Getty Images
“What do women want?” may be one of the most-asked questions in the world (there’s even a movie about it, “What Women Want,” starring Mel Gibson), and while I can’t tell you what they want when it comes to love or a Christmas present, I can when it comes to their finances.
They want more financial knowledge.
A new study by insurance company Allianz Life finds that women’s desire for financial and retirement planning knowledge has nearly doubled since 2006. Now, 62% of women say they have an interest in learning about financial planning, retirement planning and investing, compared to 35% in 2006.
The problem is that a lot of materials about financial topics are dense, boring and hard to understand (believe me, I know: I’ve read hundreds of books, whitepapers, pamphlets and more on the topic). More than half of women say financial material “seems like it’s in a foreign language” and more than two-thirds find them “dull and boring.”
So where does a woman go to find financial information that’s clear, helpful and interesting? Here are a few of my favorite financial resources geared specifically to women:
- LearnVest.com and DailyWorth.com: Two of the best personal finance sites for women, offering tips, advice and financial planning tools.
- Women & Money: This book, by celebrated financial author Suze Orman, gives you the basics you need to understand financial planning.
- Smart Women Finish Rich: Author David Bach delivers inspirational advice and practical guidance on saving and investing.
- Get Financially Naked: Authors Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kednar dish on the mistakes that couples make when it comes to managing their money.
