So what can be done about this situation?

因此，对于这种局面可以做些什么呢？

The population in North America is likely to contain an increasing number of elderly women.

北美地区的人口里老年女性的数量可能在增长。

The research indicates that at present for women it takes a crisis to make them think about their future financial situation.

研究表明，现在女人需要经历一个危机，才能让她们考虑一下自己未来的财务状况。

But of course this is the very worst time for anyone to make important decisions.

但是，对于任何人，这当然是作出重要决定的最差时机。

Women today need to look ahead, think ahead - not wait until they're under pressure.

现在的女人需要朝前看，提前想——而不是等到压力到来时。

Even women in their early twenties need to think about pensions, for example, and with increasing numbers of women in professional positions there are signs that this is beginning to happen.

比如，女人甚至在自己二十岁出头的时候就要考虑养老金的问题，伴随着越来越多的女人成为职业女性，种种迹象表明这已经开始发生了。

Then research also suggests that women avoid dealing effectively with their economic situation because of a lack of confidence.

研究还表明由于缺乏自信，女人逃避有效的处理她们的经济状况。

The best way for them to overcome this is by getting themselves properly informed so they are less dependent on other people's advice.

解决这个问题最好的方法是让她们获得合理的知识，所以她们可以不那么依赖别人的建议。

A number of initiatives have been set up to help them do this.

一些积极的行动已经开始帮助她们完成这件事。

This College, for example, is one of the educational institutions which offers night classes in Money Management, and increasing numbers of women are enrolling on such courses.

比如，这所学院是提供财务管理晚课的几所教育机构之一，越来越多的女性开始报名这类的课程。

Here, they can be given advice on different ways of saving.

在这儿，她们会获得有关不同储蓄方法的建议。

Many women are unwilling to invest in stocks and shares, for instance, but these can be extremely profitable.

比如，很多女性不愿意投资股票，但是这个的利润非常丰厚。

It is usually advised that at least 70% of a person's savings should be in low-risk investments but for the rest, financial advisors often advise taking some well-informed risks.

通常会建议一个人至少70%的储蓄应该用于低风险的投资，但是对于剩下的，理财顾问通常建议承担一些了解透彻的风险。

Initiatives such as this can give women the economic skills and knowledge they need for a comfortable, independent retirement.

像这样的行动可以给女性一些经济技能和知识，帮助她们享受退休后舒适独立的生活。

The increasing proportion of elderly women in the population is likely to have other economic consequences ...

人口中退休女性数量的增加可能还会有另一个经济后果……