When it comes to handling cash flow, debt management, retirementplanning and investing, women still have a way to go compared tomen.

One-third of women felt confident about their investment allocation compared to one-half of men, according toFinancial Finesse, a provider of workplace financial wellnessprograms, in its annual study, Gender Gap in FinancialLiteracy.

Tracking data from employers and employees nationwide who usethe firm's assessment programs, 66% of women reported a generalknowledge of investing compared to 85% of men.

Likewise, 63% of women reported having a handle on cash flow, and 47% indicatedhaving an emergency fund, whereas men reported 78% and 62%,respectively.

Both genders considered retirement planning a top priority,which is a good sign since the vast majority of employees lackconfidence in being on track to achieve retirement goals, accordingto Financial Finesse.

For women, their second and third priorities continued to bemanaging cash flow and getting out of debt, the study revealed. Asin the past, women tended to focus more on immediate financialneeds than men.

By contrast, men indicated investing as a second priority,followed by managing cash flow.

“I think society is beginning to realize the severity of thechallenges women face in achieving long-term financial security,but they are still so significant that women have to do even morein order to overcome them,” said Liz Davidson, CEO and founder ofFinancial Finesse, citing the fact that women earn less on averagethan men and have to make their savings last longer due to longerlife spans.