Trump’s insane tariffs are messing with retirement plans right here at home. And the people getting hit hardest? Women.
Women already face a retirement gap. They live longer but retire with less. Add Trump’s tariffs to the mix, and that gap gets wider fast. Stocks drop, retirement savings shrink, and bond yields get weird. All while women are still earning less and saving less.
A Shaky Stock Market
The stock market has been on a rollercoaster. Trump’s tariffs spooked global investors, and the fallout has erased trillions from Americans’ retirement accounts. Most of that damage? It is landing hardest on women. Not because they are taking more risks, but because they already have less room for error.
It doesn’t refill drained accounts. Women who already worry about their financial futures are now facing even more stress.
Confidence Is Low and Stress Is High
A study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that 71% of women feel stressed about retirement planning. Only 40% feel confident in the steps they’re taking. For men, that stress level is much lower. The financial playing field is not level – and Trump’s tariffs just made it shakier.
Women still earn just 83 cents for every dollar men make. Over time, that adds up – or rather, doesn’t add up. Smaller paychecks mean smaller contributions to retirement accounts. Compound interest doesn’t help much when the balance starts low. Add a market crash or economic shock, and that already fragile savings plan takes a real hit.
Women Work in Jobs Without Retirement Perks
A large number of women work in childcare, health care, and retail. These sectors are essential, but they don’t pay much and often don’t offer solid retirement plans. No 401(k). No pension.
Trump’s tariffs are also shaking the bond market. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield spiked by 65 basis points in four days, shooting past 4.5%. That is not normal. In fact, it is the biggest jump since the 2008 meltdown. These bonds are supposed to be the safe option.
When they start acting up, it is a sign that something is really off. And experts are pointing fingers at the tariffs, along with weak demand and nervous foreign investors.
Even Safe Investments Feel Risky
That kind of volatility makes it hard to plan. Bonds are usually the stable part of a retirement portfolio. If they start losing value, and stocks are tumbling too, what is left? For women trying to manage already limited savings, it is a no-win situation.
Mariah, a 37-year-old mom of four, says she and her husband are in “wait and see” mode. They are watching their retirement accounts closely, unsure of what moves to make. That uncertainty is the new normal for many families, especially those already on thin ice.
The thing is, these issues didn’t start with Trump’s tariffs, but the tariffs are throwing gasoline on a fire that is already burning. Women have always been more vulnerable in retirement. They live longer, take more time off for caregiving, and often retire earlier. Yet they retire with less.