You won't reach any of your financial goals without saving money. Savings play a crucial part in everything from owning a home to retiring in comfort, which is why the New York Life's 2023 Wealth Watch survey is so disturbing. It found that in 2022, women on average saved just $3,146 annually compared to the $7,007 saved by men.
While the data may be new, the fact that women earn (and therefore save) less than men won't surprise many. But the report is a good reminder of how the odds are stacked against women when it comes to maintaining a healthy amount of savings, and provides an opportunity to explore the individual actions you can take to make the best of an unfair world.
Why women save less than men
One of the biggest reasons women save less than men is that they earn less money to save. According to 2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, women earned an average of 84% of what men earned (when analyzing the median wages of full-time jobs). The reasons for the discrepancy in pay and savings between men and women are systemic and complex, but CNBC Select spoke with Kathryn Anne Edwards, an economist and freelance public policy consultant, and Kaitlin Walsh-Epstein, the chief marketing officer of student refinancing company Laurel Road, about some specific hurdles facing women trying to save.
Women pay a bigger price for becoming a parent
On average, women take a big hit to their income after having children — this is known as the "motherhood penalty." A study conducted by Census Bureau researchers found that the gap between opposite-sex couples' earnings doubles after their first child is born, with women earning on average $25,100 less than men.
Additionally, many employers still don't offer paid parental leave, yet newborn children require around-the-clock care. According to the World Economic Forum, only 35% of organizations in the United States offered paid maternity leave in 2022 (a staggering decrease from the 53% of organizations offering this benefit in 2020). "There are all kinds of decisions a family has to make in terms of budget and logistical needs of caring for children," Edwards says. "Women who have children tend to be pushed out of the labor market because of their childbearing needs."
Cutting back on their employment to raise families means women aren't contributing to 401(k) accounts or savings of their own. What's more, 32% of women who leave the workforce to care for young children end up never re-entering the workforce at all, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
This means that the amount of time these women spend actively contributing to employer-sponsored retirement accounts such as 401(k)'s or 403(b)'s is significantly shortened. And because you need to earn an income in order to contribute to individual retirement accounts (IRA's), it means only a women's partner is able to make contributions to their own accounts, unless they open a spousal IRA.
Women have to fund a longer retirement with less money
Data from the Population Reference Bureau found that women outlive men in both developed and under-developed countries. In developed societies like the United States, women are expected to live for 79 years while men are expected to live around 72 years.
This seven-year difference means women need to save a little more money than men to fund the last chapter of their golden years. Even for someone who spends a modest $40,000 a year in retirement, this amounts to an additional $280,000 to cover those final seven years.
Unfortunately, women on average have saved about 30% less money by the time they retire compared to men, research from the TIAA Institute found. One way to mitigate the risk of outliving your retirement savings is to contribute more to your retirement accounts when you're younger. However, this is where the wage gap undercuts women's efforts yet again.
"If you're being paid 84% on the dollar, your 6% contribution to your 401(k) doesn't go as far as your male counterpart's 6% contribution," says Walsh-Epstein "The pay gap is systemic but it also continues to escalate when you think about women saving for retirement."
This means women must either contribute a higher portion of their paychecks toward their 401(k) accounts to make their retirement dollars go further or find a way to cut back on their expected expenses during retirement.
Women have more student debt than men
A report by the Education Data Initiative found that women who hold bachelor's degrees borrow 4.27% more in loans than their male counterparts (the contrast is starker among associate's degree holders, with women borrowing 24.9% more than men). Larger student loan balances typically mean having a higher minimum monthly payment over the same standard 10-year repayment horizon.
As a whole, it's also more likely women take on student debt in the first place. Findings from the American Association of University Women show 41% of undergraduate women take on debt compared to just 35% of undergraduate men.
"Women are more likely to go to college so they're more likely to enter the labor market with debt," says Edwards. "They should have higher earnings as a result — that's the expectation, but the labor market is not so neat and women's ability to earn money has lots of constraints that we don't see happen to men to the same degree."
How to take back some financial security
Both Edwards and Walsh-Epstein recognize that many factors surrounding women's lower earnings and savings rates are systemic. There may be only so much that individuals can do to improve their economic mobility, but employers have a tremendous influence on the workplace systems that make it easier (or more difficult) for women to reach their financial goals. When navigating the workplace, women can help themselves most by keeping in mind the following.
Be discerning about your compensation package before you start a new job
One important step women can take to increase their savings long-term is to make sure employers are offering them a compensation package that aligns with their needs.
"It's important to work for an employer who recognizes your contributions — and that shows up in your paycheck," Walsh-Epstein says. "Sometimes that comes easier when negotiating upfront. Don't settle for that first number, and remember to consider the whole picture. Look at any additional benefits or the work-life balance."
In addition to negotiating your salary, make sure you ask about your team's bonus structure. And if you plan on having children in the near future, make sure you know what the company offers in terms of paid parental leave, childcare benefits and reimbursements, and any other programs aimed at parents.
Increase 401(k) contributions when it makes sense
Contributing more to your 401(k) is one simple way to save more money. If you plan to have kids one day, make use of the opportunity to max out your employer's match and contribute as much extra money as possible to your 401(k) sooner rather than later. The earlier you start doing this, the more you'll be able to benefit from the power of compound interest.
There may be some instances where you want to put that extra money toward other big goals, like purchasing a home. In this case, you'll want to weigh the trade-offs so you can make a decision that best suits your needs.
"Compounding interest is an effective way to build your savings and investments, but you also need to understand what your goals are," says Walsh-Epstein. "So if you're saving for a home purchase in the near future, you may not want to increase your 401(k) contributions. It may be better to put those extra dollars toward your home purchase."
It's also important to have an emergency fund that can cover unexpected expenses, especially after you have children as your cost of living expenses will be higher. Having even one month's worth of expenses saved makes it less likely you'll have to raid your 401(k) to pay for an abrupt financial crisis.
Work together with your spouse to save more
If you're unable to, or choose not to, return to the workforce after having children, you might consider talking to your partner about setting up a spousal IRA so you can still build retirement savings. Typically, you need to be earning an income to contribute to IRA's, which is an obvious roadblock for those who leave the workforce to be full-time caregivers.
With a spousal IRA you'll be able to open up an IRA account and have your partner make contributions for you. This allows you to save more money for retirement as a couple since your family would otherwise only be able to save $6,500 per year with just one IRA account; with two IRA accounts in the family, this means you'll save up to $13,000 per year.
Exhaust other options before accepting student loans for college
If you're considering higher education, it's a good idea to look at free funding options before taking on student loans. Federal grants are typically only available to undergraduate students, but you can still seek scholarships and grants directly from your university.
There are hundreds of scholarships geared towards women, which you can find through sites like Scholarships.com or bold.org. These scholarships were created specifically to help women pay for their education, and therefor lessen (or avoid completely) taking on student debt.
If you're working full-time, you may also consider whether or not your employer offers tuition assistance as a benefit. Tuition assistance usually helps you offset the cost of college by providing reimbursement for a portion of your tuition. This helps make attending college more affordable and it could reduce how much you need to borrow with student loans.
Bottom line
Although women face a multitude of disadvantages when it comes to earning and saving money, it's more important than ever to champion their own economic mobility. This means being discerning about the compensation package offered by employers before accepting a new job — make sure you negotiate your salary, pay attention to the bonus structure you're being offered, and make sure other benefits (like parental leave) align with your needs.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage ofcredit cards,bankingandmoney, and follow us onTikTok,Facebook,InstagramandTwitterto stay up to date.
Read more
Men have over 3X more retirement savings than women—7 steps to make sure you are financially secure
5 important financial steps you should take if you’re a woman in your 20s
These are the three important things women say would indicate financial independence
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
FAQs
What are some of the ways in which women are held back and why? ›
Women were held back because, unlike men, they were encouraged to take accommodations, such as going part-time and shifting to internally facing roles, which derailed their careers. The real culprit was a general culture of overwork that hurt both men and women and locked gender inequality in place.
What hold women back? ›- Fear Of Being Judged. Fear of judgement is one of the most common human fears and it is linked to our natural desire to be liked by all, at all times. ...
- Lack Of Self-belief. ...
- Active Self-critical Voices. ...
- Fear Of Embarrassment.
These include the right to live free from violence and discrimination; to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; to be educated; to own property; to vote; and to earn an equal wage.
What are the 3 key things that turn women on? ›People might have their own private theories about it, but a new study1 published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy has identified three specific factors that make women more likely to have more sexual desire for a partner: intimacy, "celebrated otherness," and "object-of-desire affirmation."
How are women the backbone of society? ›Women are the backbone of society. They build families and communities. They are bosses and the face of industry and the glue that holds society. They teach us the meaning of love, hard work, perseverance, selflessness and so much more.
How do you attract and retain women? ›Authentic values, collaborative environment, ongoing professional development opportunities, clear company mission, inclusion at all levels, diverse leadership, absence of office politics, transparency and leaders who are visible and accessible. Put women in leadership roles – You can't be what you can't see.
Do men work harder than women? ›Now, an anthropological study of gender division of labour across different societies has revealed that women work harder than men. The results of the study, published in the magazine Current Biology, show that males under duolocality and patrilocality work much less hard than females.
What can keep a woman? ›- Be humble and practice forgiveness. If you want to keep your woman, be humble and admit your own mistakes. ...
- Know and understand her better. ...
- Be consistently honest. ...
- Be loyal. ...
- Treasure her. ...
- Be kind and compassionate. ...
- Support and empower her. ...
- Respect and honor her.
They function as a role model for their subordinates. They inspire their team and spend a lot of time coaching their team. They care a lot about their personal development. Women leaders emphasize teamwork and authentic communication as a key to success.
What's a common mistake that many leaders make? ›According to 1,400 executives polled by The Ken Blanchard Companies, failing to provide feedback is the most common mistake that leaders make. When you don't provide prompt feedback to your people, you're depriving them of the opportunity to improve their performance.
What makes you a strong woman what fulfills you? ›
A strong woman stands up for herself.
“She is not afraid to share her ideas and thoughts, regardless of what others think.” “She speaks her heart and her mind.” “She respects herself enough to stand up for herself, the causes she believes in, and the welfare of others.”
Women were not allowed to vote. Women had to submit to laws when they had no voice in their formation. Married women had no property rights. Husbands had legal power over and responsibility for their wives to the extent that they could imprison or beat them with impunity.
What women can do that men can t? ›- Get pregnant. Brace yourselves people! ...
- Ask for directions. Well, we all know that men are not capable of asking for directions. ...
- Live Longer. ...
- Multitask. ...
- Wear skirts and pants both. ...
- Wear makeup. ...
- Get a new last name or keep two surnames. ...
- Not get stopped by traffic cops.
Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote. The 19th amendment legally guarantees American women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle—victory took decades of agitation and protest.
What is the biggest physical turn off in a guy? ›- Poor footwear taste. When a person sees a man, one of the first things they are likely to check is his footwear. ...
- Poor self-care. Self-care is a big deal when people look for what they like in a person. ...
- Poor grooming. ...
- Inability to satisfy in bed. ...
- Not romantic.
- 7 Ways to turn a woman on. Reader's Digest Editors 21 January 2019. ...
- Ask her what she likes, and do your homework. ...
- Know the three parts of foreplay. ...
- Be creative: Not all women are the same. ...
- Know her body. ...
- Help her feel comfortable receiving oral sex. ...
- Play with lube or toys. ...
- Remember that great sex won't happen overnight.
Traditionally, the dominating social role of the woman was as housewife, and that of the man was focused on work and family maintenance. Nowadays, the social role of women is evolving in the direction of taking a profession, while increasingly men are taking care of the household.
What are two roles of a woman in a society? ›The woman performs the role of wife, partner, organizer, administrator, director, re-creator, disburser, economist, mother, disciplinarian, teacher, health officer, artist and queen in the family at the same time. Apart from it, woman plays a key role in the socio-economic development of the society.
What are the three roles of women in society? ›Reproductive, productive and community managing role.
What attracts females the most? ›One of the most important characteristics that most women seek is modesty. Outspokenness, charity, and honesty are further feminine appeal traits that are always observed, along with humility. Nothing appeals to a woman more than a man with a great sense of self.
How to attract the highest quality women? ›
- Want You To Be A Great Leader.
- Desire A Man That Listens.
- Want You To Be Thoughtful.
- Love A Man With Manners.
- Love A Guy Who's Family Oriented.
- Like A Man To Show Vulnerability.
- Are Attracted To An Informed, Educated Man.
- Want You To Make Them Laugh.
- Older Men. A 2010 study of 3,770 heterosexual adults suggested that women often prefer older men. ...
- Beards. Some women still love it cleanly shaved, however, most women love the beards. ...
- Kindness and Selflessness. ...
- A good first impression is vital. ...
- Laughter.
Women were significantly higher on average in workaholism than men (a significant difference appeared in two of the five components: Overdoing and Emotional Arousal/Perfectionism). Females also reported higher levels of maladaptive perfectionism, which is considered as a workaholic job behavior.
Which gender is more emotional? ›Most researchers agree that women are more emotionally expressive, but not that they experience more emotions than men do. Some studies have shown that women are more likely to produce inauthentic smiles than men do, while others have shown the opposite.
How many hours does the average woman work? ›Men work an avearge of 40.5 hours per week, compared to women, who work an average of 36.6 hours per week.
What are the top 5 needs of a woman? ›- AFFECTION. This one might just rank as high as “Sexual Fulfillment” ranks on the husband's list. ...
- CONVERSATION. Women like to talk. ...
- HONESTY AND OPENNESS. ...
- FINANCIAL SUPPORT. ...
- FAMILY COMMITMENT.
Love and respect go hand in hand. One of the biggest traits of a loyal woman is someone who respects your boundaries and your opinions. She speaks thoughtfully to you, even when upset, values privacy, and does sweet things to show you she admires you.
What makes a man love a woman forever? ›Physical attraction, sexual compatibility, empathy, and emotional connection are key to making a man fall in love with a woman.
Who is a powerful female leader? ›1. Queen Elizabeth II – Monarch of the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in British history and had wielded a ton of political power over world affairs for more than 65 years now. She was crowned in a global broadcast at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953, when she was just 27 years old.
Who is the greatest female leader of all time? ›- Maria Theresa of Austria (1717-1780) ...
- Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) ...
- Queen Victoria (1819-1901) ...
- Coco Chanel (1883-1971) ...
- Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) ...
- Indira Ghandi (1917-1984) ...
- Ruth Bader Ginsberg (1933-) ...
- Oprah Winfrey (1954-)
What does female leadership look like? ›
Horizontal leadership: Female leadership is inclusive, encourages participation and shares information and power with those she leads. She tends to create and strengthen group identities. Emotional prevalence: They are generally capable of considering the “human” side of individuals and generate high levels of empathy.
What is the most common root cause of all leadership failures? ›As an individual leader, a lack of communication skills is the main reason that causes you to fail. But as it can be a painful and touchy subject, many leaders fail to discuss their need for better communication skills with their followers.
Why are leaders toxic? ›Toxic leaders consistently use dysfunctional behaviors to deceive, intimidate, coerce, or unfairly punish others to get what they want for themselves." Toxic leaders tend to also be toxic team members and colleagues. Some are hard-working individuals and loyal to their organizations.
What are 5 characteristics that leaders must avoid to be effective? ›- Lead Others Before You Lead Yourself. ...
- Believe You Know Everything. ...
- Neglect Outside Coaching. ...
- Forget to Prioritize Spiritual, Mental and Physical Health. ...
- Define Success Solely in Terms of Business and Work. ...
- Avoid Showing Gratitude. ...
- Fail to Support Others.
A woman's four basic needs are security, affection, open communication, and leadership. Because security is the most basic need, we will discuss that first.
What is the most powerful thing about a woman? ›"The most powerful thing about being a woman is embracing the fullness of womanhood. In that is a deep connection to the fullness of human emotions: birth to death, pain to joy, and forgiveness to love, to name a few. All are essential in creating compassion for each other.
How can you tell if a woman is powerful? ›- She is courageous. ...
- She doesn't depend on anyone else. ...
- She knows who she is. ...
- She builds others up. ...
- She doesn't see showing emotion as a weakness. ...
- She follows her intuition and doesn't overthink everything.
In accordance with social tradition and English common law, women were were denied most legal rights. In general they could not vote, own property, keep their own wages, or even have custody of their children.
What two things were denied most women for the general public? ›During America's early history, women were denied many basic rights granted to their male counterparts. For example, women were not legally permitted to own property, nor were they allowed to vote to have representation in our government.
When did women stop being property? ›The Married Women's Property Act of 1882 gave women independence under the law regarding property and other finances. A husband and wife were now considered separate legal entities.
What men need most in a woman? ›
Men love women who are thoughtful, caring, loving, and kind. A woman who does little things for her man for no other reason other than that she loves him. A woman who makes him smile back whenever she smiles at him. A woman who radiates love and warmth from her heart.
What are common issues men have with women? ›Money, poor communication, children, infidelity, control and sexual incompatibility are the top issues that cause men the most conflict and turmoil in their intimate relationships with women.
What do men need most from women? ›Here's a fact: Men need (and want) intimacy just as much as women do. Mutual respect, trust, support, and communication — these relationship musts are just as important for a man's emotional and sexual health as they are for a woman's.
Are women's rights protected by law? ›The US Constitution does not guarantee women the same rights and protections as men. To the surprise of many, it contains no explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of sex.
Is there a law that protects women's rights? ›Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is generally perceived as having granted women more freedom in the workplace and a right to expect equal treatment. Despite glass ceilings and other impediments, the passage of this act was a major legal victory.
How to protect womens rights? ›- Raise your voice. ...
- Volunteer. ...
- Start a fundraiser. ...
- Attend marches and protests. ...
- Donate to women's movements and organisations. ...
- Shop smartly. ...
- Challenge events.
- Suffrage Movement.
- Women's Liberation Movement.
- Black Feminism.
- The Feminist Sex Wars.
- Riot Grrls.
She may want to be with you again because she doesn't want to be alone and she feels safe with you. A lot of women don't want to be alone and feel like they need to be in a relationship with someone. When she sees that you have moved on, she may try to come back so that she can have a safety net.
What were women gender roles back in the day? ›Gender Roles in the Eighteenth Century
Men, as the stronger sex, were thought to be intelligent, courageous, and determined. Women, on the other hand, were more governed by their emotions, and their virtues were expected to be chastity, modesty, compassion, and piety.
Two methods of struggle that the women's movement used to raise issues are by raising awareness and protesting. Women's movements raise awareness on women's rights issues. They spread their message through street plays, songs and public meeting.
What is the movement to support women? ›
women's rights movement, also called women's liberation movement, diverse social movement, largely based in the United States, that in the 1960s and '70s sought equal rights and opportunities and greater personal freedom for women. It coincided with and is recognized as part of the “second wave” of feminism.
What are the four strategies used in the women's movement? ›Traditional lobbying and petitioning were a mainstay of NWP members, but these activities were supplemented by other more public actions–including parades, pageants, street speaking, and demonstrations.
What movements are fighting for women's rights? ›The fight for women's right to vote in elections is known as the 'suffragette movement'. By the end of the 19th century, this had become a worldwide movement, and the words 'feminism' and 'feminist movement' started to be used from that point on.
What happens when you stop chasing a man? ›You get more you-time
Getting more time for yourself is what happens when you stop chasing a man. With him no longer at the center of your focus, you can now focus on building yourself and your career or interests. So, you stop chasing him and divert your energy into something more productive.
- Observe their body language.
- They pay attention to you.
- Eye contact.
- They make time for you.
- They quickly apologize when they offend you.
- Jealousy.
- They don't say much.
- They are afraid.
Other common reasons women become emotionally distant in relationships have to do with how quickly the relationship is evolving. Perhaps the relationship is moving too fast for her, and she's unsure as to how to express it. Other reasons women pull away could include losing interest in the relationship.
What rights did women not have? ›In accordance with social tradition and English common law, women were were denied most legal rights. In general they could not vote, own property, keep their own wages, or even have custody of their children.
What caused women's roles to change over time? ›New ideas like socialism, nationalism and women's rights helped transform traditional attitudes and expectations. As a result, gender roles began to shift and change. The labor-intensive Industrial Revolution brought many women out of the home to work in factories. Colonized people began to resist European control.
How has the role of women changed? ›Throughout most of history women generally have had fewer legal rights and career opportunities than men. Wifehood and motherhood were regarded as women's most significant professions. In the 20th century, however, women in most nations won the right to vote and increased their educational and job opportunities.
What was the biggest challenge facing the women's rights movement? ›They battled racism, economic oppression and sexual violence—along with the law that made married women little more than property of their husbands.
What are two examples of women's rights issues today? ›
- Women, peace, and security.
- Women's economic empowerment.
- Gender-based violence.
- Adolescent girls.
- March 3, 1913: Woman Suffrage Parade. ...
- November 7, 1916: Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to Congress. ...
- August 18, 1920: The 19th Amendment was adopted, when Tennessee became the last state to ratify it. ...
- January 23, 1964: The 24th Amendment was ratified, banning poll taxes in federal elections.