Do you monitor your investments?
Although 61 percent of women said they have a household budget, less than one-quarter review the performance of their savings and investment accounts on a regular basis, according to Blackrock. You’ll never know if your investments are the right ones if you don’t assess them periodically. CPAs recommend that you do so at least once a year, and that you consider whether it’s necessary to make changes in light of new developments in the market or in your life, such as a promotion or loss of a job, a marriage or divorce, the death of a spouse, or other event.
Are you prepared for changing professional expectations?
The last recession and continuing advancements in technology demonstrate the importance of keeping your professional skills up to date and anticipating new expectations for professionals. In particular, women who leave the job market temporarily should monitor changes in their fields and be prepared to add new proficiencies when they return to the workforce.
Are you building for a secure retirement?
Between typically lower salaries and time taken off from their careers, women are more likely to have smaller retirement nest eggs and may also qualify for lower Social Security payments. To offset those challenges, set up a regular retirement savings plan now if you don’t already have one, and contribute as much as you can to it. If you’re job hunting, be sure to evaluate prospective employers’ retirement plans and factor them in when deciding whether to take a position. If your employer matches the contributions you make to a retirement savings plan, it’s best to chip in enough to qualify for the entire match.
Have you factored in health care costs?
Given a woman’s longer lifespan, paying for potential health care costs should be a key consideration in women’s planning now and for retirement. In fact, a 65-year-old woman will spend about $21,578 more on total health care costs over time than a man of the same age, according to a HealthView Services report. Don’t omit this expense from your planning.
Your local CPA can help
No matter what your financial concerns, be sure to turn to your local CPA. He or she can offer personalized advice on setting or updating your goals and provide practical ideas for achieving them.
(For more information on financial planning, visit www.picpa.org/moneyandlife.)
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