8 Tips to Help Women Improve Financial Literacy by Kathleen Marteney, CRPC

For too long, women were socialized to believe that they were terrible with money or that financial management was a role better left to their husbands. While women have come a long way, there remains a significant gender gap in financial literacy.

Ninety percent of women will need to be self-reliant with financial decisions at some point in their lives due to late-in-life marriage, divorce or widowhood.  Rather than sitting on the sidelines, women of all ages should get in the game and start to take responsibility for their long-term financial success, now, before divorce or a spouse’s death results in financial surprise in the future.  Here are some tips to help get started:

1. Be actively engaged in pursuing knowledge and building financial self-confidence.
2. Ask questions and begin conversations about personal finance, focusing on topics you feel comfortable with and which you can relate to easily.
3. Be involved in financial decisions affecting you or your family.
4. Pay yourself first by participating in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. If you are self-employed or a stay-at-home parent, create a retirement plan to contribute to for your future.
5. Spend less than you earn.
6. Build an emergency fund that covers three to six months of your living expenses.
7. Set short- and long-term goals and develop an estate plan, including a will, which you can review regularly to ensure it continues to meet your needs and life circumstances.
8. Seek the guidance of experienced financial advisors you can trust to guide you through the process and help you make the decisions critical to your long-term financial success.

About the Author: Kathleen Marteney, CRPC®, is a financial planner with Provenance Wealth Advisors (PWA), an Independent Registered Investment Advisor affiliated with Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs, and a registered representative with PWA Securities, LLC (PWAS). She can be reached at (800) 737-8804 or via email at info@provwealth.com.

Provenance Wealth Advisors, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Nineteenth Floor, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 (954) 712-8888.

 Kathleen Marteney is a registered representative of and offers securities through PWA Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC..

 This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct.

 Any opinions are those of the advisors of PWA and not necessarily those of PWA Securities, LLC. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of PWAS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Prior to making any investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

To learn more about Provenance Wealth Advisors financial planning services click here or contact us at info@provwealth.com

Updated on June 10, 2025