Females Flex Financial Muscle: Luxury Institute WealthSurvey Finds Women in Charge of Most Buying Decisions in Wealthy

NEW YORK, NY, May 14 (MARKET WIRE) --
Married wealthy women on average make almost two-thirds (64 percent) of a
family's purchase decisions, according to a Luxury Institute survey of
women from households with $150,000 or more in annual income.

Women hold particular sway over home appliance and travel spending: in 68
percent of wealthy households, the matriarch has the final word on ovens,
ranges, and refrigerators; 61 percent of wealthy women make the family's
vacation
decisions. Health care decisions, including choice of plans and providers,
are the domain of women in 48 percent of wealthy households and nearly half
(48 percent) call the shots on home improvement purchases.

Even in financial affairs, the female influence is profound: 22 percent of
married wealthy women make all of the family's investment decisions on their
own; another two-thirds report making financial decisions jointly. Forty-six
percent choose the family's bank accounts.

Choice of automobiles and consumer electronics fall to the female in 40
percent of wealthy households, and women control their family's real
estatepurchase in 31 percent of households.

The driving force behind the spending power of wealthy women is often
theirown money: 72 percent work on at least a part-time basis and 54 percent
work
full-time. Most are well compensated for their efforts, with 60 percent
earning at least $100,000 a year. The median annual income of working
wealthy women is $124,000. One-third hold jobs at the vice-president level
or higher; 22 percent hold managerial positions. Twelve percent serve on a
board of
directors.

"Winning over wealthy women is a do-or-die proposition for companies in
industries as varied as travel, healthcare, financial services and home
improvement," says Milton Pedraza, CEO, the Luxury Institute. "Education
isa big ingredient: 88 percent of wealthy women hold at least a bachelor's
degree and
35 percent have a master's."

Marriott, Hilton, Visa and Home Depot stand out for their skill in marketing
to wealthy women -- each earned an unaided mention from seven percent of
respondents for being companies that do the best job of marketing to wealthy
women.

This latest WealthSurvey, plus ten best practices surveys per year, a
resource library of over 30 consumer surveys, the Wealth Report
newsletter,plus networking with trusted qualified peers, are all available to
members of the
LuxuryBoard.com, an online community for Luxury Professionals who wish to
learn how best to serve luxury consumers. Learn more and register for only
$995.00
per year at www.LuxuryBoard.com.

About the Luxury Institute

The Luxury Institute is the uniquely independent and impartial ratings,
research
and executive education institution that is the trusted and respected voice
of the high net-worth consumer. The Institute provides a portfolio of
proprietary publications, research and courses that guides and educates high
net-worth individuals and the companies that cater to them on leading edge
trends, high net-worth consumer rankings and ratings of luxury brands, and best
practices. The Luxury Institute also operates the Luxury Board
(www.LuxuryBoard.com), the world's first global, membership-based online
community for
luxury goods and services executives, professionals and entrepreneurs. To reach
the
Luxury Institute, please call 646-792-2669 or go to www.LuxuryInstitute.com.

Contact:
Martin Swanson
Vice President, Business Development
The Luxury Institute, LLC
(office) 914-909-6350
(cell) 914-715-3357
Email Contact
www.LuxuryInstitute.com

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