[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ECONOMY.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, VOLUNTEERS GATHER AT A UNIQUE VACCINATION SITE TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED TO COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A DISCUSSION ON WHY SO MANY PEOPLE KEEP MOVING TO ARIZONA.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SENATE'S REVIEW OF MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION BALLOTS COULD BE WRAPPED UP BY THURSDAY.

ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REPUBLICAN-LEAD EFFORT WHO TOLD ONE OF TODAY'S POOL REPORTERS THAT BRAILLE BALLOTS STILL NEED TO BE COUNTED AND THE ISSUE OF SPOILED BALLOTS WHICH INVOLVES SEPARATING THOSE BALLOTS FROM THE ENVOEL OPENS THAT CONTAIN PERSONAL INFORMATION.

>>> THE SENATE COULD HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON THE STATE BUDGET AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

MUNICIPALITYIES AND SYMPATHETIC LAWMAKERS WERE VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO THE FLAT TAX.

>>> OTHER NEWS THE COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC STARTING WEDNESDAY DUE TO WILDFIRE DANGERS.

THE FOREST SERVICE SAYS THE CONCERN IS PERSISTENT WILDFIRE ACTIVITY IS POSSIBLE AT A TIME WHEN WILDFIRE FIGHTING RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED THIN.

>>> THIS AS THE BACKBONE FIRE IS STILL BURNING WEST OF PINE AND STRAWBERRY IN GILA COUNTY.

IT IS NOW CLOSE TO 33,000 ACRES WITH NO CONTAINMENT.

IT IS BURNING THROUGH DRIED OUT PINYON JUNIPER, CHAPARRAL AND GRASS.

FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THE FLAMES ARE MOVING NORTH.

CONCERN IS KEEPING THE FIRE FROM MOVING EAST.

>>> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY RULED IN FAVOR OF A GROUP OF COLLEGE ATHLETES THAT SUED THE NCAA.

THE HIGH COURT RULED THAT THE NCAA CAN'T LIMIT BENEFITS.

THIS DECISION COULD BE A MAJOR CHANGE IN COLLEGE SPORTS, AND THE RULING CERTAINLY CAUGHT THE WHITE HOUSE'S ATTENTION.

>> TODAY'S DECISION RECOGNIZES AS WITH ALL AMERICANS HARD WORK SHOULD NOT BE EXPLOITED, AND EVERYONE WHO WORKS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FAIRLY FOR HIS OR HER LABOR.

>>> IN A CONCURRING OPINION JUSTICE BRETT KAVANAUGH SAID, THE NCAA IS ACTING, QUOTE, ABOVE THE LAW, AND QUESTIONED IF MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO CAMPOMPENSATE ATHLETES.

>>> THE TSA SCREENED THE MOST PEOPLE OVER THE WEEKEND SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>>> A NEW STUDY FINDS THAT 81% OF AMERICAN CITIES ARE MORE SEGREGATED TODAY THAN THEY WERE 30 YEARS AGO.

RESEARCHERS SUGGEST THAT ONE REASON COULD BE THAT ASIANS AND HISPANICS ARE THE FASTEST-GROWING MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND THEY ARE NOT INTEGRATING AS MUCH WITH WHITE COMMUNITIES.

>>> AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS CONSIDERING PUTTING A STOP TO A POLICY THAT TURNS AWAY MIGRANTS OVER COVID CONCERNS.

THE POLLTY TONE AS TITLE 42 BEGAN AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC AND EXPOSES MIGRANTS TO DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN MEXICO, AND LEADS TO FAMILY SEPARATION, SINCE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE POLICY.

>>> CONCERNS CONTINUE OVER INFLATION HAS PRICES FOR EVERYTHING FROM USED CARS AND TRUCKS TO COMPUTERS, SHOES, AND FURNITURE ARE ALL ON THE INCREASE.

WE SPOKE WITH ECONOMIST LEE MCPHEETERS ABOUT INFLATION ABOUT ITS POSSIBLE IMPACT ON ARIZONA.

LEE MCPHEETERS GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

TALKING NUMBERS.

TALKING ECONOMY.

TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INFLATION.

WHAT IS IS INFLATION?

>> WELL, IT'S A RISE IN THE GENERAL PRICE LEVEL, AND TYPICALLY, WE LOOK AT ALL CONSUMERS, URBAN PRICES AND THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS, OF COURSE OF MEASURING IT ONCE A MONTH, BUT TYPICALLY WE FOCUS ON WHAT IS THE PRICE LEVEL NOW, COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO AT THIS TIME, AND WE LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE CHANGE, SO JUST TAKING THE MOST RECENT RELEASE, IT WAS 5% INCREASE, AND THAT WOULD BE IN COMPARISON WITH A YEAR AGO AT THIS TIME, BUT 5% IS ABOUT DOUBLE WHAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND IT HAS CAUSED, I THINK, A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM ECONOMISTS AND THE MEDIA.

>> YEAH, INDEED IT HAS, BUT WHAT -- WHAT IN GENERAL CAUSES INFLATION?

>> WELL, THERE'S VARIOUS KINDS OF INFLATION.

YOU KNOW, OVER THE LONG-TERM TRENDS, PRICES OF GOODS AND SERVICES THAT ARE USED BY BUSINESSES INCREASE, AND THEN THOSE PRICE INCREASES ARE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS.

MOST FREQUENTLY WE THINK OF WAGE INCREASES.

BUT THE CURRENT SITUATIONS WE'RE IN NOW, IS THE TYPES OF COSTS THAT BUSINESSES ARE SEEING, REALLY, I THINK TIE INTO SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, AND IT GETS A LOT OF DISCUSSION HERE IN ARIZONA, BECAUSE OF OUR FOCUS ON CONSTRUCTION, A LUMBER COSTS.

LUMBER COSTS ARE UP TWO OR THREE TIMES FROM WHAT THEY WERE APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO COSTS OF HOUSING, AND THAT, OF COURSE, HAS AN EFFECT, THEN, ON HOME PRICES THAT -- IT IS JUST IN THE MARKETPLACE.

SO BASICALLY BUSINESSES PASS ALONG THEIR COSTS, AND THEY ARE OF COURSE INTERESTED IN MAINTAINING THEIR PROFITS AS WELL, SO THAT IS ALL BUILT INTO ANY GIVEN PRICE INCREASE THAT YOU SEE.

>> YOU MENTIONED SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS BEING AT GROUND LEVEL.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, WHY WOULD THE FED JUMP IN AND DECIDE TO DO THINGS WITH INTEREST RATES?

HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE DYNAMIC?

>> WELL, JUST LOOKING HISTORICALLY WHAT THE FED HAS DONE TO KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF HOW THAT COMPARES WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, BACK IN THE LATE 70S, AND EARLY 80S, WE HAD DOUBLE-DIGIT INFLATION, THAT TRANSLATED INTO DOUBLE-DIGIT MORTGAGE RATES WHEN PAUL VOLKER CAME IN AND DROPPED THE RATE.

NOW -- WHERE WE ARE NOW, I THINK, IS AT THE END OF APPROXIMATELY A 20-YEAR PERIOD, OF, REALLY, ESSENTIALLY STABLE PRICES.

2, MAYBE 2.2%.

2.5, 1.5% YEAR OF YEAR.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS WATCHING THOSE NUMBERS AND IS INTENT ON CONTROLLING INFLATION, WHILE RECOGNIZING WE'RE IN A RECOVERY MODE, TRYING TO TURN THIS ECONOMY AROUND, FEED THE EXPANSION FROM THE PANDEMIC DOWNTURN.

SO THE FEDERAL RESERVE, IN FACT RIGHT NOW IS PLAYING A VERY INTERESTING GAME, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING, WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING IS SORT OF NURSING ALONG INFLATION.

THEY ARE VIEWING THE CURRENT INCREASE IN PRICES AS TRANSITORY AND TEMPORARY, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO CALM THE MARKETS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING BACK TO THEIR 2, 2.5% INFLATION GOAL, AND THEY THINK THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN 2022, AND ON IN TO 2023.

THAT IS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A REPEAT OF THE 1970S WHERE INFLATION INCREASED, 7%, 8%, DOUBLE-DIGIT.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE, I THINK, IS A SPIKE IN INFLATION.

MAYBE 3% FOR THE YEAR AS A WHOLE, BUT WE'LL BE BACK TO 2.5%, I THINK, BECAUSE I CERTAINLY BELIEVE IN THE FEDERAL RESERVE, THAT WE HAVE TRANSITORY SUPPLY CHAIN INVENTORY RIGHT NOW.

>> AND HOW DOES ALL OF THIS EFFECT ARIZONA.

YOU MENTIONED LUMBER PRICES, AND USED CAR AND TRUCK PRICES ARE GOING CRAZY AS WELL.

IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, ARIZONA, HOW ARE WE EFFECTED BY ALL OF THIS?

>> OF COURSE, WE'RE A VERY DIVERSE ECONOMY NOW.

WE FOLLOW THE NATIONAL BUSINESS CYCLE.

THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS COMMITTED TO KEEPING INTEREST RATES QUITE LOW.

THAT, OF COURSE, HAS EFFECTED MORTGAGE RATES, AND MORTGAGE RATES ARE VERY LOW.

WHAT MAKES ARIZONA DIFFERENT IS THAT THIS IS A STATE THAT CONTINUES TO GROW IN POPULATION.

OUR FORECAST IS FOR ABOUT 100,000 NEW RESIDENTS IN 2021.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR HOUSING, AND WHAT THEY ARE FINDING IS VERY SHORT INVENTORY OF HOMES, AND YET THOSE INTEREST RATES ARE VERY LOW AS WELL, SO YOU HAVE A DEMAND FACTOR HERE.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE ATTEMPTING TO GIVE US A FAIRLY EASY MONETARY POLICY, AND FAIRLY LOW INTEREST RATED HAS CREATED THIS ARTIFICIAL DEMAND FOR HOUSING THAT IS BEING FED BY THESE LOW MORTGAGE RATES.

>> WELL, INTERESTING.

BOY, LOT TO GO OVER THERE, LEE MCPHEETERS, GOOD INFORMATION.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE, SIR.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> AND UP NEXT, LAKE MEAD IS AT ITS LOWEST LEVELS EVER.

>>> THE CURRENT DROUGHT HITTING THE WEST HAS CAUSED LAKE MEAD TO FALL TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL SINCE IT WAS FORMED.

THAT SIGNALS WATER CUT BACKS FOR STATES USING COLORADO RIVER WATER, INCLUDING ARIZONA.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM SARAH PORTER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE KYL CENTER FOR WATER POLICY AT ASU'S MORRISON INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON THIS.

LAKE MEAD, LOWEST LEVELS EVER.

FIRST OF ALL, IS THAT A SURPRISE TO YOU?

>> IT'S NOT A SURPRISE.

WATER MANAGERS HAVE FORESEEN THIS FOR ARGUABLY DECADES.

>> OKAY.

AND THE FORECAST SEEMS TO BE CALLING FOR WHAT, CONTINUED FALLING LEVELS UNTIL THE FALL?

>> YEAH, WHILE IT IS STILL UP THIS SUMMER, WE SHOULD ALL PRAY FOR, AND HOPE FOR HEAVY SNOW PACK IN THE ROCKIES THIS FALL AND WINTER.

IT'S SNOW PACK FROM THE UPPER ROCKIES THAT FILL LAKE POWELL AND LAKE MEAD, THE COLORADO RIVER RESERVOIRS.

>> WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AS FAR AS WATER SHORTAGES IN GENERAL, AND WATER SHORTAGES FOR ARIZONA IN PARTICULAR.

>> WATER MANAGERS ARE SEEING THIS DECLINING LEVELS OF LAKE MEAD, AND HAVE AGREED TO VOLUNTARY CUTS WHEN LAKE MEAD HITS CERTAIN LEVELS AS IT DECLINES, SO WE ARE NOW ENTERING A PERIOD WHERE ARIZONA IS TAKING A VOLUNTARY CUT OF ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WATER THAT IS DELIVERED VIA THE CENTRAL ARIZONA CANAL, WHICH IS THE CANAL THAT CONVEYS COLORADO RIVER WATER TO THE AREA -- FROM PHOENIX TO TUCSON.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WATER.

>> YES.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CUT, NO QUESTION FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

MOST OF THE IMPACTS WILL BE FELT BY FARMERS IN PINAL COUNTY.

THEY ARE A LARGE WATER USER HISTORICALLY, AND SOMETIME AGO, THEY WORKED OUT A DEAL WITH OTHER WATER USERS AND CAP, TO GIVE UP THEIR PRIORITY ON THE CAP SYSTEM, SO ESSENTIALLY, THEY ARE THE FIRST TO ABSORB THE CUTS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE IMPACTS WILL PRIMARILY BE FELT.

>> THOSE FARMERS ALSO -- MITIGATION EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDE INCREASED GROUNDWATER PUMPING, CORRECT?

>> YEAH, THE DEALS THAT THE STATE WORKED OUT IN 2019, INCLUDES FUNDING FOR THOSE FARMERS TO START UP GROUNDWATER PUMPING TO SUPPORT THEIR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS.

>> OKAY.

IS THAT A CONCERN?

>> YEAH.

YEAH, IT IS.

YES.

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE, BECAUSE THESE ARE FARMERS WHO ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF GROWING CROPS, AND THEY NEED WATER TO DO THAT, AND SO THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH OTHER CHOICE BETWEEN GROUNDWATER AND COLORADO RIVER WATER.

SO THERE -- BUT, YEAH, IT'S A CONCERN BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT THEY ARE USING UP A NON-RENEWING SUPPLY OF WATER NOW, AND THAT MEANS THAT THAT WATER WON'T BE AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE FOR SOME OTHER USES THAT MAY COME UP.

FOR EXAMPLE, FOR URBANIZATION IN THE FUTURE.

>> INDEED, AND URBANIZATION, AS FAR AS THIS FIRST ROUND OF CUTS.

MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON CITIES AND TOWNS AT ALL?

>> NO, WE DON'T EXPECT MUCH OF AN IMPACT.

WHERE IT WILL BE FELT IS THAT WE -- FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAVE LOOKED AT COLORADO RIVER SUPPLIES AS A GROWTH SUPPLY FOR URBAN DEMAND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE KIND OF -- I THINK AT THIS POINT ABSORBED THAT WE CAN'T LOOK TO THE COLORADO RIVER AS A GROWTH SUPPLY ANYMORE.

>> INTERESTING.

CON CON -- CONSERVATION METHODS THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, ARE THEY MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

>> YES, THEY ARE VERY MUCH SO.

IN FACT, A LOT OF THE BIG CONSERVATION MEASURES THAT WE WERE CELEBRATING WITH THIS MULTI-STATE WATER CONTINGENCY PLAN WERE ABOUT KEEPING LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER IN LAKE MEAD TO KEEP THE WATER LEVELS UP, AND THEY DID.

DIFFERENT WATER RIGHTS HOLDERS WERE LEAVING ALLOCATIONS IN LAKE MEAD.

THEY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

THEY HAVE STAVED OFF THE TIME WHEN WE WOULD BE FEELING THE FIRST CUT, TAKING THE FIRST CUT.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T PREDICT THE WEATHER FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

WE HAD BELOW AVERAGE SNOW PACK FOR THE PLACES THAT MATTERED FOR LAKES POWELL AND LAKE MEAD, AND -- AND SO THAT -- YOU KNOW, CONSERVATION CAN'T MAKE UP FOR A MEGA DROUGHT THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.

>> INDEED, AND THUS THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN THAT YOU MENTIONED.

THE TALKS RIGHT NOW, THE NEGOTIATIONS, HOW MUCH IS THIS EXTREME DROUGHT PLAYING IN -- I MEAN, ARE THE GOAL POSTS MOVING ALL THE TIME?

>> THE WAY THE -- THE WAY THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING IS THAT THE -- THE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE ARE LOOKING AT A RANGE OF HYDRO LOGIC SCENARIOS FROM -- YOU KNOW, MORE DRIER -- PROLONGED DRY PERIODS TO WETTER PERIODS, AND LOOKING AT THE LIKELIHOOD OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYDEIDE ROLLGY.

AND THEY TRY TO LOOK AHEAD TO PLAN FOR THE -- THE LIKELY AND PRUDENT SCENARIOS, SO THEY THINK THROUGH -- GIVEN -- ESPECIALLY WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, THAT I THINK IS A VERY IMPORTANT SHIFT IN THE -- IN THE MODELING, IS INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THE 100 YEARS OR SO OF RECORDS ON THE COLORADO RIVER, THEY ARE FOCUSING MORE ON WHAT THEY CALL STRESS-TEST HYDROLOGY.

AND THAT IS THE MORE RECENT RECORD OF DRYNESS.

AND THEY ARE DOING THIS, BECAUSE THERE IS LOTS OF INDICATION THAT THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN IS BECOMING MORE ARID, WHICH MEANS THE PRUDENT APPROACH IS TO ASSUME WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A DRIER FUTURE GOING FORWARD.

>> INDEED.

SARAH PORTER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE KYL CENTER FOR WATER POLICY AT ASU'S MORRISON INSTITUTE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> A RECENT STUDY SHOWS THAT 82% OF WOMEN LOOK TO THEIR HUSBANDS TO HANDLE FINANCES.

BECAUSE OF THIS, WOMEN WHO BECOME WIDOWS OR DIVORCED CAN BE LEFT IN A BAD FINANCIAL SPOT.

WE SPOKE WITH JENNIFER KIMMELL OF TRU-WEST ABOUT FINANCIAL ADVICE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

82% OF WOMEN DEFER TO HUSBANDS TO HANDLE FINANCES.

THAT SURPRISES ME.

DOES IT SURPRISE YOU?

>> I HAVE TO ADMIT, I WAS, SADLY, SURPRISED TO SEE THE NUMBER AS HIGH AS 82%.

>> YEAH, AND -- AND AMONG MEN WHO TAKE THE LEAD, 90% WISH THEIR SPOUSE WAS MORE INVOLVED.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

>> YES, THAT DOES SURPRISE ME, AND IT GIVES ME JOY, BECAUSE IT TELLS ME THERE IS ROOM FOR COLLABORATION IN THE FINANCIAL LITERACY SPACE, AND I REALLY THINK THAT WOMEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A STRONGER AND LARGER VOICE IN THIS STAKE, BUT FINANCIAL LITERACY IS A TOUGH SUBJECT.

I THINK OF FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE SAME SPACE AS LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE, OR A NEW SPORT.

IF YOU ASKED ME TO SPEAK FRENCH BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT WOULD CREATE SOME -- SOME ANXIETY FOR ME, AND I SUSPECT THAT WOMEN HAVE A SIMILAR REACTION WHEN THEIR SPOUSE OR A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER MAY ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL LITERACY, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT REACTION WITH WOMEN.

>> AND, YET, JENNIFER, THE AVERAGE AGE OF A WIDOWED WOMEN IS 59 YEARS.

MANY MARRIAGES END IN DIVORCE, AND THE RESULT IS A LOT OF WOMEN ARE LEFT BEING UNCOMFORTABLE HANDLING FINANCES.

>> WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR ANYBODY THAT IS LISTENING, OR ANYBODY THAT IS CONSIDERING STARTING THEIR FINANCIAL LITERACY JOURNEY TO START TODAY, AND THAT'S REALLY THE BIGGEST JUMPING-OFF POINT THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO WOMEN, IS YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO BE GREAT AT SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T START ON DAY 1.

AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, SHOULD BE TAKEN IN SMALL BITES, SO THAT IT'S NOT SO OVERWHELMING AS A TOPIC.

AND WOMEN DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY DO IT ALONE.

THEY ARE PARTNER UP WITH A BUDDY, FRIEND, OR FAMILY MEMBER THAT PERHAPS WANT TO ENTER A FINANCIAL LITERACY JOURNEY THEMSELVES.

SO I WOULD ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND PARTNERING UP WITH SOMEBODY, AND MAYBE LEARNING ONE NEW TOPIC A MONTH, AND JUST BECOMING COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

>> AND AS FAR AS WHAT YOU HEAR MOST FROM WOMEN REGARDING FINANCIAL CONCERNS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES AND ASPECTS -- WHAT DO YOU HEAR MOST?

IS IT TIME CONSTRAINS, OR GENERAL DISINTEREST IN THE SUBJECT?

>> I THINK JUST A GENERAL FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN AND -- YOU KNOW, WHEN I REFLECT BACK ON THE DATA THAT WE READ IN THAT STUDY, WHERE 82% OF WOMEN DEFER TO THEIR SPOUSE, I REALLY THINK THAT WOMEN JUST -- IT'S EASY TO DEFER TO SOMEBODY ELSE, SO IN THAT LIGHT, MAYBE THEY JUST HAVEN'T TAKEN A GREATER INTEREST IN THE TOPIC, BUT THERE IS BETTER TIME TO GET STARTED THAN TODAY.

AND GIVEN THE INTERNET AND OUR MOBILE DEVICES, WE HAVE SO MANY OUTLETS TO GET STARTED ON OUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, WHETHER IT'S WEBSITE, A FRIEND, SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER, WE HAVE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD READILY AVAILABLE.

AND PARTNERING UP WITH A FINANCIAL PLANNER, A CPA, THERE ARE A HOST OF WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS FOR WOMAN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, AND I JUST STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WITH A QUESTION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES.

I HAVE TO MENTION THAT TRU-WEST CREDIT UNION, ABSOLUTELY HAS FREE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR FINANCIAL AWARENESS.

>> WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT TAKING THE LEAD -- ALTHOUGH THAT WOULD BE FINE -- BUT JUST PARTICIPATE, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEN GOD FORBID IF SOMETHING HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE, WHERE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD, IT IS NOT A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TO YOU.

YOU HAVE BEEN WALKING IN LOCK STEP WITH YOUR PARTNER ON THE FINANCIAL LITERACY JOURNEY.

AND IN MY HOUSE, I HAVE THE FINANCIAL LEAD, AND MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER DAY, IF HE HAD TO JUMP IN AND TAKE THE REINS, HE DOESN'T NECESSARILY KNOW EVERY NUANCE, SO IT SHOWED ME, THAT REALLY, HAS PARTNERS, WE HAVE TO BE IN LOCK STEP ON OUR FINANCIAL FOOTPRINT, SO THAT IF HE HAS TO STEP IN, HE COULD ABSOLUTELY TAKE THE REINS ON EVERYTHING THAT MAKES THE FINANCIAL MAKEUP OF OUR HOUSEHOLD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JENNIFER KIMMELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU, TED.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, AN ARIZONA SCHOOL IS FIGHTING TO STAY ALIVE IN THE COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A DISCUSSION ON WHY SO MANY PEOPLE KEEP MOVING TO ARIZONA.

♪♪