The rise of women's wealth and what it means for financial planning
What you need to know
- Women’s wealth is rising through inheritance, business ownership and career progression.
- Managing wealth matters just as much as building it. Investing and financial advice can play an important role in supporting long-term financial goals.
- Women’s financial journeys are often different. Longer life expectancy, career breaks and becoming the main financial decision-maker later in life can all shape financial planning.
- It is beneficial for women to regularly review their wealth plans, as circumstances change.
Beyoncé may have been onto something when she sang, “Who runs the world? Girls.” Because while girls (or women) may not literally run the world, they're becoming an increasingly powerful force in wealth creation and wealth ownership.
This trend's being driven by two major shifts: a huge transfer of wealth between generations and more women creating wealth in their own right.
This is without doubt good news. But there’s another, not-so-positive side to the story. Many women may be missing opportunities to make the most of their wealth.
Research shows they are less likely than men to seek financial advice1 and less likely to invest2, two trends that could have significant implications for long-term financial outcomes. Before we explore why, let's first look at what's driving this rise in female wealth.
Why women’s wealth is on the rise
There isn't a single reason women are becoming wealthier. Instead, it’s a combination of several trends.
Inheritance
The first is the Great Wealth Transfer.3 This is set to see as much as £5 trillion passed from Baby Boomers to their beneficiaries in the UK over the next two decades. It’s often described in terms of parents passing assets to children. But because women generally live longer than men, they’re expected to receive a significant proportion as surviving spouses. More women are also set to become financial decision-makers for the first time, which can bring new responsibilities at an already difficult time.
Building wealth
Another trend is women building wealth in their own right.
More women than ever are starting businesses, with the number of female entrepreneurs tripling4 since 2002. At the same time, record numbers of women are reaching senior leadership positions, giving them greater access to higher salaries, bonuses and share-based incentives. Women now occupy 43% of roles on company boards and 35.3% of leadership roles at the FTSE 350 companies, up from 34.5% in 2023.5
Together, these trends mean more women are creating significant wealth through their careers and businesses than ever before.
Why the gaps matter
So, women are inheriting and building more wealth. Why does it matter if they're less likely to seek financial advice or invest?
The simple answer is it could affect the amount of wealth they build over the long term.
Research from Unbiased6 suggests people who take advice are, on average, nearly £48,000 better off in pensions and financial assets.
Meanwhile, over the long term, not investing may mean missing out on the benefits of compounding, where investment returns could generate further returns over time, while money left in cash risks losing purchasing power because of inflation.
But it doesn’t stop there. Women also experience life events and circumstances that make decisions about investing and seeking advice even more important.
Longer life expectancy
Women typically live longer than men. This means a longer retirement, which can influence decisions about how much to invest, how income is generated and how wealth is managed over the long term.
Career breaks
Many women take time away from work to care for children or relatives. Career breaks can affect pension contributions, long-term savings and whether women can invest.
Becoming the main financial decision maker
Whether following the death of a partner or a divorce, many women find themselves making financial decisions on their own for the first time later in life. At what’s an already emotionally challenging time, professional advice can help provide clarity.
Managing growing wealth
As more women build and inherit wealth, having a plan for how to manage it becomes increasingly important.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to managing wealth, but there are a few questions worth revisiting as your wealth grows:
- Does your financial plan still reflect your goals and circumstances?
- Is your wealth working as hard as it could? Holding cash plays an important role, but there may also be other strategies worth considering.
- Are you planning for the long term as well as today? Retirement, tax and estate planning strategies may all need revisiting as wealth grows.
- Have any recent life events changed your priorities? This could include an inheritance, a business sale, a bereavement or divorce.
As more women build and inherit wealth, financial planning increasingly needs to reflect the different circumstances, priorities and goals that can shape women's financial lives. At Brown Shipley, our Client Advisors work with individuals, families and business owners to develop long-term wealth strategies that reflect their goals. Get in touch with a Brown Shipley Client Advisor today if you’d like to discuss your own tailored wealth plan.
When it comes to managing wealth, there’s also real value in sharing experiences, learning from others and expanding your network.
Join our community
''Beyond Value' is our new community for women who want to connect, share perspectives and feel inspired. Members can access:
- Interviews and discussions with leading women across business, culture, philanthropy and wellbeing.
- Exclusive events exploring topics that matter to women, bringing together a range of experiences.
- Opportunities to connect with women across the UK and the wider Quintet network, encouraging collaboration and shared learning.
FAQs
Why are women less likely to invest than men?
Research7 suggests there isn't one single reason. Factors such as lower financial confidence, perceptions about how much money is needed to start investing and limited financial education may all contribute. Despite this, women are expected to account for nearly half of all new investors in the next 12 months.
Why can financial planning be particularly important for women?
Women often experience specific life events and circumstances that can influence their financial plans, including longer life expectancy, career breaks, inheritance and becoming the main financial decision-maker later in life. Reviewing financial plans regularly can help ensure they continue to reflect changing priorities.
Why is long-term planning important when managing wealth?
Long-term wealth planning helps you prepare for major life events, from retirement to financially supporting your family. Long-term wealth planning helps you prepare for major life events, from retirement to financially supporting your family. Planning ahead can help you make effective use of tax allowances and other planning considerations when structuring your wealth for the future.
Should women invest differently to men?
Not necessarily. Investment decisions should always be made based on an individual’s circumstances, time horizon and risk appetite. However, women may experience life events such as career breaks and longer life expectancy which could influence those decisions.
When should I review my wealth plan?
It’s best to review your plan at least annually or when you experience a major life event such as marriage, the birth of a child or grandchild, divorce or a business sale. Regular check-ins help make sure your plan aligns with your current circumstances and objectives.
How can I pass on my wealth to my family tax efficiently?
Transfer of generational wealth can be done in a number of tax efficient ways, including gifts and trusts. The most appropriate strategy will depend on your personal circumstances, objectives and the tax rules at the time.
Sources
1 Tackling the UK's Financial Literacy and Investment Gender Gap
2 BlackRock, People & Money The trends shaping investing in Europe Maelle Struillou & Tim Broad
3 What is the Great Wealth Transfer?
5 FTSE 350 Women Leaders Review highlights continuing progress | ICAEW
6 The value of financial advice: how much is it actually worth? | Unbiased
7 BlackRock, People & Money The trends shaping investing in Europe Maelle Struillou & Tim Broad
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Information correct as of 24 July 2026.
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