REDMOND, Wash., April 3, 2001 — Women are bargain hunters, men are risk takers. Sound familiar? A recent Yankelovich survey* sponsored by Microsoft® Money and Perseus Publishing indicates that when it comes to personal finances, men and women truly are from different planets.
Survey results reveal that men and women have similar life priorities and financial goals, but the means by which they achieve these goals differ greatly. A majority of both men and women (85 percent) cited
“family”
and
“love/relationships”
as their top two priorities in life. However, when asked about achieving financial goals, men’s and women’s money styles differed significantly: More women than men describe themselves as
“bargain hunters”
while more men than women describe themselves, in terms of money style, as
“risk takers.”
These results suggest that women set out to reach financial goals through practical methodologies, while men are more inclined to invest and take their chances in the hopes of hitting it big.
“It’s no surprise that men and women view their finances differently,”
said Jennifer Openshaw, financial expert and author of the upcoming book,
“What’s Your ‘Net Worth?: Click Your Way to Wealth” (available in May from Perseus Publishing).
”
Women are faced with unique challenges when it comes to money. Women live longer, earn less pay and often receive no pension. It is important for women to know there are practical, affordable, easy-to-use tools available that can help them pinpoint and achieve their short- and long-term financial goals and priorities.
“Personal finance software, such as Microsoft Money, and tools on the Internet, such as the MSN® MoneyCentral™ online financial service, can help women manage debt, control costs, save for retirement, track investments and build a personalized financial plan.”
According to the Yankelovich survey, financial concerns also vary between genders, with women putting retirement and debt at the top of their list. A greater number of men ranked their concern about investing as
“high,”
while more women cited
“making it through the week.”
The survey also indicated that only 21 percent of respondents consulted their spouse or partner about their finances and investments. Slightly more women, 23 percent, said they would seek advice from their spouse, with only 18 percent of men saying they would do so. In fact, men were more likely to go to their friends than their spouse for financial advice.
Free
“
Realize Your Potential
”
Seminar Series
In light of these gender differences, Microsoft Money, in conjunction with the Women’s Financial Network at Siebert, is sponsoring a series of free seminars titled
“Realize Your Potential: Wealth-Building Strategies for Women.”
Presented by Openshaw, nationally recognized media commentator and founder of WFN Women’s Financial Network Inc., the seminars will be conducted April 16-27, in the New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Silicon Valley areas. Openshaw will offer strategies on how women can take control of their financial situation though discussion of the following topics: personal net worth, debt, budgeting, saving, taxes and inflation, and investing and retirement. The seminars are designed for women interested in advancing their skills as the CFO of their own financial empire. Women can register for a seminar by visiting http://www.womencentral.msn.com/homelife/ or calling (877) 988-6946.
About WFN at Siebert
Women’s Financial Network at Siebert is a pioneering financial institution created for women, by women. Led by CEO Muriel Siebert, the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, WFN offers more than 9,000 mutual funds, stocks, bonds and IRAs. WFN at Siebert’s award-winning products, customer service, small-business center and robust networking community are tailored to the needs of savvy women investors.
About Perseus Publishing
Perseus Publishing, a member of the Perseus Books Group, publishes books in the fields of business, science, health, parenting, psychology and general nonfiction. Located in Cambridge, Mass., the company brings readers some of the most stimulating and important books being published today.
About Yankelovich Partners
Yankelovich Partners is a premier international public opinion and marketing research firm headquartered in Norwalk, Conn. Interviews for the study mentioned herein were conducted among a regionally representative sample of 1,034 U.S. adults ages 18 or older, by telephone, between March 8 and March 11. The margin of error is 3.0 percent.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
* Survey:
“A Study about Money,”
March 13, 2001, by Yankelovich Partners Inc., 1,034 Americans surveyed between March 8 and 11, 2001.
Microsoft, MSN and MoneyCentral are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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