*This post was sponsored by SheSpeaks for Prudential. All opinions are 100% my own.     I can still remember the first time that I started thinking about my long-term finances.  It was in September of 2000 and I had just started a new job as a NYC public school teacher.  As I was filling out papers for my pension, another veteran teacher sat down next to me and advised me on the importance of starting to think about my retirement from an early age.     At that moment, I recall stifling a chuckle because nothing was further from my twenty two year old mind.  She persisted and went on to tell me how women's social security benefits are 27% lower than that of their male counterparts.*  This statistic shocked me as well as the fact that she shared with me that she had failed to make those important financial decisions at the beginning of her career.  As a result, her pension consultation had left her disappointed and worried about her future.     That day, my eyes were fully open to … [Read more...]