SALT LAKE CITY – September 29, 2020 – Utah State Treasurer David Damschen encourages all Utah women to attend the 2020 Virtual Women in the Money: Utah Financial Empowerment Conference on Friday, October 9, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
The virtual conference will feature expert speakers and exhibitors who will provide valuable information and resources to assist Utah women on their pathway to financial security and success. Author and nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, Michelle Singletary, and former executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, Kristen Cox, will provide conference keynote addresses, and personal and family finance experts will offer more tailored information and training during smaller workshops. Prizes will be awarded to the attendees with the highest levels of participation during the conference.
Conference attendees will learn how to improve their personal and family finances, maximize their income, reduce their debt, improve their credit, start a business, save for retirement and develop a financial support network to build a more secure financial future. Virtual exhibitors from financial services, nonprofits and government agencies will be able to answer attendee questions through a live chat function and provide electronic handouts and resources.
“As chair of the Utah Council on Financial and Economic Education, I am grateful for the opportunity to bring together some of Utah’s top financial leaders to share their knowledge and skills with Utah women,” Treasurer Damschen said. “This is an excellent opportunity for women of all ages, cultures and financial situations to grow their financial capability together in a virtual environment.”
The conference is tailored to women because they face some unique financial situations. Women live longer than men and are more likely to outlive their assets. Women are also more likely to assume caretaker responsibilities, teach their children about money and help elderly or disabled loved ones manage their finances. Additionally, women are increasingly playing a greater role in the workforce and market. More than half of American women are the primary breadwinners in their households, and women account for 70-80% of overall consumer spending, with heavy influence in most areas ranging from healthcare decisions to new home and car purchases.
“Women fill many important roles in our state. It is critical to equip them with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to make sound financial decisions for themselves and their families, especially during these challenging economic times,” Susan Speirs, CEO of the Utah Association of CPAs and chair of the nonprofit responsible for organizing the conference, said.
Last year’s in-person, first-annual conference was a success that provided information, tools and resources to more than 500 women. The feedback from the post-conference evaluations was overwhelmingly positive, and almost all of the respondents indicated they would like a similar event to be offered on an annual basis. To help slow the community spread of the coronavirus, conference organizers decided to move forward with a virtual conference this year.
The cost of attending the online conference is $20, and scholarships are available for those in need. For more information and to register for the conference, visit: womeninthemoney.org.
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