Are You A "Woman of Influence"?

Here's something for the ol' self-confidence bank — well, at least for 20 percent of us: According to a study released Monday by Allianz Life Insurance Company, one in five women constitutes a “woman of influence". But, um, what exactly does that mean?

A “woman of influence” is defined as being active in major investment decisions, having a good understanding of financial products, and having an interest in learning about financial matters.

The study was conducted in December 2012 with more than 2,000 women, ages 25 to 75, with household income of at least $30,000 a year.

Of note, the "woman of influence" wasn’t just the corporate ladder-climber, as Katie Libbe, vice president of consumer insights for Allianz Life, explains. “While some are that, the ‘woman of influence’ can just as easily be a stay-at-home mom who is fully engaged in household finances and committed to actively managing her family’s financial future.”

As reported by The Herald , a “woman of influence” is more likely to feel financially secure (79 percent versus 62 percent of all women surveyed) and more likely to feel confident in their ability to spend, save, and invest wisely than the average woman (87 percent versus 69 percent). The study also found that “women of influence” tend to have more earning power (making an average of $57,000 a year versus $48,000 for all women surveyed), a higher incidence of post-graduate education (26 percent completed a graduate degree versus 20 percent for all women surveyed), and more success in the workplace (they are 50 percent more likely to be a business owner and 80 percent more likely to serve at the director or vice president level within their company than the average woman).

Looks like we're good for handling more than sandwiches.

Kitchen jokes, 0. Empowerment, 1.