20 September 2009
SCMP
The Editor
Dear Sir,
I refer to your article, More women say ‘I do……to financial planning’.
SoulTalk Foundation is a unique ‘one-stop’ professional services charity in Hong Kong working with women in emotional and relationship crisis. If only women in HK realized, before their crisis hit, how important it is to understand money issues and not rely on a man for future security or ‘security hope’. The problem is that women are conditioned, consciously and unconsciously by society, and from an early age. As your article mentions, women are still wanting and waiting to find someone to take care of them.
Women don’t realize how quickly the years can pass by before emphasis on money kicks in. Or a crisis hits like a financial tsunami, job loss, a divorce that often may feel like justice just flew out the window; or an unfortunate illness or death in the family. These issues are always immediately devastating emotionally, however, they don’t have to be immediately devastating financially. Women first need to understand the importance of being prepared by having their own money – and this comes from learning about what holds them in a place of non self reliance. Even though women are waiting longer today to get married and have children, once they do marry, they are still willing to let go of their career for a family.
It seems to SoulTalk that even though we may have more professional women between the ages of 20-35 today, the lessons are not being learned. We still see an ever increasing need from women who are ill prepared, fall through the cracks, or don’t know how to create a life of independency or sustainability that works. Whether you are a woman at the higher end of earning with a top job or a woman in the low/middle range, the effects of not paying attention to your money, life and goals can create stress, insecurity, lack of confidence and anxiety We know it’s not about what you earn that matters, it’s about what you spend and save. As it is with everything in life, your attitude, confidence and perception of yourself and the world around you can comprise your biggest assets or your biggest liabilities. Make them into assets that will really work for you and your whole life will follow suit.
After working with thousands of women, we believe that more user friendly foundational money programs are needed. For example SoulTalk offers a course, ‘Your Money Matters’ which teaches women to live the way they choose, and with a degree of financial independence. SoulTalk is doing its part for women in Hong Kong, but we can’t do it alone. We depend on continuing financial support – to help more women help themselves.
Andrea Gutwirth
Founder & Executive Director
SoulTalk Foundation