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Retirement Planning for Women

Investment management firms and advisors who understand women’s views on investing for long-term goals can become better partners in helping women plan for and achieve their objectives for retirement.

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Life Goals versus Financial Goals

Many women prioritize improving the quality of their daily lives over improving their finances over the longer term, but they don’t need to be mutually exclusive.


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    92% believe health and wellness practices are as important as financial longevity.

Shifting Priorities

Women may be focusing on shorter-term goals at the expense of retirement – one of the biggest financial demands they will face.


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    17% of women rank retirement as their top money goal, behind stability, lifestyle and financial independence.
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    50% say that planning for tomorrow is difficult given day-to-day demands.
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    71% agree that while advisors talk about saving for retirement, their priority is optimizing their money today.

Women on Retirement Investing

Women believe investing is an important part of retirement planning, even if they are not acting on it. The financial services industry can play an important role in helping women reconcile this situation.


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    84% see investing as a powerful tool for creating life choices.
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    90% are optimistic about investing’s potential to create a steady source of income during retirement.
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    57% rarely think about their fund selection in their retirement portfolio.

Insights into Action

At PIMCO, we use data and analysis to inform action. Findings from our survey suggest actions financial advisors can take to better serve women investors.

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Delving into the Disconnect Between Women and Retirement

At PIMCO, we understand both the opportunity and obligation to effect meaningful social change.

PIMCO’s Christine Long, Suzanne Shu of UCLA's Anderson School of Management, and George Fraser of Retirement Benefits Group, discuss why women tend to prioritize other financial goals ahead of retirement and how the industry can help.

About the Survey

At PIMCO, we believe diverse perspectives generate deeper insights, drive greater innovation and yield better outcomes for investors. That conviction, combined with our research-driven culture, led us to commission this large-scale market survey, Women, Investing and the Pursuit of Wealth-Life Balance.

The objective of the survey was to collect and analyze data that would illuminate the needs of women investors, including their motivations, goals, performance expectations and investment philosophy, to help ensure that the financial goals of this important segment of the investing population are being met – both here at PIMCO and throughout the financial services industry.

Women, Investing & the Pursuit of Wealth-Life Balance

View our full research findings.

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Disclosures

Singapore
PIMCO Asia Pte Ltd
8 Marina View, #30-01 Asia Square Tower 1 Singapore 018960
65-6491-8000
Registration No. 199804652K

PIMCO Asia Pte Ltd is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a holder of a capital markets services license and an exempt financial adviser. The asset management services and investment products are not available to persons where provision of such services and products is unauthorised.
Methodology:
Expert Salon

In March and April 2018, we conducted expert salons in Newport Beach and New York City to capture ideas from thought leaders in women’s perspectives on investing, lifestyle and goals across media, finance and communications.

Financial Decision Maker Survey
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of PIMCO from May 3-May 16, 2018, among 1,500 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, including 748 women. All respondents had over $10,000 in investable household assets and at least some financial decision-making responsibility within the household. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. In March 2018, we also hosted 2 salon sessions to explore issues around women and investing with thought leaders, influencers and experts.

Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results.  All investments contain risk and may lose value.  This report is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product, nor construed as a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any securities or related financial instruments in any jurisdiction.

The survey results contain the opinions of the respondents and not necessarily those of PIMCO. The data contained within the report may not be related to any PIMCO product or strategy and should not be relied upon for any investment decision.

Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. in the United States and throughout the world. ©2019, PIMCO.