Women disproportionately struggle to save for retirement, new data shows

DDA Mortgage • December 20, 2022


While women make up 47% of the American workforce and control $10.9 trillion in household financial assets, competing responsibilities and disparities have made it disproportionately harder for women to save for retirement, according to a new report from Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM).


In addition, the average lifetime income for women is 21% lower than it is for men, according to 2016 data from the Senate Joint Economic Committee, which is cited in the report.


“Part of this disparity is due to women on average having nine years’ less earned income, which affects their Social Security benefit,” the report states. “The impact of these factors are reflected in women’s retirement contributions, which on average are 30% less than men.”


Worth noting for reverse mortgage professionals is the fact that a longer life expectancy for women means retirement planning must be more aggressive to compensate. Savings for women need to last longer on average, which adds pressure to retirement financing.


While these challenges and disparities exist for women, there are also potential paths for better financial service options to be catered to women, the report states.


“The obstacles women face are opportunities for plan sponsors to offer solutions that meet them where they are on their retirement savings journey,” the report states. “Personalized education and advisory services from a solutions provider can help support the unique factors affecting women. Additionally, data-driven engagement, segmented by participant sub-populations such as gender, can further address specific hurdles.”


This type of engagement strategy increases awareness for women’s retirement issues among investors and can also provide women with additional resources and information to best plan their retirement strategies, the report notes.


Women’s retirement issues were also highlighted in a recent Transamerica study, which showed that women’s retirement savings were generally behind on average across generations.


Single women account for the strongest single demographic served by the reverse mortgage industry outside of couples, according to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Annual Report to Congress. Over one-third (35.23%) of reverse mortgage borrowers are single women.


However, industry advertising geared toward senior women has been limited historically in lieu of a more broad-based approach.


One Reverse Mortgage, a lender that is no longer active in the space, did briefly employ a woman as a reverse mortgage spokesperson, hiring Barbara Eden of I Dream of Jeannie to be the first female reverse mortgage industry spokesperson for a 2011 ad campaign.


Actor Robert Wagner, spokesman for Urban Financial (now Finance of America Reverse) in 2011, appeared in tandem with his daughter to emphasize the role adult children can play when their parents are considering a reverse mortgage, but she was not the primary spokesperson.


The reverse mortgage industry is reckoning with reduced volume and the consolidation or exit of major industry companies, and analysts have encouraged industry professionals to increase efforts to introduce new borrowers to the reverse mortgage product category. Based on this data, outreach focused on women’s unique retirement challenges may be one such option.





Have A Question?

Use the form below and we will give your our expert answers!

Reverse Mortgage Ask A Question


Start Your Loan with DDA today
Your local Mortgage Broker

Mortgage Broker Largo
See our Reviews

Looking for more details? Listen to our extended podcast! 

Check out our other helpful videos to learn more about credit and residential mortgages.

By Didier Malagies June 16, 2025
Buying a condo is different from purchasing a single-family home, and it's important to understand the unique consid Here’s a simple and clear breakdown of how AI is making second mortgages easier for homeowners and lenders alike: 🔍 What Is a Second Mortgage? A second mortgage lets homeowners borrow against their home's equity, without replacing their existing mortgage. Common types: Home Equity Loan (lump sum) HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) 🤖 How AI Makes Second Mortgages Easier 1. Faster Approval Times AI streamlines credit, income, and property evaluations. Cuts days or weeks off traditional underwriting. 2. Smarter Risk Assessment Machine learning analyzes borrower profiles more accurately than standard models. Lenders can offer better rates to lower-risk borrowers. 3. Better Property Valuations AI-powered AVMs (automated valuation models) assess home value using up-to-date market data, photos, and even satellite imagery. 4. Chatbots & Virtual Assistants Available 24/7 to answer questions, guide users through the process, and gather documents. Reduces human error and friction for borrowers. 5. Fraud Detection AI systems detect unusual patterns in applications to flag potential fraud before approval. 6. Personalized Loan Offers Based on data from credit, home value, and income, AI can recommend the right loan product—tailored to the borrower’s needs. 🏡 Why It Matters for You Quicker access to cash Less paperwork More competitive offers Lower costs thanks to automation If you want, I can help you compare second mortgage options, estimate your equity, or show AI-powered lenders making waves in 2025. Just let me know! tune in and learn at https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329
By Didier Malagies June 12, 2025
The federal bill that seeks to eliminate abusive trigger leads took a major step forward this week, advancing in the U.S. House of Representatives and reigniting hopes across the mortgage industry that it could soon become law. Yes, that's an important development for the mortgage and consumer protection landscape. The federal bill to eliminate abusive trigger leads recently advanced in the U.S. House of Representatives , which is a significant step toward potentially becoming law. Here’s what this means: 🔍 What Are Trigger Leads? When a consumer applies for a mortgage and a credit inquiry is made, credit bureaus can sell that information to other lenders. These are known as trigger leads . While legal, they often result in a flood of unsolicited calls or offers from competing lenders — many of which may be misleading or aggressive. 🏛️ About the Bill The legislation seeks to ban or strictly limit the use of trigger leads unless the consumer explicitly consents. It aims to: Protect consumers from confusing or predatory offers . Curb misleading solicitations that impersonate the original lender. Improve privacy and control over a borrower’s financial data. 🏠 Industry Reaction The mortgage industry and consumer advocacy groups have largely welcomed the move, arguing that trigger leads: Cause consumer confusion. Undermine trust in legitimate lenders. Lead to identity theft or fraud in some cases. 📅 What’s Next? The bill now moves to the Senate , where it will need to pass before reaching the President’s desk. Industry stakeholders are pushing for bipartisan support, noting the broad agreement on consumer protection. 
By Didier Malagies June 9, 2025
We offer 2nd mortgages on primary, secondary, and investment properties we do purchases or refinances on Conventional, FHA, VA, and Non- Qm mortgages, We do Reverse Mortgages, Construction Permanent loans, FHA203k, and Conventional Renovation loans. Let me know how we can help you or someone you know tune in and learn at https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog Didier Malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329
Show More