Think there is a difference in how men and women plan for retirement?

I just read this interesting article by Dave Carpenter called Sex Matters When it Comes to Retirement Planning, where he explores the very different approaches men and women take when investing and retirement planning.

Carpenter gives us some perceived differences between the sexes on their financial approach to retirement, and then offers suggestions on how to compensate for them.

And the four differences?

• Men tend to be overconfident about their investing and retirement planning skills.
• Women generally prefer less risky investments.
• Men don't plan for a long retirement.
• Women save more.

“It’s not a matter of one gender being right and the other wrong,” said John Ameriks, head of investment counseling and research for The Vanguard Group. “You just need to be aware of the differences when you’re making investing decisions.”