5 Financial Mistakes Women Make

With our practice in Atlanta, Georgia, we have many women walking in the door. And even though most of our clients actually manage their money very well, we continue to see persistent issues with the women…particularly the married women. As a result, I’d like to share some information to help all of our female readers. Make no mistake…the guys aren’t perfect, and eventually, I’ll get around to creating an article for the men–our gender’s got its own money problems. But this one’s for the women, so let’s get into the top five mistakes we see on a regular basis.

Mistake #1: Ignoring Your Credit Score
One of the most common mistakes women make is not establishing a solid credit history. Remember, a good credit history will give you more–and often better–financial options. Lenders will review your credit history when deciding whether to extend you credit. If your credit history is good, you may be offered credit at more advantageous terms, potentially saving you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest. And here’s some extra incentive: prospective employers or landlords may check your credit history before offering you a job or renting you a home. Do not rely solely upon your boyfriend/husband to provide the positive credit profile for your relationship. It’s heartbreaking to have recent divorcees come into my office and admit that “everything” was in their husband’s name: the house, car, VISA card…everything. All this time, he’s been building a positive credit history while she built…no history at all.

Here are some ways you can help keep your credit history healthy:

• Regularly check your credit reports. You’re entitled to a free credit report once a year from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To request your report, call 877-322-8228 or visit www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Don’t cosign loans or sign joint credit applications without understanding the consequences. You will be legally obligated to repay the debt, and any late payments may hurt your credit rating.
• If you struggle with debt, don’t wait to take action. Call your creditors. They may be better able to work with you before you get too far behind. Ignoring the situation will make things worse.

Mistake #2: Saving for Your Children’s Education–But Not Your Own Retirement
As a parent, you feel it’s your obligation to pay for part (or all) of your child’s college education, and you may put off saving for retirement until the kid’s college bills are paid first. While it’s natural to want to put your child’s needs first, I want to make sure you are financially secure going forward. Your kids have countless options for financing college–loans, scholarships, work-study, grants– and they will have many years after graduation to pay for it. On the other hand, you can’t borrow money for retirement; there are no scholarships for the golden years. So with a limited number of years to save, make sure your retirement is a top priority; if there’s any cash leftover, then save for the kids’ college.

Mistake #3: Underestimating Your Need for Life Insurance
There’s no sugar coating this one…most women don’t have enough life insurance. In fact, most women who are stay-at-home-moms or even part-time outside the home think they don’t need any insurance, based on income. So if that’s you, then listen up. You are actually contributing a great deal to your family’s finances. How much would it cost if you had to hire service providers to do everything that you do on a daily basis? A LOT!! The services you provide for your family are invaluable and very costly for private hire. So if you were to die, how would your family members be able get by? Could they hire a professional to take care of the household? And would your passing devastate the college fund or retirement nest egg? What about ordinary day-to-day living expenses? Life insurance serves as a financial buffer to help protect your family even after you’re gone.

Mistake #4: Not Planning for a Long Retirement
The good news is that retirement is likely to last 20 to 30 years…but that’s also the bad news (if you’re not prepared). Outliving your retirement income is one of the biggest risks any retiree faces, especially women. This is because, according to the National Center of Health Statistics, a woman who reaches age 65 can expect to live until at least age 85. However, because women typically spend less time in the workforce (and may earn less for the same work than their male counterparts), women’s retirement savings and benefits are often shortchanged.

So what can you do to make sure you’ll have enough income to last throughout retirement? Here are some suggestions:

• Set a realistic retirement savings goal, save as much as you can, and keep track of your progress.
• If you’re married, plan for retirement with your spouse. It’s especially important to account for your joint life expectancies and ensure that you have a steady stream of lifetime income.
• Find out how much you can expect to receive from Social Security, and what you can do to maximize your benefits.
• If your nearing retirement, consider buying long-term care insurance to help protect your retirement savings from the high cost of long-term care. And because women are often the primary caregivers for a loved one, consider coverage for family members as well.

Mistake #5: Not Seeking Title on Joint Assets
Just like Angela Bassett’s character in “Waiting to Exhale”, many of our female clients are devastated when they are confronted with a separation (or divorce) only to learn that their names are not on title to the house, car, or other assets. State laws largely dictate the division of property obtained during marriage, and without a prenuptial agreement, assets obtained before the marriage typically fall under state jurisdiction as well. Women–if you remember nothing else–remember this: If you live in a house with your husband, make sure your name is on the title. Even if you do not make the mortgage payment, make sure your name is on the title. Even if your relationship is perfect and you’ll never split up, make sure your name is on the title…you catch my drift?