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More Women Are Hitting $500K in Their 401(k) Plans: What They’re Doing Right That Many Miss

Women are continuing to strengthen their long-term financial security. A new Fidelity study found that the average 401(k) balance among women has grown 22% over the past five years, compared to 20% among savers overall. In addition, women who have been continuously contributing to their 401(k) plans for 15 years had an average balance of $508,700 at the end of 2025, up from $453,500 a year prior. Find Out: What a Wealthy Retiree’s Monthly Budget Looks Like at Age 78  Read Next: 10 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up To $1K per Month From Home  In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting…

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A Focus On Your Money

Many Women Are Missing Out on an Easy Way To Grow Their Savings: Here’s Why

Women, on average, have less saved than men. According to the latest stats, women have an average of $54,000 saved, compared to $62,000 for men. And a new survey suggests one overlooked habit may be widening that gap. Read Next: 10 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000  Find Out: What You Need To Save Monthly To Retire Comfortably in Every State  A recent Vanguard survey found that women are less likely than men to use a high-yielding savings option (26% versus 14%). In addition, more women reported not completely understanding how inflation impacts savings rates (66% versus 58%). In this “Financially Savvy…

By Gabrielle Olya

4 Tax-Smart Moves Wealthy Women Should Make

Women with high incomes often pay more in taxes than they need to — not because the rules are stacked against them, but because the most effective strategies aren’t always obvious. As wealth grows more complex, tax planning becomes less about deductions and more about timing, structure and long-term coordination. Learn More: 5 Tax Loopholes the Ultra-Wealthy Use That Most Americans Don’t Know About  Read Next: 9 Low-Effort Ways To Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week)  In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we chatted with Heather Rivas, CPA, CFP, a wealth advisor at River Wealth Advisors, about tax-smart moves…
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How Much Cash Women Really Have Saved — and Why It Falls Short

More than 1 in 5 women have no cash savings at all — and even those who do may not have enough. A recent Fidelity study found that women have an average of $54,000 saved, compared to $62,000 for men. But with rising costs, economic uncertainty and the gender pay gap, that cushion might not go as far as you think. Read Next: 6 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Be Aware: 4 Surprising Things That Could Impact Your Wallet If a Recession Hits In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Alex Roca, host of…
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4 Smart Ways Women Are Living Frugally Amid Inflation

With inflation, tariffs and rising costs reshaping everyday life in the U.S., many women are rethinking how they spend and save. A recent Fidelity study found that 79% of women changed at least one financial habit in the past year to cope with economic uncertainty. Many have embraced frugality and are cutting back in several ways: 42% reduced spending on nonessential activities and entertainment, 36% reduced common everyday expenses, 34% saved more, and 30% reduced spending on travel or vacations. Find Out: 8 Smart Ways Frugal People Are Living Like There’s Already a Recession Read Next: 6 Safe Accounts Proven…

Women and the Workplace

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Women and AI: Strategies To Increase Your Earning Power in 2026

Artificial intelligence is transforming how Americans work, earn and grow their careers. While headlines often focus on job displacement, AI can actually help women increase their incomes — if they know how to harness it. In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Becky Heidesch, author of “The Career Masterclass for Women,” about how women can leverage AI to earn more, advance faster and stay competitive in an evolving economy. How can AI help women increase their incomes? Everyone can harness AI to boost earning potential today, but for women, it is especially important as they continue to lag…

By Gabrielle Olya

This One Mistake Can Cost Women $1.5 Million Over Their Lifetimes

When you’re just starting out in the working world, you may not feel comfortable negotiating your starting salary — but this can be a costly mistake. Research shows that not negotiating a salary at the beginning of your career can add up to between $1 million and $1.5 million in lost earnings over a lifetime. And this loss of potential income particularly effects women — a study of graduating university students found that only 7% of female students attempted to negotiate an initial job offer compared to 57% of men. Find Out: Suze Orman Says If You’re Doing This, You’re…

This Is the Salary Women Say They Need To Be Happy

When asked about the salary needed to be happy, women are more likely to be content with less. A recent GOBankingRates survey found that 30% of women would be happy making $50,000 or less versus 25% of men. Additionally, just under half of all women (49%) would be happy making $65,000 or less. In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with experts about the salary women actually need to be happy, and why women tend to have a lower threshold for happiness when it comes to income. Read Next: 12 Key Ways the Rich Multiply Their WealthFor You: 6…
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Women Are Less Likely To Use AI in Their Careers: 2 Ways To Use It Now

Artificial intelligence can be an invaluable tool for your career growth when used correctly, but many women seem hesitant to embrace this new technology. A recent FlexJobs survey found that more than half of men (54%) are using AI in either or both their personal and professional lives, while only about one-third of women (35%) are currently using AI. In addition, 60% of men said they either already have or are considering using AI for job applications, but only 46% of women said the same, and 21% of men have used AI tools on their job applications, while 15% of…

Relationships, Family & Finances

Newly Married? Here’s How To Build Wealth as a Couple

We’re currently in the midst of wedding season, which means many couples will be saying their “I dos” and officially merging their lives together. This also means that many couples will be navigating their finances together for the first time. Having frank conversations about money and wealth-building strategies early on can help couples navigate financial highs and lows down the line. See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money ExpertsRead: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Cindy Scott, CFP with Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium, about how newly married couples can work together to…

By Gabrielle Olya

Why Dating Your Financial Opposite Could Be a Good Thing

We all know that opposites attract, but we usually think of this as a bad thing when it comes to financial opposites. However, this isn’t necessarily the case — a saver and a spender could make for great partners if they use their differences to their advantage. Discover: 11 Grocery Items To Buy at Dollar TreeFICO Figures: 3 Signs You’re Serious About Raising Your Credit Score In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, a certified financial therapist and a partner with MetLife’s financial wellness app Upwise, about why dating your financial opposite could actually be a good thing. What are…

Money Questions To Ask Your Partner

In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we chat with YouTube creator and financial expert Aja Dang about the money questions women should be asking their partners and why asking these questions is so important. Talking about money can be awkward, and it can be an uncomfortable topic to broach for the first time when you’re in a relationship. But making sure you and your partner are aligned when it comes to your attitudes about money and financial plans is important for the long term, so these are conversations you shouldn’t be putting off. See: 5 Kitchen Appliances That Just Aren’t…
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Here’s How Much You Need To Budget for Child Care

Having children is a magical and rewarding experience. However, parenthood is not all rainbows and sunshine — it comes with significant financial responsibilities. Student Loan Forgiveness: Is a ‘Forever’ Payment Pause Possible? FICO Figures: 3 Signs You’re Serious About Raising Your Credit Score One of the biggest expenses parents have to budget for is child care, which includes daycare, nannies and babysitters. Knowing how much to budget for these costs can help make parenting easier on your wallet.  Why Is Child Care Becoming More Expensive? According to a recent survey by Care.com, 63% of parents report child care has become…

The State of Women & Money

What Is the State of Women & Money?

Women have been making major strides in the world of personal finance. A recent LendingTree analysis found that single women now own more homes than single men. And Fortune reported that women CEOs now run more than 10% of the Fortune 500 companies. Still, the gender pay gap persists and women continue to be less likely to invest than men — even though data has shown that they tend to be better investors. To get a complete look at women’s financial standing in 2024, GOBankingRates surveyed over 1,000 American adults who identify as female about their financial obstacles and goals,…

By Gabrielle Olya

These Are the 4 Top Money Stressors for Women

GOBankingRates’ 2023 Women & Money survey asked over 1,000 American women about their biggest sources of financial worry and stress — and the No. 1 stressor wasn’t saving for retirement or paying for emergencies, but merely having enough money to get by on a day-to-day basis. Find Out: Why Stealth Wealth Is the Best Way To Handle Your MoneySee: How To Guard Your Wealth From a Potential Banking Crisis With Gold In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re exploring all of the top money stressors women face. We also chatted with Lisa Jones, managing director and financial advisor at Prime…

Impulse Shopping, Food Delivery & More: Young Women’s Worst Habits

Would you be able to guess what women say are their worst money habits? Key findings in GOBankingRates’ women and finances 2023 survey highlight financial habits that women said rank among their worst. Let’s take a closer look at the money habits that top their lists, especially among young women, and tips for how women can break free of these habits. Do You Have a Money Question? Ask an ExpertDiscover: 3 Ways to Recession Proof Your Retirement Here are the bad money habits topping the list for young women’s worst financial foes. Which Money Habits Do Women Consider Their Worst?…
graphic of a pad of paper with the financially savvy female written on it, with a piggy bank and calculator on the table as well

1 in 3 Women Avoids Their Finances: Why This Is a Mistake

How would you describe your relationship with money? In GOBankingRates’ women and finances 2023 survey, key findings revealed nearly one in three women avoids thinking about or dealing with their finances. Thinking about personal finance may not be as enjoyable as taking a vacation or enjoying a spa day, but it’s necessary in order for women to establish a healthy relationship with money. Let’s look at why it’s a huge mistake for women to avoid thinking about finance and what they can do to make it easier to manage their finances. Do You Have a Money Question? Ask an ExpertMore:…

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More From the Financially Savvy Female

More Women Are Hitting $500K in Their 401(k) Plans: What They’re Doing Right That Many Miss

Many Women Are Missing Out on an Easy Way To Grow Their Savings: Here’s Why

4 Tax-Smart Moves Wealthy Women Should Make To Keep More of Their Money

graphic of a pad of paper with the financially savvy female written on it, with a piggy bank and calculator on the table as well

Women Retire With $70K Less Than Men — and It Puts Them at Serious Risk

Additional Resources

Retirement at Every Budget

No matter how much you have saved up or plan to spend each month, get the latest tips and guidance on how you can make your money last.

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Strategies to Keep Your Money Safe

Protect your finances from fraud, scams and identity theft. Discover tips and advice designed to prepare you for red flags that pop up when dealing with different financial situations.

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