Women & Money: The New Realties

WOMEN & MONEY: THE NEW REALITIES

It's no longer a novelty, the idea of women heading up multi-national corporations, practicing medicine and law...of bringing home the bacon big time.

That's one reason women are going to school in record numbers. According to Census Bureau statistics:

Of women age 25 and older, 84% have finished high school (the same as men), while 24% have at least a four-year college degree (28% for men).
Of women age 25 to 29, 89% have completed high school (versus 87% for men); and 30% have completed college (compared to 28% for their male counterparts).

As for college and graduate degrees: Women comprised 56% of all college students in 1998, earned 57% of all masters' degrees in 1997, and received 44% of all law degrees, 41% of all medical degrees, and 41% of all doctorates.

Education translates directly into income and opportunity. The median income for women has risen to $27,956 (versus $37,906 for men). More telling, the numbers of women starting and heading up businesses is growing. Fully 38% of women business owners who started firms within the past decade have achieved at least $500,000 in annual revenues.

That's the good news. The bad news? While women have made significant financial strides in the last decades, many are failing to protect their "investments" in themselves and their income-earning ability.

Many have less life insurance than they need. While studies show that 59% of women have at least some life insurance, the average death benefit is only $76,000 (compared to $143,100 for men). Put bluntly, that's not enough.

What to do: First, if you're a woman, go to, stay in, or return to school. Education helps assure independence, options and financial security. Second, protect your investment in yourself and in your education by owning adequate life insurance.

How much life insurance do you need? That depends on a number of factors. Call for an appointment. We can do an analysis of your needs and help determine the right amount for you.

1 - "Census Bureau Facts for Features," (March 15, 2001)
2 - "New Generation of Women Entrepreneurs Achieving Business Success," Center for Women's Business Research, August 21, 2001 (web site: nfwbo.org.)
3 - "Trends in Life Insurance Ownership Among Americans," LIMRA International, 1999.