AICPA Launches National Women's Financial Literacy Campaign

The American Institute of CPAs has expanded upon its 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program with the launch of a financial literacy program targeted at women.

The institute unveiled its new 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy for Women at its Spring Council meeting last week in Washington. The program, developed by the AICPA's personal financial planning section, includes a Web site, www.360financialliteracy.org/women, that features articles and personal financial planning tools targeted at women's financial issues, as well as a feature called "Ask the Money Doctor," where consumers can seek advice from CPAs and CPA Personal Financial Specialists.

"We believe that focusing a segment of our national effort on women gives us an opportunity to make a difference in the way women manage their finances and prepare for unexpected expenses and retirement," said Carl R. George, chair of the AICPA's National CPA Financial Literacy Commission and chief executive of Clifton Gunderson LLP.

The initiative builds on the institute's previous efforts aimed at educating women, which included Women's Financial Health Week, a week-long series in 2002 and 2003 devoted to educating women about financial planning, and the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy campaign, a multi-pronged grassroots effort to improve financial literacy launched last year in conjunction with state CPA societies.