Not wealth by a wealthy person's standards, but I had substantial personal and retirement savings from working 6 or so years at a law firm before we married. I was able to pay off my own student loans and my husband's (his were not large) and put $100K down on our house, and still have a healthy emergency account and partial payment for our wedding. Around that time I took a pay cut for a job with a pension, which will (if I stay until retirement) support both of us in our old age.

Married 8 years and he only recently started earning as much as I do at my less lucrative second career. I manage our money.

I love reading posts by independent, ambitious women. It's like cat nip. All of you are awesome!!!!

$700k equity in real estate (two homes)
$500k in retirement/investments
59 years old

Not what I'd call wealthy, but I'm proud of my accomplishments.

Anonymous wrote:$350k real estate

$750k retirement

Pension worth $33k / yr

58 years old

Typo 48 years old

$350k real estate

$750k retirement

Pension worth $33k / yr

58 years old

Does half a mil count?
If so, yes, through investments.
However, my spouse was the one who advised me to invest in that specific company, so... it's all thanks to him, really.

Yes. I've worked for 25 years and bought my first condo when I was 30. I have investments and retirement and rental homes. Why wouldn't I? DH and I have about equal contributions - I outearn him by a lot but he brought more inheritance to our family. But mostly it is 50-50 in terms of overall wealth.

Anonymous wrote:Any women here who build their own wealth through career/investments and not because they married rich?

Yes. I started working after I graduated college at 20. Bought my first house at 24. And subsequent rental properties before I turned 30. Started my own company at 35. Had a sizable investment portfolio and retirement accounts are all sorted before my marriage at 37.

Sure. I have high earnings, and was an owner in a company we sold a few years ago so got some money from that. I was the primary breadwinner for 25 years, now DH earns closer to my level.

Not wealthy, but I was pleased with the $500k in retirement savings and $400k in real estate I accumulated before I married at 30. We are on better footing together with $3 million in retirement/brokerage accounts and $1.5 million in real estate investment properties at 34 and 35. No problem building your own and then amplifying with marriage.

Anonymous wrote:What's your definition of "wealth"?

This. I married at 30 and brought a 400k house and roughly 800k in retirement and investments that was solely mine. Not rich at all, but I was proud of myself for doing that on my own.

33, married, $1.2 million in real estate prior to being married plus a half million in 'investments'. But I'm looking to build a better whole portfolio and of course, none of that has to do with what my DH has.

What's your definition of "wealth"?

Probably everyone, yes!

Any women here who build their own wealth through career/investments and not because they married rich?