With International Women's Day being celebrated just a few days ago, the unique issues that women face have been at the forefront of our minds. A lot has changed in the past 30 years, and the financial industry is no exception when it comes to meeting the financial needs of women, which often differ from those of men.

With women now making many household financial decisions, dynamics are evolving in family finances, insurance, investments, and retirement planning. Sound planning should involve a holistic approach and include collaboration to include multiple perspectives.

Women have a growing role in planning and finances

According to Wealth Professional, “today, women are the primary breadwinners in over 31% of households in Canada. By 2024, they are anticipated to control about $2.7 trillion of the country’s total household wealth. Looking further out into the next several decades, they stand to receive 70% of intergenerational wealth transfers totalling $71trillion (1).”

Women have a longer life expectancy

On average, Canadian women are living longer than men by approximately 3.5 years (84.74 vs 81.15), and many are living past age 90 (2). As women determine retirement income needs, it’s important to ensure that these additional years are covered as increased longevity increases the likelihood of needing home care services or entering an assisted living facility.

Women, child rearing, and eldercare

While numbers might be edging upwards for men who become stay-at-home parents, women are still four times more likely to take on this role (3). Women are also far more likely to reduce work hours, take time off or leave work to care for aging parents. In fact, adult daughters provide twice as many eldercare hours to aging parents when compared with adult sons (4).These breaks in employment can have a serious impact on the financial future of a woman.

According to one 2018 study, “stay-at-home parents are half as likely to get a job interview as parents who have been laid off. And the mothers who do find a job are often penalized for their time away. “[W]omen who spend three years or more out of the workforce lose 37% of their earning power. [And] study after study has shown that even the women who do successfully re-enter the workforce after a career break never fully catch up to their earnings potential (5).”

So, what does this mean if you are a woman? Well, you and your partner need to carefully consider risk. What would your income look like if your marital status changed later in life or if your partner were to pass on or become sick, or injured and unable to earn an income? A thorough needs analysis can provide you with peace of mind that your financial future is secure.

When your income is crucial

If you are a single-income household, you are certainly aware of all the financial responsibilities that rest on your shoulders. Sound planning is vital since your needs will be different than a two-income household. It is important to consider disability insurance coverage, along with critical illness insurance because there isn’t a second income to defray unexpected expenses. A solid retirement plan can round out your approach, giving you security and peace of mind.

Author: The Link Between 

References

1. Almazora, Leo. Are Canadian women entering an age of financial empowerment? Wealth Professional. March 8, 2021.

2. Wordometer. Life Expectancy of the World Population. Worldmeter. March, 2022.

3. Honderich, Holly. Why ‘stay-at-home parent’ is a job title. BBC. April 14, 2021.

4. Almazora, Leo. How the gender pay gap adds up over women’s lifetimes. Wealth Professional. May 16, 2018.

5. IBID.