Mothers Day Money Lessons for Women

Mother’s Day was May 14th this year, and to celebrate moms and women everywhere, we are taking a look at some money lessons for women.

Gender roles in today’s society have shifted dramatically from a time when little girls grew up hoping to find a good man who could take care of them financially. As an example of this shift in societal gender roles, there are some 1.4 million stay-at-home dads in America. That’s quite a different picture from the perfect 1950s picture of an American family.

Women now comprise 47% of the total U.S. labor force and are projected to account for 51% of the increase in total labor force growth between 2008 and 2018.

But despite the growing number of women who are economically independent, the gap between men and women is still evident partly due to the fact that a large proportion of women work shorter hours or stop working altogether once they become mothers.

Here are some lessons that women can learn to become even more financially independent and stable:

Talk about Money

Especially with your financial professional, don't be shy. He or she needs to understand your budget (income, expenses, and debt), money-related goals (buying a house, paying off debt), and current investments. Be honest, so they can provide an accurate plan.

More importantly, you and your spouse need to communicate about money. According to studies, couples fight about money twice as much as they fight about sex. And it’s mainly because they’re not on the same page and talking with one another about it. Whether it's the joint checking account, paying off debt, monthly spending, or planning for the future, no financial plan is going to work if you're not communicating.

Estate Planning

An estate plan includes directives for your care should you become incapacitated and where money and other assets are to be dispersed in the event of your death. It also gives your loved ones peace of mind about your wishes.

Retirement Planning

One in three Americans have no retirement savings. Having a retirement plan that will fund the lifestyle that you desire is vital. Many women do not have the savings they need in order to maintain their lifestyles through their retirement years.

Children

The old paradigm of raising a child and supporting them until they’re 18 doesn’t always apply nowadays. A lot of adult children are relying on their parents financially. In fact, over 30% of the nation’s young adults ages 18 to 31—the so-called millennial generation—are still living in their parents’ homes.

If you consider the cost of this in terms of your own retirement, it starts to become less and less of a charitable activity and more of a costly one. Raising kids who are financially savvy and independent will save you massively as the years tick by.

Some women may think that a financial plan includes a rich husband, but women have created their own businesses, raised their children, and created an independent lifestyle. With the help of a financial professional and a little bit of good advice, no one will be able to take that away.

Happy Mother’s Day!

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

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. This material does not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered in connection with the purchase or sale of securities.

To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.

Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.

These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable– we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.

David Lerner Associates does not provide tax or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances. Member FINRA & SIPC