Insecure About Retirement? How Women Can Stay on Track

A couple of retired women laugh while sitting on a cabinet together listening to vinyl records.

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Today’s macroeconomic environment is scary — causing many investors to be nervous about their path to financial security in retirement. This is particularly true for women, who face notable barriers in saving for and funding their retirements. Wage gaps, time out of the workforce to care for their family or children and longer life spans mean that it’s even more important for women to develop a long-term plan before it’s too late.

Women Anticipate Retirement Turbulence and Adjust Accordingly

Since 2022, women have become more concerned about retirement. Twenty percent of non-retired women feel unsure about their ability to retire, and 15% of non-retired women say they cannot afford to retire at all, according to the eighth annual Advisor Authority study, powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute.

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While market volatility and high inflation have become the new norm, nearly nine in 10 women (87%) say they can do all the right things to manage their finances but still be blindsided by outside events, a double-digit increase since 2022. And while many believe we are in or approaching a financial crisis, less than half (45%) of women say they have a strategy in place to protect their assets against market risk.

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However, many women are adjusting their lifestyles to remain resilient and sustain financial health. Over the next 12 months, 31% of non-retired female investors say they will avoid unnecessary expenses to prioritize saving more for retirement. They are also being more cautious, with more than a quarter (28%) saying they will manage their investments more conservatively.

The Payoff of Working With a Pro

Regardless of whether today’s economic environment is officially dubbed a “financial crisis,” a run-of-the-mill recession or just a speed bump, an adviser or financial professional can be a crucial resource to help you achieve long-term financial security. More women are seeking this guidance, with 52% of female investors working with an adviser in 2023, up from 45% in 2022.

A financial adviser can help determine how much you should save and the right investment strategy for your risk profile. They can work with you to build a plan to help ensure you don’t outlive your savings, factoring in Social Security, health care and potential long-term care needs. They can also help you maximize tax efficiencies and develop a legacy plan for your family or loved ones.

In times of uncertainty, the value of sound financial advice is immeasurable – 97% of women with a financial adviser say working with one helps them to feel more confident in their ability to make good decisions, even during a crisis. And while this advice comes with a financial cost, most investors will tell you that better long-term investment outcomes more than offset this expense.

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Need help finding an adviser or financial professional? Start by asking friends. Whether you’re looking for a female adviser or one with experience serving female clients, tap your personal network to find a good one.

Four DIY Tips to Help Protect Retirement Portfolios

Some people are hesitant to work with a financial professional due to cost, or perhaps they feel they can handle planning on their own. If that is the case for you or a loved one, here are a few do-it-yourself tips to keep your plan moving in the right direction:

Saving something is better than nothing. Saving does not have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Many women are balancing daily expenses, debt obligations or have a desire to make another investment, like purchasing a home. Don’t wait until you have checked those items off the list to begin saving for retirement.
Don’t miss out on matching contributions. If your employer sponsors a retirement plan match, consider contributing enough to leverage the full match. These contributions could make a huge difference over the course of your career.
Don’t sit on the sidelines. The biggest advantage a young investor has is time, so start saving now and let the magic of compounding interest begin to work for you. Remember, when markets are down, buying is cheap, so do not slow down in volatile markets unless you have to.
Set it and forget it. Do not check your account balance every day or weekly. In today’s environment, that’s stress you don’t need. Remember, you are investing for retirement, not next week. When you see short-term fluctuations in your balance, avoid the temptation to make rash decisions. Instead, take stock of your investment strategy once a year. Many employer- sponsored retirement plans offer resources to help you do this for free. After that — let it go until you revisit your plan next year.

How Women Can Achieve Financial Empowerment – and a Better Retirement

Many women feel compelled to spend their lives taking care of others. That’s admirable, but it shouldn’t happen at the expense of taking care of yourself. Whether you work with a financial professional or are just getting started on your journey to financial empowerment, there is no time like the present to put together a plan, or at least begin taking the initial steps to set yourself up for long-term success.

Investing involves market risk, including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or program can guarantee a profit or avoid loss. Actual results will vary depending on your investment and market experience.

Nationwide and its representatives do not give legal or tax advice. An attorney or tax advisor should be consulted for answers to specific questions.

Nationwide Investment Services Corporation (NISC), member FINRA, Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide Retirement Institute is a division of NISC. NFM-22941AO

Disclaimer

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

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Kristi Martin Rodriguez currently serves as Senior Vice President of the Nationwide Retirement Institute® for Nationwide Financial, leading the teams responsible for advocating for and educating members, partners and industry leaders on issues impacting their ability to have a secure financial future. She was a founding member of the Ohio chapter of The National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP), an organization helping people of color and women achieve inclusion in the industry.