LGBTQ+ Financial Planning Guide

LGBTQ+ individuals and couples may face unique financial and legal considerations when planning for life’s important events. We’re here to help you navigate them.

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How to Build an LGBTQ-Friendly Investment Portfolio

How to Build an LGBTQ-Friendly Investment Portfolio

Not all investments are about the return. If you’d like your portfolio to focus more on companies that give back to the LGBTQ+ community, here are a few ways to start.

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The State of LGBTQ+ Finances

According to a 2021 Williams Institute survey, members of the LGBTQ community are 12.2 percentage points more likely than non-LGBTQ community members to have federal student loan debt. Moreover, 2021 research by the Human Rights Campaign found that LGBTQ+ individuals are 6 percentage points more likely to live in poverty and that they earn, on average, approximately 89 cents for every dollar earned by their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts.




LGBTQ+ Small-Business Grants and Resources

LGBTQ+ Small-Business Grants and Resources

LGBTQ-owned businesses are just as likely to apply for financing as non-LGBTQ-owned businesses but less likely to receive it, according to Federal Reserve data from 2021 and 2022. Nevertheless, numerous organizations across the United States offer small-business grants and resources for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs to help bridge the funding gap. Here are some of the best options.

4 LGBTQ+ Retirement Hurdles (and What to Do About Them)

4 LGBTQ+ Retirement Hurdles (and What to Do About Them)

In many ways, retirement planning for someone in the LGBTQ+ community is the same as anyone else’s retirement planning: save more, spend less, invest for the long term. But for LGBTQ+ people, there are unique challenges. Here are a few of the hurdles of LGBTQ+ retirement planning — and how planners recommend jumping them.

Estate Planning 101 for LGBTQ+ Couples

Estate Planning 101 for LGBTQ+ Couples

Most couples can benefit from estate planning to ensure their assets land in the right hands after they die and their health care wishes are followed. But LGBTQ+ couples might have special situations that require extra planning. Here are six steps couples can take to get started with estate plans.

How LGBTQ+ Home Buyers Can Find Allies in the Market

How LGBTQ+ Home Buyers Can Find Allies in the Market

Overwhelmingly, home buyers view finding the right home as the hardest part of the buying process. This question is even more loaded for LGBTQ+ buyers, who may face the added pressure of evaluating a new community for safety and comfort. Real estate agents who specialize in working with LGBTQ+ buyers are among the homebuying resources that can make a difference.

6 LGBTQ+ Financial Influencers to Follow in 2023

6 LGBTQ+ Financial Influencers to Follow in 2023

LGBTQ+ financial pros are uniquely positioned to share their knowledge and relate it to their individual experiences of queerness because of the disparities and political climate affecting their communities. We talked to six financial influencers about finding affordable housing, starting a business, building generational wealth and family planning.

How LGBTQ+ Americans Can Overcome Barriers to Building Credit

How LGBTQ+ Americans Can Overcome Barriers to Building Credit

On top of potential family and social rejection, the LGBTQ+ community is at heightened risk of financial insecurity because of widespread discrimination in education, hiring and housing. LGBTQ+ people report lower than average credit scores. Here's why that is a problem and steps to overcome.

How to Get PrEP With or Without Insurance

How to Get PrEP With or Without Insurance

The CDC has said that PrEP is a key prevention strategy for its ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S. initiative. So why doesn’t everyone who could benefit from PrEP take it? Money is a major factor. Here's how you can get the medication, with or without insurance.

How to Find an LGBTQ-Supportive Financial Advisor

How to Find an LGBTQ-Supportive Financial Advisor

Personal finance can feel especially daunting to members of the LGBTQ+ community, who have faced exclusion and discrimination from their families and financial and government institutions. Finding an advisor who is both culturally and financially competent can help you identify and execute your financial and life goals.

Neobanks That Show Up for Their Communities

Neobanks That Show Up for Their Communities

Big banks design their services for a broad customer base, but in doing so, they can fall short of serving the needs of historically marginalized communities. Here’s a look at four neobanks — including Daylight, a neobank focused on serving the LGBTQ+ community — that are on a mission to make a difference.

How to Pay for Gender-Affirming Surgery

How to Pay for Gender-Affirming Surgery

Americans who are considering surgery as part of their transition can find the cost of gender-affirming surgery to be steep. The best-case scenario is for health insurance to cover surgery costs. When that’s not an option, other ways include personal loans and credit cards.

Additional resources

Lambda Legal
A civil rights organization with a focus on LGBTQ+ communities.

SAGE
SAGE offers help to older adults in the LGBTQ+ community.

National LGBTQ+ Bar Association
A nonprofit association of legal professionals who aid and promote legal justice for the LGBTQ+ community.

National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Members of the NGLCC help people in the LGBTQ business community.

StartOut
StartOut offers events, resources and mentorships to inspire, educate and support LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

GLAAD
GLAAD serves as the media advocacy organization for the LGBTQ+ community.

Human Rights Campaign
The HRC is a civil rights advocacy group.

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