77 - Saijal Patel

Saijal Patel wants you to know that women are 80% more likely to live in poverty in retirement than men.

This is a terrible statistic. Seriously, why is anyone living in poverty in retirement.

If someone is retired, that means they have either worked at a job or a business their whole life, or have supported someone else who worked, in one way or another.

And this person now gets to live in poverty? Why is this acceptable?

Saijal doesn’t think it’s acceptable. She started a company called Saij Elle where she helps women build the right money mindset and skills so they can own their financial independence and achieve true financial wellness.

And the thing about Saijal is that she comes from the business world, and knows how to talk to businesses as well as individuals. She knows that the system itself needs to be changed, and one of her mandates is to encourage businesses to build effective financial wellness programs.

Financial wellness takes a village and everyone has to be on board: individuals, companies, the media and the financial industry.

There is a shift in the way personal finance is being delivered to the public and Saijal is leading the way by helping reduce the money stigma and shame many women feel every day.

Saijal joined me in the studio in Hamilton to tell her personal finance story.

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78 - Owen Winkelmolen