Investing empowers women to accomplish financial independence, protection against inflation, and secure golden years of retirement, providing a structured and valuable approach to long-term financial security.
Women in India have become more vigilant in driving their lives towards financial independence. From taking control of finances to investing for the future, women are ensuring detailed, balanced and comprehensive financial planning for long-term wealth creation.
Proper and planned investing has taught women to add more value to their financial objectives. It has created a structured approach to securing funds without compromising the current lifestyle.
So, here is an insight into the value of investing for women seeking financial security!
What Is The Meaning Of The Term ‘Investing’?
Investing refers to a financial strategy wherein individual investors allocate funds to various financial instruments to benefit from the power of compounding and generate returns to focus on capital appreciation over the long term.
It can include investing funds into options such as stock, real estate, bonds, businesses, etc.
Smart investing entails effective research, assessment of risk tolerance, and diversifying the portfolio for better returns, mitigating potential risks.
Why Should Women Invest?
Although investing is voluntary, women must consider investing as a financial objective due to income disparities and lack of financial security.
The Labour Force Participation Rate indicates the percentage of all people of the working age who are seeking work or employed.
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey, based on the Women & Men In India 2022 Report of the Ministry Of Statistics And Programme Implementation, the LFPR has increased for men and women from 2017-18.
However, the LFPR for the female population is far behind that of the men - 77.2 for the male population and 32.8 for the female population in 2021-22. The reasons can be based on limited workplace opportunities, gender discrimination, societal norms, and lack of educational qualifications.
While various initiatives have been targeted towards women's empowerment, it will take longer to evade the income disparities. Therefore, women need to resort to strategies that can enhance their financial condition in the long term, and investing is a powerful tool.
What Is The Importance Of Investing For Women?
Grab Intelligent Financial Choices: A Shift From Conventional Saving
Women in India have been traditionally brought up in a family environment driven towards securing funds for long-term savings. In addition, they are found to spend money on family necessities such as food, medical expenses, and clothing, ending up with a lower surplus towards saving.
Furthermore, this continued practice might lead to a self-sufficient life. However, it cannot sustain future necessities, considering inflationary pressures.
Deciding to invest and choosing the right investment plans can generate profits to help plan their financial requirements for basic needs, accounting for the inflation rate.
Financial Security: The Women’s Investment Advantage
Financial security is of utmost importance for women at different stages in their lives. And it is imperative for single women, sole-earning women in families, and businesswomen.
Investing can ensure financial security and drive women towards financial independence when the decisions are built right. With a proper analysis of the financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment plans available, women can embrace the value of investing as they experience wealth appreciation over the long term.
It can help them manage financial emergencies, avoid depending on family members, and grow resilient.
Navigating Through Limited Work Opportunities: Value Of Investing At Rescue
Although gender equality in every aspect is bridging the traditional gaps in Indian society, women are still considered essential for raising children and taking care of the family. For this reason, they might have to quit their jobs, work part-time, or as freelancers.
To navigate through these limited work opportunities, investing for women can make up for the financial requirements and add value to their lives.
Retirement Prosperity: An Indispensable Investment Goal
Retirement is a long-term goal that needs effective planning. For women, it is even more crucial considering their longer life expectancy. Investment options offer higher returns as compared to traditional savings options.
In addition, they can create a customised portfolio of investment plans based on their financial condition, risk profile, and retirement goals to invest smartly and secure funds for their golden years after retirement.
Planning For Extended Lifespans: The Value Of Investment Imperative
Women have a longer lifespan as compared to men. In addition, with better living conditions and improved healthcare measures, women tend to live longer during their lives after retirement.
Staying invested long-term can help them build their wealth over time, preserving funds for a passive income. It can help them lead a peaceful and healthier life after retirement.
Investment Plans For Women: Maximising The Value Of Investing For Women
Women can choose from wide-ranging investment plans based on their individual risk profile and financial requirements.
Some of the common investment plan options are as follows.
High-Risk Investments |
Medium-Risk Investments |
Low-Risk Investments |
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Investment Tips For Women
- Determine financial goals for investing - Women must identify the financial goals and the timelines to accomplish them to choose the most suitable investment plans.
- Analyse risk profile - Finding the risk tolerance is a crucial step in investing. The spectrum can range between low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk profiles. Finding products based on the risk profile will help stay invested long-term and add more value to the investment.
- Start early - As a woman's life is subject to changing roles, considering her family's financial responsibilities, it is essential to start investing early to meet the changing requirements timely and manage unprecedented scenarios. The earlier the investment is made, the longer the investment can sustain and the higher the returns.
- Diversify portfolio - The best investment advice for women is diversifying the portfolio if there is an instability in the family's financial condition. Spreading investments across assets will help reduce financial losses during a market volatility condition that negatively affects the investment value.
Conclusion
Addressing income disparities and the wage gap based on gender is still a crucial challenge in India. Women can independently bridge the gap and grow their wealth for planned financial commitments and other uncertainties by advocating investing and practising a systematic approach to investing regularly. It will enhance their stability for sustained growth and financial security.