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Traditionally, women have been the caretakers of both the older and younger generations of their families. But who will help you when you require assistance? Even though younger family members may be more than willing to help, the costs of health care often exceed the amount of disposable income available to the average family. Perhaps, women and their family members need to look toward the future and start their personal planning process.

After a divorce, you can claim retirement benefits based on your own earnings record (if you have been employed and have accumulated enough credits over the years), or you can claim benefits based on your ex-spouse's earnings record (whether or not you ever worked), provided that certain requirements are met.

Most of us cannot imagine the sudden loss of our spouse. Yet, difficult as it may seem to accept, U.S. Census data indicates that the overwhelming majority of married women will be on their own for a significant number of their later years.

Financial literacy refers to the skills and knowledge that allow an individual to make informed and effective decisions through their understanding of finances. Financial literacy starts by building a basic understanding of 'money matters' to create a sense of economic well-being, self-trust, and financial confidence.

What have you learned about anything financial lately? Do most of your neighbors keep a household budget or save for retirement? Does your cousin live hand-to-mouth? Do you understand compound interest? Or know what the Dow Jones Industrial Average is? Is gold worth its own weight?

In the U.S., men are investing and accumulating wealth at a greater pace than women, fueling the gender investing gap. Closing the investing gap is essential so that women accumulate enough retirement assets for their entire lives.

When it comes to estate planning, women have unique concerns. The fact is that women live an average of 5.0 years longer than men. That's important because it means that there's a greater chance that you'll need your assets to last for a longer period of time and a greater need to plan for incapacity.

As an entrepreneur, there are multiple demands on your time and matters that require prioritizing. But while you're juggling strategic planning decisions for your business...

Women have special concerns about financial independence that financial professionals need to address. For one thing, they tend to live longer than men, so they need to worry about paying for an extended old age.

Women own nearly 20% of the businesses that employ people in the United States, and countless more women run their businesses without employees. There are over one million women-owned firms.