Mark Miller at Reuters provides an interesting spin on the traditional gift for our mothers…how about sitting down and talking about retirement planning?
” ‘Women have lower lifetime income based on less time in the workforce,’ says David Littell, who directs a program focused on retirement income at the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. “As a result, they have less in savings, lower Social Security benefits – and they live longer than men. Those things don’t go well together.”
Many women still earn lower wages than men: On average, women made about 81 percent of the median earnings of men in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
They’re also more likely than men to work part-time, often because of caregiving responsibilities for aging parents or children. That cuts into earnings, but it also means they are less likely to have access to workplace retirement plans.”
Reuters’ advice is straightforward and on the mark. They suggest women maximize Social Security, get an early start and make a plan.
“The most important step women can take to improve their retirement prospects is to get the most out of Social Security. For most, that will mean waiting to claim benefits until full retirement age (currently 66) or longer. Each year of delayed filing (up to age 70) translates to roughly 8 percent additional annual income.”
We also tackled the issue of Women and Social Security in our report: Breaking the Glass Ceiling.