inc.com – Research from the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) finds that U.S. women are as financially savvy as men. However, the same research found that superior knowledge doesn’t translate into commensurate confidence: women don’t perceive themselves as financially literate. Despite being among the most financially literate women in the world, American women are 44 percent less likely than American men to consider themselves knowledgeable about money matters (34 percent vs 19 percent).
Without the confidence in their investment decisions, women tend to avoid risk that might benefit them in the long-run. And by assuming that women are inherently risk-averse, the financial services industry promulgates behaviors that marginalize women investors and further erode their confidence: advisors tailor their language, recommendations and investing strategies for men.
Thus, 44 percent of women in the U.S. with significant personal income or investable assets do not have an advisor and nearly half of women with an advisor feel their advisor does not understand them. Not only do women and the industry lose in this equation but the world is also failing to benefit from the wealth women desire to contribute toward the social good. Like men, women seek performance from their investments. But, they also desire a greater basket of goods. Women want to fund entrepreneurs and social enterprises. They want to donate to charities that fight poverty and invest in organizations with diversity in leadership and that promote social well-being. Unfortunately, the less confident they are, the larger gap we see between desire and action.
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