plans or receive the full benefits of those plans. On average, women live 5 to 7 years longer than men, and thus need to build a larger retirement nest egg for themselves. Some studies indicate women tend to invest less aggressively than men. Women are less likely to be financially informed than men.