What we’re reading this International Women’s Day
Research suggests that women can face a number of barriers when it comes to investing. As such, we have looked at some of our favourite books and podcasts that help women to feel more empowered when it comes to their finances.
Authors
The next few years are set to be transformational for women’s wealth as we continue to see more women in senior leadership positions, board seats, starting businesses and transferring wealth to the next generation.
However, only two out of five women say they are confident in making financial decisions, despite evidence showing that when women are deciding on investments, they often spend more time researching than men.
To mark International Women’s Day 2023, here are some of our favourite books and podcasts seeking to help women be more financially independent, empowered in their financial lives, and secure in their present and future.
1. Girls that invest by Simran Kaur
When women invest, they outperform men in market returns. Yet many women never leverage the opportunity of investing because they’ve internalized negative stereotypes about women and money, explains popular financial columnist and podcaster Simran Kaur.
She urges you to shatter any self-limiting beliefs you have about investing, and start working toward financial freedom and early retirement today. Improve your basic financial literacy and take control of your finances with Kaur’s step-by-step guide to investing in the stock market and reaping long-term financial rewards.
2. Girls just want to have funds: a feminist guide to investing by Emma Due Bitz, Camilla Falkenberg and Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen
From the founders of Female Invest – a community dedicated to empowering women to achieve financial success and closing the financial gender gap – comes this guide for safe, smart, and sustainable investing. It is a comprehensive and fiercely feminist guide to making your money work harder for you.
3. Money by Laura Whateley
Take control of your personal finances with this concise, timely and indispensable guide, from acclaimed money expert Laura Whateley.
4. The psychology of money by Morgan Housel
This is a book about what it means to be truly wealthy. It defines “financial freedom” as having just enough to meet one’s basic needs because anything above “enough” is nothing but greed that feeds our ego. It talks about the magnificent effect of compounding and the importance of saving, not saving for a reason but saving for no reason. It reminds us that what we spend today to make us look rich is, in fact, taking our wealth away and making us poorer in the future. Most importantly, it encourages us to think about “time”, and to pursue the freedom of spending time whenever we like with the people that truly matter.
5. The wallet podcast by Emilie Bellet
Hosted by Emilie Bellet, Founder of Vestpod, a platform that provides resources to financially empower women. Each weekly episode holds a conversation about money: saving, repaying debt, investing and raising money. Emilie answers questions and comments on the podcast and interviews female entrepreneurs, freelancers and experts to get you inspired and learn more beyond personal finances.
6. Girls just wanna have funds by Molly Benjamin
A practical and empowering personal finance guide for women of all ages from the founder of Ladies Finance Club, Molly Benjamin.
7. Open up: why talking about money will change your life by Alex Holder
Open Up is an outspoken, warm and timely book that destigmatises the way we talk, think and feel about money. It's full of conversations about money in everyday life – how we earn it, how we spend it and how it affects us. Whether learning from friends, being transparent with partners, finding community with colleagues or recognising what you're worth, talking about money means letting go of shame, and creating a healthy relationship with your finances.
8. Money lessons: how to manage your finances to get the life you want by Lisa Conway-Hughes
Financial planner Lisa Conway-Hughes has appeared in the Guardian, Financial Times, Telegraph, Independent, Glamour and Citywire as well as on BBC News and the podcast, “She’s on the Money”. In this book Lisa maps out a plan for achieving big financial goals and managing everyday spending, Money Lessons is your own pocket financial expert.
This article is issued by Cazenove Capital which is part of the Schroders Group and a trading name of Schroder & Co. Limited, 1 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Nothing in this document should be deemed to constitute the provision of financial, investment or other professional advice in any way. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of an investment and the income from it may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount originally invested.
This document may include forward-looking statements that are based upon our current opinions, expectations and projections. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
All data contained within this document is sourced from Cazenove Capital unless otherwise stated.