April 3, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 15 The roles played by women have changed dramatically over the years. Modern women now wear many hats, one of which is money manager. That’s true for women managing their own finances and those overseeing their family’s finances. But managing finances can be intimidating for anyone, regardless of gender. Often, a careful assessment of your attitude toward money is a great way to make the process of managing your finances a lot less stressful. A great first step when managing your finances is to identify any concerns you have about money. Being able to pinpoint the particulars will help you develop a plan of action. For example, if you want to invest in stocks, but don’t know a bull from a bear market, acknowledging this shortcoming can help you learn the facts to get started. Once such concerns have been addressed, you are likely to feel more comfortable and confident about managing your money and can start taking steps to do just that. Address concerns to take control of your finances Think positively and value your strengths. Embracing your strengths, even if those strengths have little to do with money management, can help you gain control of your finances. Perhaps you are not a financial whiz, but your networking skills have left you with a vast group of friends and family in various professions. You may be able to use those connections to gain access to experts in the financial field who can answer any questions you may have. Know your current financial status. Feigning ignorance is not the way to get started. It is important to honestly assess your financial situation so you can effectively handle those finances going forward. Take stock of your income, expenditures, and what you have in savings. Keep abreast of any changes in your accounts and stay current with business news and issues that may play a direct or indirect role on your finances. Talk about your concerns. Talk to other women in simi- lar situations. You may find that you share the same concerns. Discussing common concerns or financial strategies can help you in your own endeavors. Continue working. A study by the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement found that a college-educated 25-yearold female will earn $500,000 less than a male counterpart in a similar position over her lifetime because of sporadic employment associated with caring for family, including children and aging parents. That worries many young women who have previously thought about taking time off from work to raise families. Even if you may want to scale down your work schedule, you may not want to completely remove yourself from the workforce. Consult with an estate planner. The earlier you start the better off you will be. It is not an admission of weakness if you rely on the help of financial experts to guide you in the right direction. The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a breakfast event for Chamber members and non-members on Wednesday, April 10. The breakfast will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at Mahwah Bar and Grill, 2 Island Road in Mahwah. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with other guests and enjoy a buffet-style breakfast while listening to a brief presentation by Gina Palumbo of Abbott & Caserta Realtors. Her presentation -- “Do I Lease or Buy My Commercial Real Estate?” --will be followed by a question and answer period. The Chamber will also provide a media table for mem- Chamber plans breakfast, welcomes newest members bers to display business literature and promotional items. Sponsorships are available for the event; anyone interested should contact the Chamber directly for details. This breakfast is $25 for Chamber members and $40 for non-members. Advance registration is preferred; an additional $5 fee will be charged if paid the day of event. To register, visit mahwah.com or call (201) 529-5566. MRCC recently welcomed the following members: ADT Security Services, Waldwick; ADT Security Services, Totowa; Allied Financial LLC, Brooklyn; Allied Financial LLC, River Edge; American Cancer Society, Hackensack; Assisting Hands of Bergen County, Paramus; Avon Products, Inc., Suffern; B2B CFO, Allendale; CAbi, Mahwah; CCI Construction, Inc., Montvale; Edward C. Syder Agency, Ramsey; Fairfield Inn & Suites, Mahwah; GFI Insurance Brokerage Inc, New York; Good Samaritan Hospital/Bon Secours Charity Health System, Suffern; GRC Mechanical Services, South Hackensack; Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Lyndhurst; NJ.COM, Morristown; Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah; Rastelli Direct – IBP, Ridgefield; RE/Max Legend, Mahwah; Scipione Wealth Advisors, Fair Lawn; Valley National Bank, Ramsey; Valley National Bank, Wyckoff; and Xanlogix Business Solutions, Mahwah.