More Women than Men lack confidence in preparing for retirement...Wachovia Study shows: More than 50 percent of pre-retirement Women "frightened" of Stock Market

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wachovia's fourth annual Retirement Survey shows that major gaps exist between men and women when it comes to planning for and living in retirement.

When it comes to the stock market, 54 percent of the pre-retirement women surveyed say they are "frightened" by the idea of entrusting their savings to the market, nearly double the number of men - 30 percent - who say they feel this way.

A total of 42 percent of women surveyed say they feel "intimidated" by preparing for retirement either "sometimes" or "often," as opposed to 29 percent of men. And 47 percent of women feel investing "takes more knowledge and skill" than they have, as opposed to 30 percent of the men surveyed.

"Women need to become more comfortable and confident with retirement saving and the basics of the market so they can create a nest egg that will last," said Lynne Ford, director of Wachovia's Retail Retirement Group.

One difficulty working women face in saving for retirement is that many do not have a 401(k) plan. Of the employed women surveyed, 31 percent said they do not have access to this savings vehicle, versus 19 percent of the men surveyed. Among women who report having a 401 (k), only about a quarter contributed the maximum amount allowed in 2007 versus 33 percent of the male respondents.

An equal number of women and men report having an IRA: 63 percent of women and 65 percent of the men.

Gender Differences in Retirement: Behaviors and Perceptions

In retirement, more women, 35 percent, than men, 22 percent, report withdrawing 10 percent or more of their retirement savings to pay for living expenses. The industry recommendation is to withdraw no more than 4 percent annually.

According to the study, women are also less inclined to link their satisfaction in retirement to how much money they have or to see themselves as having planned effectively for retirement during their working years. Of the men and women who had retired and said it was going "somewhat better" to "much better than expected," money and planning had a significantly different impact on happiness for each gender.

A strong majority - 65 percent - of men said they have "more money than they expected," as opposed to 55 percent of women. Also, 53 percent of men said they "planned effectively before retirement for their finances" versus 44 percent of the women surveyed.

"The study shows us that more men attribute their satisfaction in retirement to having more money than do women, and more men say they planned effectively in the pre-retirement years than do women," Ford said. "We'd like to see an increase in women citing planning as an ingredient for satisfaction in retirement because having a plan will help people achieve a greater sense of stability."

Richard Day Research of Evanston, Ill., conducted 2,100 online interviews for Wachovia with respondents between the ages of 35 and 70 and with household assets or income of $75,000 or more, either currently or in the year before retirement, excluding the value of real estate holdings. Members of the media can obtain a full study by contacting Amy Jones at 704-383-4995.

Women and Retirement Tips

Wachovia offers a robust retirement Web site at www.wachovia.com/retirement, but here are some specific tips focused on women and retirement.

  Stop Worrying & Start Planning

 --Anxiety won't help you become more prepared for retirement, but if you start putting pencil to paper you can create a plan that works for you.
  -- Look at your current earnings power and think about recreating 70-80percent of that amount in retirement by saving now - it's never too late to start.
  -- Analyze how much money comes in each month and how much goes out ,track what you spend so you can find ways to cut back on spending and put more cash into savings.

  Take Advantage of Your Company 401(k) Plan

  -- If you have a company 401 (k), put the maximum percentage of your pretax earnings into savings.
  -- If your company matches, be sure to contribute at or beyond the company match.
  -- If you change jobs, avoid cashing out your retirement plan; roll over your savings into an IRA.
  -- If your company doesn't offer a savings plan, you can get an IRA from a qualified financial institution.
  -- Take full advantage of "catch up" contributions if you are over 50. 

  Gain Confidence - Educate Yourself

You don't have to be an expert -- just get started and learn about the basics of compounding retirement savings over time.

  -- You can start at any age.
  -- Approach planning based on the stage of life you are in.
  -- Visit Wachovia.com/women -- a great place to start learning what you can do based on your age and life events.

  Expect to Live Longer

On average, a woman retiring at age 65 can expect to live another 20 years. Savings can increase a woman's chances of having enough money to last in retirement.

  -- Longevity increases the need for a secure and longer retirement income stream.
  -- Prepare, plan and protect a withdrawal strategy to help make your income last
  -- Plan for the unexpected (like rising cost of health care).  -- Postpone taking Social Security benefits until after 65 if possible (benefit could be larger).
  -- Check out living http://to100.com/, to calculate your anticipated life expectancy.

  Talk With a Financial Advisor

Seek a financial partner who will listen to your needs and objectives and will help you build a plan:

  -- A good advisor will help prioritize your goals and re-evaluate your plan as your situation and goals change.
  -- If you have an advisor, make sure he or she has prepared a plan that effectively outlines your vision and your goals and provides regular updates on progress.