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    We all know the familiar saying:  “The only things for certain are death and taxes.”  It came to mind recently as I was doing two important things:  preparing my 2008 income tax return and thinking about a topic for my Silver Vixens column for this month.

Did you know that a woman’s average standard of living drops 45% in the first year after divorce, that nearly 55% of women worry about the amount of debt they have and that 75% of all elderly Americans in poverty are women? For Women of a Certain Age, I’m Valerie Coleman Morris.

These facts aren’t meant to scare you – they’re meant to motivate you – to learn personal money skills so that you are informed, responsible, and self-reliant and make good money choices throughout life – and at this age. 

The mantra has long been: "Don't touch your retirement savings!" But in the midst of the continuing economic meltdown - many women say they might have to tap into money saved for the future - now. For Women of a Certain Age - I'm Valerie Coleman Morris.
The U.S economy shrank at its fastest pace in nearly 30 years. Consumer spending is down. Unemployment has risen in every state. The sale of new homes is the worst since 1960. Existing home prices are posting further declines. More companies are announcing mass layoffs.

My birth date isn’t in question. I was born on November 25th and have the original birth certificate to prove it. But I have always been told – and therefore repeated for years – that I was born on Thanksgiving Day. Since the actual date of the Thursday in November that’s Thanksgiving changes each calendar year, I had no reason to question that which sounded like fact.

And because there were the family stories regularly told - that confirmed when I came into the world, that I was smaller than the drumstick that sat on my grandparents’ dinner table and that my parents had Thanksgiving dinner at the hospital, I was convinced. For years I even endured my cousin Teddy’s taunting under his breath at the Thanksgiving dinner table as the food was being blessed that I was “such a turkey” because I was born on Turkey Day. I duly believed his pronouncement despite my Mother’s tender entreaties: “No you aren’t a turkey; you’re a Thanksgiving blessing, sweetheart.”

Have we been good stewards of our personal money or have we just looked to reap the benefits from being on auto pilot? The current financial meltdown is an opportunity to do things differently with your personal money. For Women of A Certain Age – I’m Valerie Coleman Morris.

There’s nothing like a financial crisis to get everyone’s attention. And the current money meltdown is the biggest bear market of the 15 we’ve had since the crash of 1929.

Looking for ways to save your hard earned cash? Let’s talk about what I call “Loose Change” habits – small amendments in attitude and spending - that can add up to significant savings. For Women of a Certain Age, I’m Valerie Coleman Morris.

Have you taken a look at your financial picture lately? Now's as good a time as any to see what your portfolio's doing for you. WITH THE FAMILY IN MIND for Women of a Certain Age, I'm Valerie Coleman Morris. It can sound so mysterious and daunting: reassess your portfolio. So let's break it down. First of all - what's really in that word "portfolio"? If you own more than one security or financial instrument - meaning things like stocks and bonds - you have a portfolio. You build it by buying more securities and other financial investments like mutual funds.

What should you be doing to get your financial life in order if you’re in your 50’s?

Ladies, welcome to crunch time! You’re at least halfway through your fifth decade of life – and that marks a milestone in more ways than one – but regarding your money it means you need to do with your money what you’re doing with your mind and body: firm it up – in general but your retirement options specifically. And here’s the reason why. Because at this age

How do you know when you’ll have enough money to retire. For every one of the 79 million Baby Boomers in North America – that’s the question being asked even as we try and figure out a new word for the old thing called “retirement”.

As you try and answer “when” you’ll have enough – there are some disciplines to remember. Ask yourself how well you’ve practiced them.