While everybody needs to plan for retirement, women often face special challenges when planning for this time of life. 

For one, their careers are more likely to be interrupted to care for children or elderly parents. Even if women stay in the workforce fulltime, they tend to earn less than men, on average. As a result, their retirement plan balances are often lower. 

In addition to earning less, women generally live longer than men. This means having to stretch potentially limited retirement savings and benefits over many years.

Don’t dismay. Here are a few tips to help yourself or the women in your life manage these challenging financial realities. 

Participate In Retirement Planning. 

You may be balancing so many responsibilities that you haven’t given retirement planning much thought. Or maybe you’d rather let your spouse take on these duties. That’s understandable, but it’s critical for women to take an active role in planning for retirement. Married or not, make sure you are well-informed and are able to make financial decisions that benefit you.