Men and women are different, and while much has been done in the way of equality, it’s clear that a copy-and-paste solution for women’s finances isn’t what’s needed. Instead of equality, women require equity—where their unique skills, experiences, and at times even challenges highlight a more direct path to financial management. 

A retirement plan that mirrors an equitable journey can be found in an unlikely place: Star Wars. Strong female characters provide different approaches to life’s challenges and in true Leia, Rey, Ahsoka, and Bo Katan style, these challenges are met with the end goal in mind. 

Different Approaches to Retirement 

Your personal finances should be approached with your own goals, needs, and challenges in mind. 

The Leia Approach

Leia Organa is more than just a princess, she’s also an active general who commands a resistance movement in a time when the resistance is severely underfunded. Her duty-driven and disciplined personality will make her an ideal candidate for steady and conservative investments where preservation for future generations is key. She will save, not for self-enrichment or personal wealth creation, but as a means to create a legacy for those who follow. 

According to industry experts, a conservative approach to retirement returns is more realistic and achievable, and they peg the figure at 5% for stocks and bonds. 

The Rey Approach

Rey Skywalker finds herself in tricky, cutthroat situations where spur-of-the-moment decision-making is a life skill. That translates to a personal finance style that has to adapt to changing conditions at a moment’s notice. Rey might not consider saving for retirement important at first, but as life progresses, she understands the role retirement savings play in a stable future. And Rey’s not alone. According to research, only 49.6% of US households have retirement savings by the age of 35. 

Rey is late to the party and might have to opt for an aggressive approach to investing. These investments still have a large investment interest in local funds; however, they have a strong equity base of over 85%. Returns on these often range in the 13% range; however, they carry a higher risk. One of the risks Rey would face is that she doesn’t have enough time to recover if the markets take a dive and she’s in high-risk investments. 

The Ahsoka Approach

Ahsoka often finds herself in solo quests where she’s required to rely on her own intuition to work through situations. She’s not brash and doesn’t run into situations, but rather plans carefully and contemplates all possible outcomes. As an investor, Ahsoka is most likely to have a balanced approach to retirement and will prefer having autonomy over her investment decisions. 

Ahsoka isn’t alone in her solo investment journey. She joins the 65% of Americans who don’t use a financial advisor. 

The Bo-Katan Approach

Bo-Katan Kryze of house Kryze watched her family’s legacy crumble and, while rebuilding all that was lost, also had to face her sister’s approach to government that didn’t quite match her own. A warrior to the core, Bo-Katan had to use alternative methods to regain control of her home planet, Mandalore. Bo-Katan’s personality suggests that her retirement style will include a disciplined savings regime, even if it means personal discomfort. 

With her discipline and willingness to sacrifice everything to be at the top, Bo Katan might find herself in the top 1%. In the US, the top 0.1% hold around 13.5% of the wealth. For this kind of wealth, a balanced portfolio that includes alternative investments such as businesses is key. 

How Savvly Can Help You

Just as the Jedi rely on the Force for balance, Savvy brings balance to financial security in the long run. We use a balanced investment approach that takes into consideration both early- and late-life retirement phases. We want you to retire with peace of mind, while still having an autonomous approach to your retirement strategy. 

Savvy Supports Your Retirement Goals 

Harness your own Rebel Alliance leadership style and work with Savvly to tap into a smart approach to retirement planning. Your income should last as long as you do, and with Savvly, you get that plus the assurance that, should your retirement outlast you, you can still create a legacy for your loved ones. 

Whether you’re still new to the resistance or looking to establish yourself as a leader, take the next step today. It only takes a few minutes to get started, and your future self will thank you.