By Erika Goodwin, Director of Advocacy Engagement for the American Retirement Association Originally published: June 24, 2026

My mother’s retirement was decided by a single injury. My sister chose hers. Their stories—and the community I found along the way—shaped why I believe every woman deserves to retire with dignity, confidence, and choice.

Next month, my mother will turn 80! In addition to planning her 80th birthday party (there will be an epic playlist), I’m reflecting on her strength, resilience, self-determination, and the joy-filled life she has created despite her limited financial options.

Although retired, she relies on Social Security as her primary source of income. That wasn’t the retirement she had envisioned when she began working decades ago. Her story, and my sister’s, help explain why I care so deeply about women’s retirement security.

My Mother’s Story

My mother spent her career as a speech pathologist in DC public schools, where she taught for 16 years.

She loved interacting with her students and thrived on creating learning environments and lessons grounded in reality—teaching her students not only how to use language more effectively but also how to thrive in their communities.

Then, on an average day on the job, after dropping me off at elementary school, her day and her life changed in an instant. She suffered a knee injury at work that changed the trajectory of her life and would impact her retirement.

The injury she suffered was not reparable by surgery or the physical therapy that followed. It happened before the Americans with Disabilities Act—so there was no guarantee that her employer would provide a physical accommodation to allow her to return to work—and they didn’t.

Without the accommodation she needed, she was forced to leave work earlier than expected. That meant a loss of income, a loss of her ability to contribute to her retirement plan, and a drastic change to her pension. Early retirement meant fewer earning years, fewer years of saving, and a greater reliance on Social Security.

What I learned from that is that retirement outcomes are often shaped by circumstances beyond our control, and there is a moment when retirement goes from theoretical to real—and it can happen in the blink of an eye. What I know is that women’s retirement journeys are rarely linear. Caregiving, health challenges, job loss, economic downturns, and workplace barriers can alter even the best-laid plans.

My Sister’s Story

My sister looks just like my mother, but I have more of her fire and spirit for advocacy.  While I am (more) outgoing than she and grew up involved in way more summer camps and extracurricular activities, my big sister was (and still is) super quiet and super focused.

After high school, she tried college and decided it wasn’t for her, and instead started one of two jobs that would get her from young adulthood to full retirement—with benefits. She worked as a telecommunications specialist for a county government agency for 33 years.

Although I quietly watched her and wanted to mimic her style of dress (Gloria Vanderbilt or Sasson, anyone?), she had other habits I couldn’t see that would change her family’s financial trajectory. Just as she preserved those perfectly pressed jeans (and the $50 savings bond I won at summer camp), she diligently saved a little each paycheck through her workplace retirement plan. And it worked!

She chose to retire in 2020 after 30 years of service. Access to a workplace retirement plan, along with her discipline and commitment to saving, allowed her to be the first in our family to conclude her professional career on a date of her choosing with a fully funded retirement account.

While my mother’s retirement date was dictated by “life happening,” my sister was able to choose when to retire. Opportunity and access matter. My sister taught me that retirement security is possible. But there is another group of women who shaped my understanding of retirement.

My Community Story

Fortunately, I happen to work in an environment where I’ve met women from across the retirement industry. During my tenure at the American Retirement Association (ARA), I’ve met advisors, consultants, third-party administrators, attorneys, plan sponsors, business leaders, and educators who all work towards the goal of helping working Americans retire with dignity.

Having initially worked at ARA as a conference planner, I have been “in the room,” staffed many continuing education sessions, and put what I heard in those rooms into action. I know that through my workplace retirement plan, I have access to a retirement plan advisor who helps me to visualize what is possible and make choices and actions that will get me closer to my goal of a fully funded retirement account.

Growing up, retirement wasn’t something I heard discussed regularly. The women and men I’ve met through my work at ARA have become informal mentors and role models. From them, I’ve learned how retirement plans work, why saving early matters, that women can be leaders in business and finance, and that retirement is a goal even I, who started saving later in my career, can envision and plan for.

They helped me believe retirement security is attainable. Looking back, I realize these women (and men) formed a retirement community around me.

Some were Teachers.
Some were Visionaries.
Some were Mentors.
Some were Advocates.

Each helped me see a future where retirement was possible.

The Bigger Picture

Women’s retirement journeys are rarely identical. Women face unique retirement challenges, including lower lifetime earnings, caregiving interruptions, longer life expectancy, limited access to workplace retirement plans, and competing financial priorities. No one gets to the goal of retirement alone. But one thing remains consistent:

People matter.
The conversations we have.
The examples we see.
The encouragement we receive.

Retirement security is not built in isolation.

Retirement security is not just about individual responsibility. It is also about access, opportunity, education, and support.

These are some of the reasons why Women’s Retirement Security Day (WRSD) matters. Women’s Retirement Security Day is a new national awareness campaign that brings together employers, advocates, policymakers, retirement professionals, and community organizations to encourage conversations and practical action around women’s retirement security.

Acknowledged annually on the second Tuesday of July, Women’s Retirement Security Day is about recognizing that community, sharing our stories, and helping more women build a future marked by confidence, dignity, and choice.

In my community, one woman was forced into retirement before she was ready. Another was able to retire on her own terms. What I have learned from all the women is that retirement security does not happen by accident. Every woman deserves the opportunity to prepare for retirement with confidence, dignity, and choice.

That is why Women’s Retirement Security Day matters. I invite you to join us on July 14, 2026, for the inaugural Women’s Retirement Day conversation. There are tools available to help you facilitate a conversation on social media, at work, or in your own friend group or community.

Source: https://www.napa-net.org/news/2026/6/the-women-who-taught-me-about-retirement-security/