Conference gives women financial tips, confidence

The West Virginia University Erickson Alumni Center hosted the 29th annual Women & Money conference Thursday morning for more than 100 women eager to learn how to have a successful financial future.

The conference was designed to empower the attendees to make smart financial decisions. Presentations at the event covered topics like retirement, getting out of debt, saving for college and creating a balanced budget.

West Virginia State Treasurer John Perdue said he brought the series to Morgantown to reach University students.

"I think it’s critical that students start learning at a very young age about how to put a budget together, that a credit card is not their answer and a new car when they get out of college is not their answer," Perdue said.

"They have to figure out how to manage their money and save for their future. By doing that, they would be able to take care of themselves in those later years of life."

The Morgantown event was the first to feature two new keynote speakers of the series, Candace Bahr and Ginita Wall.

Bahr has been named one of the top ten financial advisors by Registered Rep., a leading financial industry magazine.

She is the managing partner of Bahr Investment Group, and she is a successful entrepreneur and wealth manager with more than twenty years of experience.

Wall was named one of the top 250 financial advisors in the country by "Worth" magazine eight years in a row and specializes in guiding people through difficult life transitions including divorce and widowhood.

The two women created the Women’s Institute for Financial Education and co-wrote a book titled "It’s More Than Money – It’s Your Life!" Free copies of the book were handed out at the event.

In her speech, Wall said that people should think about their money by considering the hours spent earning it.

"You have to value your money in the same way as you value your time," she said. "Think first before you buy some blouse that is worth multiple hours of your time."

Wall also suggested dividing spending into categories, such as clothing and food, and setting a monthly limit on each.

"Get to thinking with your head and not with your heart with those standing decisions," Wall said.

Perdue said although women are making great strides in the business and financial world, there is much to be improved.

"Women today are grossly underpaid, and even though the pay difference is getting narrower, we need to bring more attention to that," he said. "I think that a woman being paid less than a man who is doing the same exact job as her is something that is wrong with America."

To learn more about the Women’s Institute for Financial Education, visit www.wife.org.