Money doesn't know the difference between X and Y chromosomes. So why is a woman's relationship with money is so different from a man's? Partly, it's because women tend to have less of it -- the earnings gap is closing, but it's still too wide. And women are more likely to experience setbacks in income due to parenthood, divorce, widowhood, and disability. For these masons alone, women need to be proactive in managing their finances. A Woman of Independent Means is the definitive guide to assuming that control and ensuring a stable financial future.