Investor profiles

Abstract

Women in the United States face numerous financial challenges: They typically earn less than men do; they have greater probabilities of living in poverty; and they need substantial retirement funds, given their average longevity. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of how women use investment advice to remedy these challenges is vital. However, the literature is largely mute on this issue. This study helps to fill this gap in the literature by evaluating two profiles of female investors through cluster analysis and logistic regression conducted on a large, nationally representative database collected recently. Predictors of seeking investment advice vary considerably across profiles.