Financial Literacy for Women
By Grace Kang
Why should women be financially independent?
Women should aim to have financial security and not rely on the men in their lives. It is a fact that women now live longer than men and they usually end up being poorer in retirement as they are less prepared. Women tend to earn less and invest less, which means they have less pension and retirement benefits. It is therefore essential for them to learn to control their spending and realise that managing money is as important as earning it.

Why should women have knowledge about finance?
Most women feel they don’t have a thorough understanding of personal finance because they think they are not good at maths. They tend to be too conservative and are intimidated when it comes to making financial decisions. And when in doubt, they tend to do nothing.

  • Knowledge about financial matters will help you become more effective in decision making. You would be less likely to make mistakes, be misled and you will learn to distinguish your needs from your wants. You will better understand the different types of investment product in the market, new technology and advances in financial services.

By being financially literate, women can improve their quality of life as they practise sound management behaviour, make decisions that are consistent with their values and become more aware of their rights and responsibilities. Women have the capacity to learn, and acquire knowledge and skills.

 
| page 1 | 2 | 3 |
 

Grace is the Managing Director of Perkasa Normandy Managers Sdn Bhd. This article is extracted from her presentation at the seminar, Personal Financial Planning for Malaysian Women, organised by the SIDC on 9 August 2002