Andrew J. Kirk, CFP^{^®} | Kevin Barry

Retirement

Women on the Rise

Women on the Rise Conquering: Unique Retirement Challenges. Financial success is a goal for many, but women face unique barriers that can make that goal more difficult to achieve. Understanding today’s financial landscape can help women rise to the challenge, know their worth, and take control of their futures.

Daunting Realities. Although history has seen some significant progress for women over the last century, there’s still a long way to go toward financial equality. Women make 83.6 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make in a similar job. (1) The average Social Security retired worker benefit for women is $20,562 per year, compared with $25,277 for men. (2) 57% of women feel they are behind where they should be with their retirement savings. (3)

Enormous Potential. The truth is, women wield a huge amount of influence over the economy, and their impact is only likely to grow. Women are expected to inherit $30 trillion in financial assets by 2030. (3) 41% of small businesses that employ people are operated by women. (5) Women hold 29% of C-Suite positions in corporate America, up from 17% in 2015. (4)

Increasing Impact. The numbers don’t lie: more women are successfully founding and leading businesses than ever, with impressive results. In 2024, 49% of all new U.S. businesses were started by women—a record high. (6) In 2024, 52 Fortune 500 companies were run by women. (6) Women own over 12+ million businesses and employ over 10+ million Americans. (6)

Support for the Journey Many women report having strong relationships with their financial professionals. In fact, 70% of women say they would refer their financial rpfessional to a friend or relative. Whatever your financial needs, we're here to help (7).

Sources: 1. BLS.gov, August 13, 2025; 2. SSA.gov, 2025; 3. Bankrate.com, March 26, 2024; 4. Chief.com, September 17, 2024; 5. DemandSage.com, May 31, 2025; 6. University of Kansas School of Business, July 22, 2025; 7. ML.com, August 13, 2025

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