I am pretty sure that you have taken at least one personality assessment to determine your personality type. Are you an analytical type, an expressive or intuitive type? Whatever tool you used I bet you found it useful to know how you interact with others and how you approach life situations.
Well this type of information is also useful when you want to address finances in your life. Believe it or not we all have a relationship with money. Understanding yours will help you determine the best way to become financially empowered as well as strategies on how to change your relationship with money and finances in your life.
Allianz Life Insurance Company engaged Age Wave in 2006 to design a landmark research initiative, The Allianz Women, Money, and Power Study, to better understand women’s relationship with money and investing. The study included a survey of over 3,000 women and men conducted by Harris Interactive. Some key findings:
The study revealed 5 distinct types of relationships between women and money:
- The Alpha Female. Eighteen percent of women see themselves as an alpha female. Confident, optimistic and pro-active, she feels like she must take care of herself and those she cares about financially – in part because she’s often had to.
- The Perceptive Planner. Thirty-five percent of women fall into this personality. A thorough researcher who weighs all options before making financial decisions.
- The Power Partner. Twenty-four percent of women identified themselves as a power partner. For her, it is all about sharing financial power on an equal basis with her life partner.
- The Uncertain Searcher. Eleven percent of women say they fall into this personality style. Confused about money and all the complex financial choices facing her, she’s worried about her financial situation but avoids making financial decisions because of her lack of financial knowledge and experience.
- The Supportive Traditionalist. The smallest group of women—only 8 percent identify with this personality type. Comfortable with someone else making the major financial decisions in her life, this is the model that most women have followed for generations before women en masse gained the right to earn and control their own money.
So, what should you do with this information?
First and foremost do not judge any of these financial personality types. The first step in any change in life is Awareness. Become aware of how you show up now and you can begin to make decisions for the future.
Ask yourself:
What is my relationship with money and investing?
Am I comfortable with this relationship?
What goals do I have for my financial future?
What support do I need from professionals and/or people close to me in my life to achieve my goals?
Bottom line, Awareness is only the first step! Be kind to yourself here and acknowledge all you have accomplished and get ready to become financially empowered, armed with the tools to create a life you will love!!
For more details on this study you can visit:
http://www.agewave.com/research/landmark_womanMoneyPower.php
