6 tips for women looking to become better investors

What do you think of when you hear the word investor?

For some women, even just the word itself can feel intimidating, conjuring up images of male-dominated, high‑pressure, fast‑paced trading environments. Think Wolf of Wall Street.

However, with a long-term focus and disciplined approach, women often demonstrate strong investing behaviors. As a result, the reality for most women (and men, too) is not the Hollywood version of participating in financial markets but rather regularly reviewing their retirement assets and financial plans. As Liu Liu, director of investment research and management for BOK Financial^®, explains, “Investing is less about beating the market and more about putting your money to work over time.”

In fact, even if you think you don’t invest, you may be doing it already, as investments include stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in:

• 401(k)s
• Investment or brokerage accounts
• IRAs and Roth IRAs
• 529 and other college savings accounts
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

For women looking to take their investing success to the next level, Liu offered these six tips:

1. Identify financial goals and make a plan. Working with a financial professional, draft a plan that takes into consideration your risk tolerance, financial situation and timeline for when you plan to use the money, according to Liu.

2. Keep assets separate. Once you've created a financial plan, Liu suggests considering a "bucket approach" to keep your money segregated. She recommends the following buckets:

• Emergency savings: at least six months of expenses in a money market account
• Retirement
• Healthcare savings
• Education savings
• Any remaining funds can go into a brokerage account

3. Maximize 401(k) employer match. Often employers will match employees' retirement contributions up to a certain amount—as long as the employee also contributes. Liu recommends taking advantage of this workplace benefit. "If your employer offers a 6% match, you'll want to contribute 6% to your retirement plan to get the full match, adding up to 12% of your income to your retirement account," she explained.

4. Review investments annually. At least once a year, Liu suggests reviewing all investment accounts to ensure everything still aligns with your goals and budgets. This review is also a great time to rebalance allocations and make any changes needed to stay on track.

5. Start investing early. No amount is too small. "Time is on your side when you start investing early," said Liu. "Even small amounts invested consistently can grow meaningfully over time thanks to compounding." She recommends starting to invest as soon as you enter the workforce, even if it's just getting a 401(k) match.

6. Work with a financial planner or financial advisor. There's no shame in getting expert advice to meet investing goals. "There are different types of financial planners and advisors, and they are helpful in different ways," said Liu. "Do your due diligence to understand the differences and which one makes the most sense for your goals."

A thoughtful, consistent approach can make investing feel far more accessible than it sometimes seems. By taking small steps, staying organized and seeking guidance when needed, women can build confidence and make meaningful progress toward their long‑term financial goals.