By Jason Fuchs, Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors
 
Women earn 77 cents on the dollar compared with men, and they’re less likely to be covered by company retirement and pension plans. Combine that with the fact that women tend to live longer, and it’s clear why they need to save conscientiously for retirement. Here’s how to jump-start your retirement planning.

When it comes to retirement savings, women continue to lag behind men. They tend to spend enormous time and energy taking care of everyone else and then neglect themselves – it’s so common. 

Women had an average of $50,100 in their 40k accounts compared with more than $89,698 for men, in a 2009 study of nearly two million participants in large-company 401k plans. 

What’s more, only 25% of women are confident they’ll have enough money to cover basic living expenses in retirement, according to recent data from the Employment Benefit Research Institute.

Women think of money as a family affair, to help the whole family, not as satisfying their needs.

Savings Handicap 

What makes it harder for women? For starters, women live longer than men — about five years longer, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. And that means they need more money to see them through.

Women also have a savings handicap for the following reasons:

Most women earn less than men. While some reports suggest the pay gap is narrowing, the Census Bureau said in September that full-time women employees still make, on average, only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men.

Women tend to spend less time on the job, because of care-taking responsibilities for children and elderly parents (or both), and they are more likely than men to work part-time. Because of the part-time work and/or fewer years in the work force, they are less likely to be covered by company retirement or pension plans.

Women who have joined a retirement plan at work tend to save more than men at the same income levels. But in the life-isn’t-fair department, women in general still end up with less because of their shorter job tenures and incomes that are on average lower than men's.

Family Needs Versus Personal Ones 

There are the personal issues. Women tend to think of money as a family affair. They think it’s there to help the entire family, and don’t think of it as satisfying their needs. 

I’ve heard a story of  a woman who saved consistently throughout her career and was in good shape to retire at 60. But the desire to help an adult daughter with the legal costs of a child-custody battle vastly depleted her retirement funds. The woman, a therapist, worked well into her 70s trying to catch up. Salary is not the critical factor. There are other ways to help.

Even women with CEO salaries may flounder when it comes to their own long-term financial planning. Another story of a middle-aged woman making more than $400,000 a year talks about how this woman was at the top of her game in her career, yet she did not have enough resources to become financially independent.

Many women prefer to help others first. I’m not sure that men in general are pulled in so many directions with their money.

Ultimately, it’s your savings discipline, not your salary that makes the difference. Six-figure salaries can dwindle just like $20,000 salaries. Women with high paying salaries usually have a lot going on that takes up income: high costs for child care, for example, and the maintenance of a certain kind of lifestyle. For professional women, a six-figure salary doesn’t guarantee them anything.

The urgent message is that women need to try harder to prepare for retirement — by saving early and consistently, and by making saving as much a priority as paying the mortgage or the utility bill. 

By Janice McHenry of McHenry Coaching
 
As the owner of a small- or medium-size business or director of a nonprofit organization, your day is consumed by the endless tasks of keeping your operation running smoothly.  How often are you able to step back and reflect on your accomplishments – and how you would like to improve your organization? Probably not as often as you’d like, and certainly not as often as you need to!

The coach accrediting body (International Coach Federation) defines coaching as a thought-provoking, creative process that inspires you to maximize your potential as you improve your outlook on work and life.

As you share your hopes and dreams, your coach will ask you to describe what is fundamentally important to you.  How does this show up every day in what you do?  What core values drive your actions:  serving others, exploring how technology can improve our life, building a business to secure your family’s future?  What else? How does this dream fulfill your unique contribution? That's pretty abstract, though, so here’s a story to show how coaching works.

When I was starting my business, I needed to find clients and I didn't know how to start.  Fortunately, I had a coach who kept asking me questions about what I didn’t know – and what I was afraid of knowing.  My coach helped me visualize my dilemma as a really big rock in the road.  I could see clients waiting for me beyond the rock, but I believed I couldn’t climb over it or go around.  In just one coaching session, I realized it was in my power to make the rock smaller!  When this new insight, I was able to set aside my fears, and and I developed steps to get to those new clients. Are you at a turning point? Who can you talk to who will support you completely? 

A coach can help you see where you’d like to end up and guide your steps to get you there.A coach is your trusted advisor. A coach is not a mentor giving practical advice, or a therapist, or your boss. Whatever description your coach uses (business coach, leadership coach, executive coach, wellness coach), your coach’s only goal is to help you.

As you share your hopes and dreams, your coach will ask you to describe what is fundamentally important to you. How does this show up every day in what you do? What core values drive your actions: serving others, exploring how technology can improve our life, building a business to secure your family’s future? What else? How does this dream fulfill your unique contribution. 

Every relationship is unique, and you can trust coach to have only your interests at heart. The coach’s code of ethics guarantees confidentiality – your ideas and concerns stay just between you two.You and your coach will develop your unique action plan. A coach is curious about your future: What do you want to achieve, and how will you do it?

Finally, coaching is a proven return on investment. Studies have shown that working with a coach just one to two hours a month leads to increased productivity, more positive employees, and better time management.

By Alessandra Colia of the Urban Alliance
​
The basic theory is indisputable: the happier your employees are at work, the more engaged/productive/efficient/effective they are and your company is. The cost of turnover is enormous, and engaged employees are as good as gold. So you think you know what your employees want right? Higher pay. More vacation days. Shorter commutes. Longer lunches. Telework flexibility. Glamorous perks.

Ask any employee for their wish-list and while those items may be on there, often they also want something bigger: to feel workplace pride, to connect with others, to have a bigger sense of purpose, and to have a fair say. As a company leader, how do you achieve all of these elements and engage your employees? How can you ensure that employees are happy at work without it costing the company?

Consider your company’s corporate community giving. 61% of all candidates take a company’s charity initiatives into consideration when evaluating a company and 83% of all employees prefer companies that focus on corporate giving (Adecco, USA). That is quite a high percentage of people taking notice of how your company is involved in the community! How often does your company give back to local non-profits? How often do you give employees the opportunity to participate in activities where they can interact with those in-need? Read below for some tips on what your employees really want and how a robust corporate community giving program can help:

1. Employees want to feel proud. Employees like to boast about the great things their organization is accomplishing, as well as be associated with a place that does good work in the community. If their company is giving back in an impactful way, employees are more likely to be happy to work for their company. Beyond current employees developing pride, you will attract future employees who care about a giving corporate culture. Determine ways to engage the community that will make your employees proud to stand behind your company name!

2. Employees want to build social connections. To improve employee satisfaction, give them the opportunity to give back to the community and bond around a cause. Employees want to feel connected to their co-workers, and working together for those in-need is a great way to accomplish that. Beyond feeling connected to each other, staff will feel connected to community members at large. View giving back to the community as a chance to strengthen your own corporate community!

3. Employees want to have an enriched sense of purpose. Deriving a greater sense of purpose from work leads to higher employee satisfaction and can unleash productivity. When employees have perspective on the greater community, they can realize how they fit into it, and how their company’s altruism contributes. Purposeful partnerships with non-profits have the power to connect your mission with community service. Root your corporate culture in social responsibility to enrich your employees’ sense of purpose! 

4. Employees want to have a fair say. By giving your employees the platform to promote their causes, it will make it more difficult for them to leave since they are engaged on a personal social responsibility level. Employees will feel they have a voice in your company if you give them the opportunity to share where their passions lie. You may be surprised when you hear what’s important to your employees outside of work connects to what your company is doing. Take the time to hear what causes your employees believe in to see if there is alignment with your company!

The benefits of corporate giving from the Human Resources perspective are numerous. Besides the proven benefit of employee retention, your company is more likely to attract new employees if your business has clear corporate social responsibility. Your current staff who participate in volunteering and pro-bono work not only gain significant job-relevant skills, but also have a higher level of engagement.

Not only is service to the community good for those in-need, but it is good for engaging employees and therefore, good for your bottom line. Think broadly; corporate social responsibility is more than just charity.Where are the critical junctions between your corporate values, employee passions, the communities in which you do business, and the financial success of your business? Seek meaningful partnerships with non-profit organizations. Improve your business. Invest in Arlington.

Sources

http://www.adeccousa.com/Employers/resource-center/Pages/corporate-giving-infographic.aspx

http://www.forbes.com/sites/devinthorpe/2013/05/18/why-csr-the-benefits-of-corporate-social-responsibility-will-move-you-to-act/

http://www.inc.com/guides/201105/7-ways-to-improve-employee-satisfaction.html

http://www.hrmasia.com/forum/corporate-social-responsibility-the-secret-to-employee-retention/186144/ 

C.Lee Cawley, Certified Professional Organizer and President of Simplify You, Inc.

Finally, spring is here. Those heavy sweaters and thick wool suits are ready to get switched out. Here are some ideas for getting your closet ready for warmer weather. 

Closet Before
DOES IT FIT? Really? Not “when I lose 10 pounds”, but right now? If you have space, you can keep one size on either side of what you are wearing (8, 10 & 12). But I think it is best to store the too-small items, don’t let yourself grow into the next size up! And the same rules apply to men.

DOES IT FLATTER? Does the color of the garment compliment your skin and hair? Or does it wash you out? Is the cut flattering for your body shape? Do you feel good in it? If the answer to any of these questions is not a whole-hearted “YES!” then ask if that item belongs in your wardrobe.

DOES IT PROJECT THE IMAGE I WANT? Different clothes work for different ages, stages, and situations. For example, the bright sequined top and flashy mini skirt that I wore to great applause at my engagement party in 1991 became (with the addition of go-go boots and 60’s eye makeup) my Halloween costume in 2001! Maybe the same could be said of your oversized leather bomber jacket.

WHEN DID I BUY THIS? If the answer starts with a “19” then chances are it is time to retire it. Anything from the last millennium should probably NOT be part of your day-to-day wardrobe! Exceptions: family heirlooms, classic fashion, Chanel couture, and christening and wedding gowns.

SORTING 101:

WHERE YOU ARE GOING = WHERE IT GOES: I do NOT recommend just putting all similar items together, i.e. the “like with like” method.

HANG: As much of your current clothing as you can, even the casual items. Tops first and then bottoms if you have room. Folded items in drawers get “hidden”; people tend to wear what is on the top layer.

ROLL NOT FOLD: Instead of folding jeans or tee shirts try rolling them and then laying the “logs” side by side in the drawer. By doing this you can see more of what you are storing. If you can’t see it, you won’t wear it!

CLEAN: Before storing any off-season items wash or dry-clean them! Food and sweat stains that do not show now can “mature” during storage months and ruin your clothes.

LONG TERM STORAGE: Use cotton garment bags for off-season hanging clothes, and lidded boxes for folded clothes. Put a linen bag in each storage container with plain white chalk to help absorb moisture. I also love Cedar Fresh, available at Bed Bath & Beyond. It is a natural moth deterrent with pleasant lavender and cedar scents.

SPACE BAGS: Do NOT put clothes you care about in space bags! I have seen too many impossible wrinkles and funny smelling items come out after a season in storage. (And if you have so much that you think you need a space bag, please see EDITING 101 above!)

EDITING 101: Every time I organize a closet, I ask my client these four key questions:

Ideally, all the items you need for an occasion should be in one place. Ask yourself “where am I going?” If the answer is “to my job at the law firm” then all the business-appropriate clothing should be stored together. This would include only the long-sleeved shirts you would wear to the office. The others that you would only wear on the weekend belong in your “weekend wear” area. I suggest storing all your business suits and separates together, all the special occasion wear (with the accessories or underwear that match) together, all the fitness wear together, etc. If you’re “going to exercise” then it saves time to have all your workout wear together.

STORING 101:

When your “seasonal switch” is over there is one last KEY step to do! Go through and put all the hangers on the rail “backward” so that the tip is facing out. After you wear and wash your clothes, you can then return them to the rail in the “normal” way. This simple cost-free idea makes it effortless for you to see what you’ve REALLY been wearing at the end of a season.

As for items in drawers, I use a small piece of painters tape to tape my garment “logs” closed. The same rules apply for use; wear it, wash it, and anything with tape on it at the end of a season becomes an excellent candidate for donation!

Hope you found these tips helpful!

​By Maritza Lizama, Marketing Strategist for LiMón, LLC

Have you navigated a site on your smartphone while shopping online — and the page just doesn’t load fast enough or is all out of whack?

Your annoyance bubbles to the surface, as you face the threat of carpal tunnel syndrome by having to zoom in and click on tiny links, and play tag with fields on miniature credit card forms (grrrr). In frustration, you quickly close the page — hoping to forget the bad experience — except for the fact you probably won’t ever return to that site.

This scenario leads to sleep deprivation for businesses seeking to fully optimize their websites across multiple devices to reach, engage and convert their web visitors. Today’s average mobile user has the attention span of a toddler (I should know, I’m raising one at home). Mobile users tend to be very goal-oriented — they expect to be able to get what they need from a mobile site easily, immediately, and on their own terms. They want, err demand, news in 140-character bits (or less, for RT purposes, of course), one-click online shopping, and most everything with a simple swipe of their smartphones or tablets.

It's no wonder businesses lose potential customers with complicated, slow, or inefficient mobile websites. After all, if your business doesn't have a viable mobile strategy, chances are that one of your competitors does, and that product/service-hunting customer will flock to them.

Mobile is no longer an afterthought, it’s a must in order to stay competitive and help you reach your business goals.

Responsive design (more than just a buzz word) is becoming the go-to solution for businesses looking to optimize their sites for mobile without developing an app for each device.

But, how do you know if a responsive site is right for you? Well, the short answer is “it depends.” I’m not evading the question. Your mobile strategy depends on 2 key factors: your core business and your budget.

Next, pay close attention to your data and metrics. A mobile traffic analysis can help. Start by analyzing when and how users view your content on mobile — this will help dictate your layout — from the length of your videos to where you place certain content and calls-to-action.

Third, if your email marketing isn’t mobile optimized, you’re toast. Take a look at these stats: At least 50% of unique email opens are mobile, according to Experian Marketing Services, and this number is only expected to grow. Another statistic from MailChimp found that 70% of mobile users delete emails without reading if they're not optimized for mobile, while another 20% said they would just give up and unsubscribe.

Fourth, with global web traffic via mobile estimated around 20% (and growing), can your business afford to whiff on all those potential customers?

Okay, so can we agree that the question is not whether you should or shouldn’t invest in a mobile site with a great user experience, but, how fast will you move to beat your competitors at attracting and converting your visitors?


Key takeaways: Take action and start defining your mobile strategy along with your business goals. Understand the psychology behind your users’ activity on each device. Then, if you consider responsive design, use a multi-faceted approach to analyze your entire purchasing funnel. Last, but not least, when your potential or existing customers find you on their mobile device, be ready to give them a user experience so awesome, that they’d be fools not to return.

Editor's Note: If you're interested in learning more about mobile strategy, attend the Power Up Your Business with Mobile event May 14, 2014. 

By Henry Dunbar, Executive Director of Phoenix Bikes

Arlington prides itself on being one for the more bike friendly communities in the East, and with May being National Bike Month (the weather will change, I promise), there will be ample opportunities for cycling enthusiasts to get their (human) motors running and get out on the pathways in and around Arlington. Traffic confrontations aside, there is little downside to riding your bike. Well documented benefits include better health, increased productivity, lower stress, reduced carbon emissions, and better connections to other people and communities, just to name a few.

Many of the events are coordinated by nonprofits and are eager for corporate sponsors. Please follow the links to see how your business might support these events and organizations. 

Bike to School Day, Wednesday, May 7
Coordinated nationally by the Partnership for a Walkable America, students are encouraged to ride or walk to school, while parents and other adults serve as ride leaders and guides.  Arlington events are coordinated by Safe Routes to Schools coordinator Kyle Lukcas.  Virtually every public school in Arlington is encouraging students to bike (or walk) to school this day. See here for individual listings and contact information.  

CycloFemme, Sunday, May 11
According to their website, “CycloFemme is a Global Women's Cycling Day created to honor the past and the emancipation of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, for the freedom to choose and the chance to wear pants.” Their goal for this year is 500 rides, in 50 countries, and all 50 states. Posted area rides include some in D.C. and Vienna, though others are likely to form.

Bike to Work Week and Day, Mon-Fri, May 12-16
Coordinated by the Washington Area Bicycle Association and Commuter Connections, events are planned all week throughout the D.C. Metro area. The Crystal City BID will host daily pit stops in the Crystal City Water Park from 7-9am. The biggest day will be Friday, May 16, Bike to Work Day, when there will be more than 70 pit stops—which will have food, water, and prizes—across the region including 6 in Arlington (Rosslyn, Ballston, Crystal City, Columbia Pike, and East Falls Church [AM and PM]). The event website includes information for employers, free registration, and sponsorship opportunities.


Crystal City Phoenix Derby, Saturday, May 17, 2-6pm
This unique cycling event that combines speed and high-energy fun in a cool urban environment while showcasing the D.C. region’s premier youth-oriented bike nonprofit organization, Phoenix Bikes. Riders of all abilities can test their skills on an underground parking garage course. The Crystal City Phoenix Derby features a variety of race formats including a non-competitive open course ride, a head-to-head stationary sprint race, team relays, and a special kid’s course. The general public is also invited to try out the course or just watch the action from the chic confines of the Phoenix Lounge, a display area of bikes build by Phoenix Bikes youth and bar built in the center of the action. Riders, volunteers, and sponsors are still signing on.