Release Your Inner investor
Smart investing is an important component of financial plans, and women can leverage many of their natural traits to become skilled investors. “Women have a temperament for investing, and sometimes they don’t really know it,” said Laura Bley, president of Bley Investment Group. She explained that many women are long-term-oriented, a focus that helps them carefully research investments and weigh the risks.
“Many people say women aren’t confident investors, but it’s not that women don’t have confidence; it’s that we’re not overconfident,” Bley said. “I have advised clients who didn’t think they were capable because they didn’t handle one ounce of finance in their homes—the husbands did everything. And all of a sudden, they’ve stepped up to the table.”
Don't forget about philanthropy
Although your financial plan may focus on more tangible goals, you can also include your values for helping others and making a difference in the world. Whether you have a little or a lot, including your favorite charities in your financial plans allows you to give back to your community and causes that are important to you.
“Deciding you have enough and can give some away is a hard decision, and sometimes women feel they don’t have the power or the necessary means to give,” said estate planning expert April Hampton Perez. “But, women can make a big difference with their pocketbook, and they don’t have to choose between charity and their family. They can support both.”
An easy way to achieve your family-related and charitable goals is through a planned gift. Charitable gifts remove tax burdens from family members, and many planned giving options also provide a steady stream of income to support your loved ones. Because a planned gift doesn’t take effect until after your lifetime, you can live comfortably for the rest of your life while leaving a legacy for future generations.
The Power of Planning
Lydia “Dia” Copeland is an example of the power of financial planning. After a major loss threatened her estate’s stability, she sought ways to care for her financial future. With the help of a gift planning workshop hosted by the Texas A&M Foundation, she learned how to manage her estate for financial success. “Being around a group of people who were genuinely committed to learning and caring for others felt so empowering,” she said.
Now, Copeland is using this knowledge to give back through a planned gift to Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center and students in the School of Public Health. “I hope my gifts allow students to develop and share their talents as they care for their future patients,” she said. “If we help even one person, then we’ve made a difference in a lot of lives—not just that person’s life, but all the lives they touch, too.”
