By Paul O'Donnell, CNBC.com

53 percent of women were the financial anchor in their households. The headlines coming out of Prudential Financial's most recent study of women and money are tinged with feminine pride: "More Than Half of American Women Are Breadwinners," crowed a typical article last week.
But behind the triumphant banners was the news that women's relationships with their finances remain troubled in some familiar ways.

The study's news nugget - that 53 percent of women were the financial anchor in their households - has a nice ring to it, and tracks with other evidence that women are slowly coming into their own in the world of paid work.

[Related link: Guys, Would You Stress Over a Millionaire Wife?]

Pru's researchers say, however, that women had become the primary income producers by default: Many of the women surveyed were single, and among those married or living with someone, only 22 percent were the breadwinner. Thirty percent were the top earner, the data suggest, because their husband or partner had lost a job.

And, possibly

5 Tips to Make Returning to Work EasierAs your maternity leave nears an end, you may find yourself full of mixed emotions. Amazed that the time has gone so quickly; Sad to be away from your baby; Excited to be reunited with old friends and putting your (other) talents to work again; Nervous about the unknown.

Having been through the process a couple of times myself (though I now work from home), I found that these 5 tips shared by others along the way helped me. And I hope they help you with the transition, too.

Related: 5 family vacations you need to take before your kids grow up

1. Rest up
While you may get the urge to tie up loose ends before going back to work, try to resist. Use the quiet time to recharge -- maybe even clock some extra cuddle time. You'll be as sharp as possible as you're getting back into the swing of things at work, and you'll be in better shape to handle the various emotions you're feeling.


2. Ease into childcare
Once you determine who will be caring for your child, set

The girls vs. the boysWho is smarter, girls or boys? It's a perennial battle of the sexes that rages in schoolyards and over dinner tables across the nation. According new research by James Flynn, a world-renowned expert on IQ testing, the answer is that women are starting to edge out their male counterparts in the brains department.

Watch: Do Women Have Themselves to Blame for Work-Family Imbalances?

Flynn examined data from western European countries, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina and Estonia and found that for the first time in a century of testing, women are scoring higher than men on IQ examinations. Until recently, women's scores lagged behind men's by as much as five percent leading some scientists to claim that men were inherently more intelligent than women. Over the decades, men's and women's scores have both improved, but women's have surged more dramatically. "The full effect of modernity on women is only just emerging," Flynn told the Sunday Times of London.

Graduation is the conclusion of a journey that deserves celebrating. University of Phoenix Provost Dr. Alan Drimmer understands that this is a moment for joy and pride, but he also knows that earning a degree is just part of getting your career on the right track. Of course, every job seeker needs to build a strong resumé, practice interview skills and conduct job research. Phoenix Career Services℠ will always be a good place to start, but you'll want to do everything you can to succeed. Here, Drimmer provides five tips for recent graduates on growing and building a rich career:

Network at every opportunity.
Most people are going to find the best jobs through connections. Friends, church groups, the Alumni Association - no group should be ruled out, Drimmer says. Find ways to strategically broaden your network in your field, such as by joining an association that sponsors events around your area of interest. And don't forget about LinkedIn®, your online Rolodex. Use it to join a

Can women have it all? Can they have a successful career and a happy home? Some say not quite... We sat down with leading female professionals for their opinions on women and having that "perfect" work-life balance.

Watch Anne-Marie Slaughter (author of the controversial Atlantic article, Why Women Still Can't Have It All) on why "women still bear the burden of not being able to fully balance a career and work life." She continued, "men are still more able to have the career they want and have a family because there are still more women behind them taking care of those kids."