About Our Programs

Financial Challenges:

Key Financial Issues

Highlights

RESEARCH: The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies’ 25th Annual Retirement Survey shows 43% of women have served as caregivers during their careers, compared to 35% of men. Only 25% of women have written retirement plans, and just 32% work with financial advisors. Additionally, 27% of women expect Social Security to be their primary retirement income source, compared to 19% of men.

RESOURCES FOR WIDOWS:

WISER’s Going it Alone – A Guide for Widows can help with navigating the immediate financial challenges and making long-term plans for your future financial security. Other resources include:

• Widows and Widowhood • Managing the Financial Impact of Widowhood • Am I Eligible to Receive a Social Security Widow’s Benefit? • Widowhood: Why Women Need to Talk About this Issue • Rights of Surviving Spouse

What is the Savers Match?

The Saver’s Match was created by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 and goes into effect in 2027. It offers what will be a fully refundable credit, and the contribution is granted as a pre-tax contribution to the retirement account.

The recent Congressional Research Service report notes: “Savers with modified Adjusted Gross Income below $20,500 ($41,000 for married filing jointly) will qualify for a 50% federal match on up to $2,000 in retirement savings—that is, a maximum match of $1,000. This income threshold will be adjusted for the cost of living for years after 2027.”

It is estimated that the Match will cost taxpayers $9.3 billion from 2027 to 2032.

News from WISER

Join Us! WISER’s Annual Forum, New Perspectives: An Intergenerational Discussion on Retirement Solutions
June 16, 2026
2:00 – 5:30 pm ET
Event will be held virtually and in-person in Washington DC.
REGISTER

New Caregiver Research: AARP’s newly released Valuing the Invaluable 2026 looks at the real value of family caregiving in America. The report finds that 59 million family caregivers of adults contribute 49.5 billion hours of care annually, work that would be valued at $1.01 trillion per year if paid in the marketplace.

NEW RESOURCE: The Society of Actuaries Research Institute announced a series of guides designed to assist Solo Agers with key financial and retirement decisions, along with survey findings on the growing phenomenon of “Solo Aging” in the U.S. Solo Agers are individuals who, as they grow older, navigate life and retirement without the traditional support network of close family members or partners. WISER is a co-sponsor of the guides.

Did you know there is a magazine for caregivers? Caregiving magazine helps you navigate everyday life as caregiver, find necessary services and locate professional assistance. Subscribe to the magazine or sign up to receive their free newsletter.

News from Social Security:

COLA Update – The Social Security Administration announced that monthly Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income payments will increase by 2.8 percent in 2026. This Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is adjusted annually and goes into effect in January.

Top 5 Retirement Challenges

Women usually live longer than men but tend to save less for retirement
Women make 82 cents to every dollar a man earns.
Women are more likely to work part-time jobs without access to workplace savings plans.
Women are still the primary caregivers, often leaving jobs to care for family members.
Older women rely on Social Security; for many it is their only source of income.

WISER’s goal is to help women make the best financial decisions they can by providing the information and resources needed to take action and create a secure financial future.

* WISER’S PUBLICATIONS AND FACT SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT FOR PERSONAL AND INDIVIDUAL USE ONLY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MULTIPLE COPIES FOR DISTRIBUTION, PLEASE CONTACT WISER. *

Featured Resources

Featured

Older Women and Poverty

Every day more than 10,000 people in the United States turn 65. From 1969 to 2020, the portion of people over age 65 who were

Media Highlights

The Broadcast Retirement Network features an interview with Cindy Hounsell of WISER and Ramsey Alwin of NCOA discussing the results from the recent “What Women Say” survey. Watch the video here.

Corporate gerontologist and caregiving expert, Sherri Snelling interviews Cindy Hounsell of WISER (Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement) on the Caregiving Club. Cindy talks about a new tool from WISER for caregivers called the Caregiver Financial Hub.