The stock market may seem the last place you want to invest at the moment - not since the1930s have there been three consecutive bear markets where the average value of shares listed on stock markets has declined. But according to Antoinette Bolden, for new investors: "Now is an excellent time to start."

Speaking to a small group of women investors on Tuesday, the managing director of Emerald Financial Group said that investment markets at the moment ought to hold special appeal for women: "The stock market is on sale. When things go on sale, I know you go and buy up the bargains." Likewise the depressed equity markets represent a good bargain at the moment - for the first time in years, certain stocks are good value.

Ms Bolden says that there are many reasons why women need to take charge of their own financial planning. In some cases they may have decided not to marry their partners, but even those who are married should not leave responsibility for their finances to their husband.

Women are living longer and often surviving their husbands: "Who wants to start learning about investment when they're 80?" asks Ms Bolden. The main thrust of the talk was to encourage women to stop procrastinating and start building an egg nest.

She provides one example which shows how $10,000 invested at the average growth of S&P 500 companies between 1986 and 2000 had risen to $62,568.95 in those ten years - nearly double the return of investing the same amount in a fixed deposit account.

To those who worry that they might not have enough saved up to invest in the stock market, Ms Bolden says that there are small steps you can take at the beginning.

She says that she has frequently been able to help a client figure out some unique ways to save money - even things like turning off the water heater during the day and remembering to turn off lights can lead to some extra dollars for investment.

"Even if you don't have two thousand dollars, there are steps to get you on the right path. If you open an investment account with us and set up a standing order, before long, you could have the $2000 you need to invest in a mutual fund."

Ms Bolden adds that some mutual funds will even let you start investing by setting up a standing order to them direct.

As for how much a woman should be saving and how much she needs to live on, Ms Bolden says that this varies from case to case and it is hard to express in percentage terms.

"As a rule of thumb, however, you should be investing ten per cent of your income. Most of us can live on 90 per cent of what we earn."

For those just starting out with a couple of thousand dollars to invest, Ms Bolden recommends a mutual fund. "If you have under six figures to invest, then we do recommend mutual funds to achieve diversity."

Once they get started, Ms Bolden says that women are generally successful long term investors. "They're less likely to change their investment strategy based on a new stock tip they heard on the golf course!"