February 2023

I’m not the type of person that usually brags about myself. Now, if someone wants to shout my praises and give me accolades, I’ll take it, but I don’t usually toot my own horn. Considering that, and with the encouragement of my team, I am here to share some exciting news! I was recently given the title of Vice President – Investments. While my work for you and position on the team have not changed, the firm has taken the opportunity to recognize my years of hard work and service not only at Raymond James but in the industry. The announcement came as quite the surprise but it feels good to be recognized.

Did you know that only 20% of financial advisors are women? It seems a bit outlandish seeing how we are now well into the 21^st century. While the industry is changing (albeit slowly) it does remind me of how much we women have also had to change over the years as it comes to our own careers, incomes, and retirement savings.

For so long, many women made choices that did not allow them to secure their own financial future. Not to say that they were destined to live a life of poverty but so often our choices made us reliant on our spouse or others for financial security. While things have been and are changing, it is important to remember how you can make sure your financial future is secure, whether you work outside the home, inside the home or are retired.

Here are a few tips:

• Stay involved. Whether you are the primary financial decision maker or not, come to your annual review meetings, look at your statements or online access, ask questions. We are here to help!

• If you are still working or your spouse is still working, you may be eligible to contribute to a retirement plan. Make sure you are making the most of your retirement dollars. Whether it is a Roth IRA, Traditional IRA or 401k plan, make sure you are putting money away for retirement in your name too. Don’t know your options? Ask us at our next review meeting.

• Consider outside factors. We women are often asked to wear 10 hats and perform 25 tasks all while doing our regular every day activities. Do you have aging parents? Are your children still living at home? Do you care for your grandchildren? Are you just trying to enjoy your golden years? Make time for yourself and make sure, you aren’t being taken advantage of if there are extra jobs you are doing. For example, while you might not charge your aging parents to take them to the doctor’s appointment, it is Ok to ask for them to fill up your gas tank if that helps ease the load.

• Know your social security numbers. Whether you are married, divorced, single or widowed, you most likely are entitled to social security benefits. Did you know you can go online to ssa.gov to see what those are? Now, any benefits (divorced, widowed, or married) may not be available online, but you can set up an appointment to call or talk to a social security representative to find out more.

Planning for our financial futures as women, can be a unique road to navigate as we have so many factors to consider. The next time we meet; let’s make sure we are navigating the right path for you.