Women own less, save less, carry more debt, and are less financially literate than men. That changes now.
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Tips for beginners learning to invest?
FEATURED EXPERT:
Lauren Simmons
Author who was the youngest full-time trader in Wall Street history
This is a marathon, not a sprint — and not something that happens overnight. Different milestones are going to shape how you evolve as an investor. Being an investor in your early twenties is going to look a lot different from you as an investor when you’re older. Be open to continuing to learn as you reach different salaries within your career.
You already know how to invest. We already know how to choose products, check reviews, and figure out what we want to buy. It’s the same when buying stocks. Think of it like a grocery store: You already know how to research companies and lean into the ones you use in your everyday life. Don’t overthink it. Use your curiosity as the basis to invest in companies.
Finally, no one has all the answers. You’re going to find people who think they are experts in the space, but we should be gathering as much information from various sources when we’re making decisions. If you were sick, you wouldn’t look at one website to diagnose yourself. You’d want to get multiple opinions from doctors and experts — it’s the same with investing.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. You can read an extended version here.
money win
An inside look at how women are building wealth.
“I realized I was underpaid by about 15% in my industry, after talking to colleagues and former coworkers and then verifying with my own research. So I set a meeting with my boss and explained where I started and all the additional roles I had taken on in my time there. I asked for a 20% raise, and she was very receptive! I walked out of that meeting proud of myself. At the end of the year, my raise came through — 25%! My boss went to bat for me.”
— Sofía S (MN). It’s good to be fully prepared when negotiating your pay. But it’s even better when your boss has your back.
Scored a raise, saved up for a big purchase, or reached another money goal? Tell us about it here. Quotes are edited and condensed for clarity.
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investment piece
The items celebs and influencers think are worth the big bucks.
Lauren Smith Brody is a journalist, as well as the CEO of The Fifth Trimester, a workplace gender equality firm, and a co-founder of the nonpartisan nonprofit Chamber of Mothers. A working mom herself, she believes that every new mom can come back to work more capable than before and that businesses benefit when they create workplaces that invest in parents. Here, she shares the purchase that helps her visualize success, her way.
Tell us about an investment purchase you’ve made.
Three frames for a trophy wall. I tell my corporate audiences and clients all the time that sustainable working parenthood requires redefining how we measure success and thinking beyond the hours and dollars to include things like satisfaction, legacy, and values. I work for myself, from home, and finally decided to get a bunch of my own successes beautifully framed for a little trophy wall — even if I'm the only one who sees them.
How much did you spend on it?
$400 total.
Why do you consider it a good investment?
It's too easy to be in a constant next-next-next mode as a solopreneur. Seeing a picture of myself and my son on the White House lawn or a framed PR clip reminds me and my family: This is real, I have an impact, and keep going!
Answers are edited and condensed for clarity.
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