Cali Pearl Corp. and Therapist Leslie Kausch Present Workshop on Women’s Investment Challenges

Jan. 22, 2013 - PRLog -- When it comes to the differences between men and women, indeed, the list of characteristics is extensive.  However, while it may be easy to debate Mars versus Venus personality traits until an individual is blue in the face, it is the difference in investment and savings tendencies which has interested Sherri Brown, financial planner and managing partner of Greensboro-based Cali Pearl Corporation, and Leslie Kausch, licensed counselor and therapist.  Noting a recent article from U.S. News and World Report which discusses the biggest retirement challenges women face, including experiencing a longer life expectancy than men, lower workplace earnings, failure to take advantage of employer-sponsored retirement benefits and widowhood, Brown and Kausch decided to team up to address these issues as well as other factors women face in the investment arena through a new workshop series entitled, “Women, Wealth and Wine.”  The workshop is scheduled to commence on January 24, 2013 and will be held at Active Healing in Greensboro.  Subsequent workshops will be held on the fourth Thursday of each month.

“[Leslie] and I created a partnership, which I believe is the first between a therapist and a financial planner, to ultimately address and help conquer some of the self-sabotaging financial behaviors many women experience,” stated Brown.  “However, the point of the Women, Wealth and Wine workshop is not to lecture, rather present educational information in a fun and balanced atmosphere.  We want to instill women with the confidence they need in order to make positive and beneficial financial decisions.”

Brown goes onto note that the U.S. News and World Report article, while informational and realistic, backs up several studies on women’s investment behavior completed by major financial firms completed in recent years. She recounts an online survey completed by MassMutual.

“MassMutual completed an online survey between November 15, 2009 and January 15, 2010 which interviewed over 1,000 of the company’s retirement plan participants,” commented Brown.  “What the survey found was shocking and disheartening, especially since I am a woman working in the financial services industry.  The survey showed that women expressed feeling significantly less confident in making important investment decisions on their own and noted that they preferred an ‘avoidance strategy’ when the subject of retirement or investing was brought up.  This is devastating information, especially when you realize the implications of women’s financial actions; they are either refusing to educate themselves, deferring the decision making to a husband or partner, or choosing not to invest at all—these are all roadblocks.”

While there are still significant workplace earning equality challenges in the lives of many women, in approximately one-third of all American households women who are in relationships are the primary breadwinner.  As such, these negative attitudes toward investing and retirement serve to not only hurt the woman in the relationship, but also her entire family.

Kausch agrees with Brown’s position and adds that she believes many of these attitudes toward finances are rooted in deeper psychological fears.  

“Women’s lack of interest in financial planning is ultimately a type of fear, a sense of powerlessness,” opines Kausch.  “Women often put themselves last when it comes to making important decisions and it affects their lives in tremendous ways.”

Whether single or married, Brown and Kausch have discovered that conversations about money inevitably lead to the realization of bigger life issues for many women and that while married women might automatically defer financial decisions to their spouse, single women who refuse to take charge of their financial futures might also be harboring other money-related issues, including using money as a way to feel loved, achieving a sense of purpose via shopping or through the acquiring of material possessions.

“As the MassMutual study shows and the U.S. News article proves, women have this tendency to voluntarily create financial disadvantages for themselves or use antiquated belief systems when it comes to being responsible for their own futures,” commented Brown.  “At the same time, I’ve been working with women for a very long time and I’d like to say that each woman is unique and has her own perspective when it comes to financial planning.  This also leads to the fact that sometimes there are deeper issues that I cannot handle as a financial planner. That is why Leslie [Kausch] and I developed a partnership. I know what it takes to become a successful investor; Leslie knows how to address fears and other roadblocks that prevent women from moving their lives forward.”

The dynamic duo of Brown and Kausch are eager to instill their experience and open up the floor to have an informative and honest financial discussion with area women who are interested in taking the first step in addressing their financial futures or who want to change attitudes regarding their role in creating an effective financial plan.  The Women, Wealth and Wine workshop is open to the public and interested individuals can find out more information about the workshop by visiting www.calipearl.com/womenwealthandwine.

ABOUT:  

Cali Pearl Corporation is a privately-held fee only investment advisory firm based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Cali Pearl has created programs specifically tailored for women that address what women need, want, aspire to and expect in a happy and fulfilled financial life. The company is well-versed in providing services and advice related to investment management, insurance, risk management, trust and estate planning, financial planning and banking services to meet short- and long-term objectives.  Cali Pearl Corporation can be contacted by visiting www.calipearl.com or calling 336-808-3496.

Leslie Kausch, Med, NCLPC, NCC is a licensed therapist and counselor who specializes in helping adults and young women address relationship issues, power dynamics, conflict resolution and issues related to confidence, anxiety and more.  A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Kausch can be reached by calling 336-509-3680.