At first glance, it seems obvious that women are very different from men, but the distinctions take on an added dimension when it comes to money. Women not only differ in the way they spend their wealth but also in how they choose to invest and distribute it to fulfill their priorities and values. Over the next three to five years, it is estimated that women will inherit $30 trillion globally¹, potentially creating a seismic shift of the investment landscape. Importantly, women are not just inheriting wealth; they are also creating it—building businesses, becoming primary family breadwinners and joining the C-suite in increasing numbers. To us, this will make the future “much more female.”

Inheritors

In the past, women took control of wealth largely through inheritance, and that remains a key factor today due to survivorship trends: women outlive their male spouses by five to 10 years, on average, and make up 85% of those 100 years of age or older².

Importantly, we see women taking a more active role in their financial lives. Women account for 85% of the spending in the average household, and control about a third of U.S. financial assets. Across all wealth brackets, they will inherit 70% of global wealth over the next two generations and will likely manage two-thirds of household wealth by 2030³. And when it comes to investments, women will likely not be content to simply stay the course: roughly 70% of women change financial advisors within a year after the death of their spouse⁴, and they typically have distinctive views on how to approach planning and investments.

Wealth Creators

There have always been female entrepreneurs, but a more level playing field and better opportunities are expanding their presence as wealth creators and primary breadwinners across the economic landscape. The Forbes 2022 billionaires list, for example, included 327 women out of a total of 2,668, worth a collective $1.56 trillion—some based on inheritance, others driven by traditional “sweat equity.”

Although the gender pay gap has remained fairly stable over the past 20 years (as of 2020, women earned 83% of what men earned, on average), there are signs of change. For example, young women are out-earning young men in some key U.S. cities, including New York City and Washington, D.C.⁵ Educational trends could also heighten female earnings power: more women than men are on college campuses today and more women are being admitted at higher rates each year. Already, women account for nearly 60% of enrollment⁶.

Investment Preferences and Priorities

What does this mean for wealth management? Studies have consistently shown that women’s goals and attitudes about money are often distinct from those of men. Female investors often have a greater focus on goals and objectives beyond investment returns. They generally prioritize planning for retirement, healthcare needs, wealth transfer to their children and philanthropic intentions. Eighty percent of women currently lead or participate in decisions about family wealth. This highlights the importance of understanding and appreciating the priorities of female investors, and in particular their preferences when it comes to planning. At our firm, we have found that the women in the room are more focused on connection and meaning, which is reflected in family and philanthropic interests.

Contrary to the popular belief that women are more risk-averse, research suggests that women are willing to take risks but prefer that they be calculated and fully understood. This suggests the value of building confidence and aligning investment strategies with women's objectives. Additionally, there is growing interest among women in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing. Women prefer to invest in organizations aligned with their personal values, such as those with diverse senior leadership and strong track records in ESG matters. According to Cerulli Associates, about 52% of U.S. women would prefer to invest in businesses with beneficial social or environmental impacts, compared to 44% of men, while S&P Global found that 43% of women across 11 countries believe a company’s stance on social or environmental concerns is ”very important” when considering whether to invest⁷.

Trends and Opportunities

We see a tremendous opportunity to serve female investors, in light of their desire to engage with advisors differently, and understand their greater focus on personalized wealth planning and values-aligned investing. Offering strategies that appeal to women and are aligned with their values can help an underserved marketplace.

While the financial industry recognizes the importance of serving women investors, there is still much work to be done. To better serve female investors, firms need to build diverse organizations and client-facing teams; they should focus on the technical skills required to deliver a broader array of capabilities as well as the interpersonal skills necessary to enhance communication, listening and building trust with female clients.

Navigating a Sea Change

At a time when change seems to come in leaps and bounds, the growing power of women investors is a welcome, if not unexpected, development. Although it is easy to overgeneralize, we understand that many women see money and planning quite differently from men. With that in mind, we believe it is important to provide services and strategies that can align closely with their priorities. In our view, women investors should increasingly expect that level of care and attention, as they take a more active role in, and in many cases drive, family wealth management decisions.