*In the US over 47% of women over the age of 50 are single.

*Women's retirement income is aprox. 1/4 than that of men.

*50% of Marriages end in divorce. *The first year after divorce a women's standard of living drops 73% on average.

*Married Baby Boomers are expected to outlive their husbands by 15 to 20 years.

*The average female born between 1948 and 1964 are expected to remain in the workforce until at least age 74 due to a lack of financial resources.

* Of the elderly living in poverty, 3 out of 4 are women. 80% were not poor when their husbands were alive. (These statistics are according to Kim Kiyosaki, author of Rich Woman)

As women we need to stop making excuses and start playing catch up! We cannot count on our husbands, our alimony or a Life Insurance policy to take care of us during our retirement years. The good news is that no matter what your age, there are many great vehicles to help you amass a sizable nest egg which can be invested into a cash flow vehicle. This means you will have additional income which will arrive each month to spend or save as you need. Convinced? Great! The next thing you will ask is "Where do I begin Sheila?" Glad you asked, if you follow these simple steps you will begin on the journey to financial freedom.

1. Stop making excuses. I have heard it over and over "I am not smart enough" or "I don't have the time". Picture yourself in a dingy apartment eating cat food, and you will change your mind.

2. READ-READ-READ! Go to the library and read all the: "HOW TO.." investment books you can. Watch the financial reports on TV. If you don't understand a word, look it up in the dictionary. Read financial magazines. Self-educate!

3. Join a Women's Investment Club, not to pool resources, but to learn from others. Can't find one? Then start one, that's what I did.

4. Start a direct marketing business. This ensures your self-employment for years to come. Find a company with a great product and great support. There are many good companies out there. Yes you will have to put up some money-but tell me when you ever start a business without investing in it. You should be able to find one that you can get started for around $2K that will have the technology and support to lead you into a great income position.

5. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Along with owning a direct marketing business get into real estate investing. This is how all millionaires become wealthy. Your goal is to derive income from multiple sources.

6. Personal Development. You have to change your mindset to believe you are worth being wealthy. You need to understand how you got to where you are so you do not repeat your mistakes. If you have a poverty mentality-get rid of it! if you are addicted to shopping, find out why and overcome it! Your only hope of success is to change your mindset. Remember the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results!

These 6 things are a good start to get you on the road to wealth creation. If you don't look out for yourself financially who will? Don't expect family or the government to be there. Make a change now or live with regret. It's up to you. Start to implement these ideas and you can be on your way to a secure retirement and peace of mind.