Women, Money, and Investments: Building Confidence
Money can be a source of stress—or a powerful tool for freedom and choice.
Many women in their 30s and 40s often juggle multiple priorities: career growth, raising kids, paying off debt, managing a household, and saving for retirement. This is also a critical time to take control of your financial future.
The choices you make now can shape the next few decades of your life. According to a late 2024 Bank of America financial health survey, women trail men in feeling “financially well.”
Confidence Comes from Learning
The area where women are less confident is investing. While they tend to have confidence in paying bills (90%) and budgeting (84%), fewer than a third (31%) feel confident about investing.
So, what holds many women back? It’s not a lack of ability—it’s just a lack of information and encouragement.
“You can make smarter, more confident decisions when you understand your options,” says Natalia Walker, Vice President, David Lerner Associates.
Know Where You Stand
Before you can build a plan, you need a clear picture of your current situation.
Start with these questions:
- What do I earn, spend, owe, and own?
- How much am I saving monthly?
- What are my short- and long-term goals?
It helps to view all your accounts in one place: income, expenses, debts, savings, and retirement. Use a budgeting app, a spreadsheet, or any method you feel comfortable with to track it.
Once you see the whole picture, you can start making better choices.
Don’t Wait to Invest
Many women delay investing because it feels intimidating. The terminology used may seem complicated and overwhelming at first. But if you’re only saving and not investing, you’re losing ground to inflation.
You don’t need a finance degree to start. A few things to know:
- Investing regularly over time (even small amounts) beats trying to time the market
- Low-cost index funds are a smart starting point
- Retirement accounts like a 401(k) or IRA offer significant tax advantages
- The earlier you invest, the more time your money has to grow
Work with an experienced investment counselor who works with women in your stage of life. You can also take a beginner investing course or join a women’s finance community online.
Know Your Value at Work
Money confidence doesn’t stop at home. Women in their 30s and 40s often reach a point where it’s time to level up—ask for a raise, seek a promotion, or switch to a better opportunity.
Here’s how to start:
- Track your wins and results at work
- Know the market rate for your role and experience
- Practice negotiating with a friend or mentor
- Don’t assume your work will “speak for itself”—advocate for yourself
A well-timed raise or job move can significantly increase your long-term earning potential.
Keep Going, Even When It’s Hard
Building financial confidence doesn’t happen all at once. You might hit a few bumps. You might make a mistake or feel stuck.
That’s normal.
The key is to keep going. Keep asking questions. Keep learning. When you understand your money, you control your choices. And that’s a powerful thing.
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. 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 the