We all hope to retire comfortably. But once we reach retirement, we may need to adjust our expectations and behaviors somewhat in response to financial issues — and that’s especially true for women. So, if you’re a woman, what can you do to live a financially secure life when you retire?

To begin with, it’s useful to be aware of the scope of the challenge. Consider this: 50% of women have had to adopt a more frugal lifestyle in retirement, compared to 34% of men, according to a recent sur...