David Lerner Associates: Gender Differences- does it cost more to be a woman?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women still tend to lag behind men when it comes to compensation. Women today earn an average of 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man, reports the Census Bureau—resulting in an annual salary difference of more than $11,000.

In addition, women pay a half-point higher interest rate on credit cards than men do, according to the FINRA study. Over a lifetime, this could add up to thousands of more dollars spent by women in interest charges than is spent by men.

The FINRA study determined that women with low levels of financial literacy tend to be more vulnerable to credit card mismanagement than are men with comparable levels of financial literacy. For example, these women are more likely to carry a balance on their cards, to make only the minimum payment each month, and to pay late fees.

However, when men and women with high levels of financial literacy are examined, the gender differences with regard to credit card management disappear. Therefore, education could be more of a factor in the difference between credit card management practices between men and women than policy.

In fact, FINRA states that improving financial literacy may improve women’s credit card behavior by 60 percent more than men’s credit card behavior.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau,women across all age groups are about four times more likely to become widows than men are to become widowers. Therefore, it may be especially important for women to improve their financial literacy. Nash suggests that women may want to concentrate their financial literacy efforts in these three areas:

1. Know your spending patterns.A basic budget will show you what your income is, what your expenses are, and where the money you spend is actually going. It may also help you prioritize your spending, including contributing to a retirement savings plan like a 401(k) or Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

2. Keep your financial paperwork organized.Overstuffed file folders and shoeboxes filled with receipts may not be an adequate recordkeeping system for many women today. Consider setting aside a day (or a weekend or longer, if necessary) to work on getting your finances in order..

3. Invest wisely.No single investment strategy is right for every woman, which makes it important to understand the basics of investing so you can formulate the right strategies for you. Therefore, you may want to consider working with a personal investment counselor, who can make recommendations based on your specific goals, time frame and risk tolerance.

Material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be used in connection with the evaluation of any investments offered by David Lerner Associates,Inc. (DLA). This material does not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be considering in connection with the purchase or sale of securities. Member FINRA & SIPC.