SALLIE’S OPINION

The Average Age of Widowhood … 59

That number feels wrong. Way too young, right? Aren't most widows white-haired grannies? ‌Until you get into your 40s and then your 50s (here’s me raising my hand) and you start to see it happening.

I’ve had male friends who have died from heart attacks, cancer, car accidents. And I have women friends who have been tragically left behind.

Here are a few additional stats that feel wrong at first; and then you start to see them unfold:

75–80% of women die single.

And 90% of women manage their money on their own at some point in their lives. Whether they want to or not.

According to the recent Ellevest Women and Wealth Survey 2024: Great Wealth Transfer, about half of women don’t know where to turn in these circumstances, and just 38% say they have a financial advisor who can help them. (Prior research has shown that 80% of women feel misunderstood after meeting with a financial advisor.)

During a pretty stressful time, when the right decisions can set a strong foundation, the wrong decisions can have an outsized impact.

This is why we’ve launched the Ellevest Comprehensive Planning for Inheritance package. We know it can be easy to put off planning for an inheritance. But every single money decision you make — or don’t make — has an impact, be that positive or negative. If you don’t have a plan, you can’t step into your financial power effectively.

Learn more

CEO AND FOUNDER

INVESTING FOREMOTHERS

Women who ignored popular wisdom and bet on themselves

From a First Lady who ignored her husband’s bad investment advice to an architect of the Underground Railroad who collected investing advice by eavesdropping on white businessmen — the history of women investing is full of trailblazers, rule-breakers, and pioneers.

Get your history here >

WHY YOU SHOULD BE INVESTING

If you’re only saving, you could be losing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. When we talk about “building wealth,” this is what we mean.*

Put your money to work >

BELIEVE US, WE’VE BEEN THERE

Hellish divorce, house bidding wars, debt, motherhood — our financial planning team understands what you’re going through.

Let’s work together >

🗓️ Women’s History Month plans?

How to Pay Off Debt Workshop: Paying off debt is a huge money win, and we’re here to help you get there. ⛵
MARCH 14 @ 1 PM ET: Sign up
Inheritance Planning Webinar: Unpack generational wealth with Ellevest Head of Wealth Managment Emily Green. 🌱
MARCH 14 @ 3 PM ET: Join Us
Money Questions? Book a complimentary 15-minute call and we’ll make suggestions for your next money move. ☕
GET YOUR NAME ON THE LIST: Limited availability

“It really unpacked things and helped me feel like I was making informed decisions. So I'd recommend it to anyone who's doing retirement planning ... which should be anyone who's an adult.”

— Ellevest client on how she’s planning for retirement (and being an adult) with 1:1 support. More of a do-it-at-your-own-pace person? Get the scoop on 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and IRAs here.

📚 Grab a seat, you’ll want to spend some time here

Women hold less than 30% of AI roles. Ellevest CEO Sallie Krawcheck joined TheStreet to discuss this gap as well as what Ellevest is doing to fix it. 🎤
A massive microgeneration is in lifelong competition for America’s economic resources, reshaping the world around them. ☕
The economy’s secret weapon? You guessed it, women.
Wall Street’s DEI retreat has officially begun. 🙃

A new era for women and wealth is here.

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This week’s newsletter was brought to you while appreciating the shoutouts. Forward it to your friends who deserve all the praise.

DISCLOSURES

For investing, we assume this person begins with a balance of $3,600 and then adds $3,600 a year for 19 years into a taxable investment portfolio using Ellevest's Build Wealth goal. We assume this portfolio starts with a 91% allocation to the stock market, which gradually decreases over time to make the portfolio more conservative. Then we used a Monte Carlo simulation — a forward-looking, computer-based calculation in which we run portfolios and savings rates through hundreds of different economic scenarios to determine a range of possible outcomes. The results reflect a 70% likelihood of achieving the amounts shown or better, and include the impact of the Ellevest plan fee, inflation, and taxes on interest, dividends, and realized capital gains. For saving, we assume a beginning balance of $3,600, plus $3,600 a year for 19 years into a savings account with fluctuating interest rates. The returns shown are model results only and do not represent the results of actual trading of client assets. Forecasts or projections of investment outcomes are estimates only, based upon numerous assumptions about future capital markets returns and economic factors. As estimates, they are imprecise and hypothetical in nature and are not guarantees of future results.

All opinions and views expressed by Ellevest are current as of the date of this writing, are for informational purposes only, and do not constitute or imply an endorsement of any third party’s products or services.

Information was obtained from third-party sources, which we believe to be reliable but are not guaranteed for accuracy or completeness.

The information provided should not be relied upon as investment advice or recommendations, does not constitute a solicitation to buy or sell securities, and should not be considered specific legal, investment, or tax advice.

The information provided does not take into account the specific objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific person.

Investing entails risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not predictive of future results.

Ellevest, Inc. is a SEC registered investment adviser. Ellevest fees and additional information can be found at www.ellevest.com.

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📝 Do you know the average age of widowhood?

The Average Age of Widowhood … 59

Women who ignored popular wisdom and bet on themselves

“It really unpacked things and helped me feel like I was making informed decisions. So I'd recommend it to anyone who's doing retirement planning ... which should be anyone who's an adult.”

A new era for women and wealth is here.

Older messages

🔥The Feminization of Wealth

🔊 Let’s Get Loud (Budgeting)

💝 Ah, couples and money

📢 Don’t believe the rumors

☕ Giving up “frivolous” expenses?

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