Women are holding more wealth than at any time in history, fuelled by the ‘great wealth transfer’. Women are also earning and generating their own wealth at a pace not seen before. But research shows women engage differently to men when it comes to financial services, investing and planning. While this presents opportunities, not least for women advisers, there are also challenges.
Rising demand: The trillion-pound wealth transfer and why it matters
Women own more wealth than at any time in history. Money is being earned, created through entrepreneurship, and inherited by women through wealth transfer at a rapidly growing rate.
But for many women there are still significant barriers to growing their wealth and gaining financial security. This is because they must navigate a financial and economic system designed predominantly by men, which often doesn’t reflect their lives.
“12% of women prefer to speak to a female adviser.”
- St. James’s Place Women and Wealth Report 2026
That said, a quiet revolution is happening. As women gain and hold more wealth they are beginning to demand a different approach from financial services providers – and from financial advice.
The trillion pound wealth transfer
The ‘great wealth transfer’ as it is known, refers to the large-scale movement of assets between generations. Widely reported research suggests trillions of pounds will be passed between spouses and down the generations through inheritance over the next 20 years.
“Our research shows that women, in particular, respond best to investing messages that are clear, concrete and tangible.”
It will lead to the majority of the UK’s wealth being in female hands within decades.
Alexandra Loydon, Group Advice Director at St. James’s Place (SJP), says: “We know a huge transfer of wealth is set to happen in the coming decades as the estates of the baby boomer generation pass on significant wealth to beneficiaries. But there can be a stark difference in approach to finances and investment between the genders, and between generations.
“Our research shows that women, in particular, respond best to investing messages that are clear, concrete and tangible 1. They are also likely to want advice from someone who understands and can relate to their experiences. Financial advisers can respond to this are likely to form the best long-term relationships with female clients.”
Financial challenges for women
It is not just inherited money that women are looking to manage, invest and grow. Women are creating their own wealth in bigger numbers than ever before, through entrepreneurship and business.
More women are also rising to higher management and executive positions, albeit the pace of growth is slow and a significant gender pay gap persists.
“Only 25% of women have accessed financial advice in the last 10 years, compared to 31% of men.”
– St James’s Place Women and Wealth Report 2026
But while there has been strong progress for some women in the workplace and for female business owners in recent years, there continue to be financial challenges for many others.
Women live longer than men on average, but due to the continued gender pay gap, and more women than men having gaps in their career due to caring responsibilities, there is a significant gender pension gap.
“In previous generations, often women wouldn’t even have a seat at the table when it came to talking about household finances and investments. But that has shifted.”
Women can also be deterred from investing due to a confidence gap. This problem is exacerbated by industry messages that often tend to appeal more to men than women.
Our Women and Wealth Report 2026 also highlighted the issue of this gender divide, finding less than one in three women (27%) invest, compared to 43% of men, although the figure is a slightly higher 29% among younger women 2.
What women want from financial advice
The growth in female wealth presents opportunities for the financial advice sector. But many women are looking for a different style of financial advice, which better serves their needs and financial goals.
Claire Trott, Head of Advice at St. James’s Place, believes women are looking for an adviser who understands their outlook, priorities and concerns.
“In previous generations, often women wouldn’t even have a seat at the table when it came to talking about household finances and investments. But that has shifted,” says Claire.
She adds: “Wives and daughters stand to inherit significant sums. Women are also creating their own wealth. Financial advisers need to ensure everyone is involved in the conversations to feel engaged and empowered. For advisers who can rise to the challenge, using effective communication which resonates with women, I am hopeful we will see change happening.”
Can female advisers steal a march?
The growing wealth of women is likely to lead to an increased demand for female financial advisers. SJP’s Women and Wealth Report 2026 found 12% of women preferred to speak to a female adviser. This compares to just 7% of men who said they preferred a male adviser.
Among women who say they would prefer a female adviser, the main reasons are feeling less intimidated and judged.
Many also believe a female adviser is more likely to understand the specific challenges faced by women, such as different working patterns, career breaks and caring responsibilities.
Against the backdrop of the great wealth transfer, if these findings stack up, female advisers look set to be in high demand.
Read the full St. James’s Place Women and Wealth Report 2026
As women take a leading role in shaping the future of wealth, discover how you could build a career helping them navigate it with confidence.
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1 Behavioural Science Report, March 2026. St. James’s Place, in partnership with Ipsos. Research based on a nationally representative sample of 5,916 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. The survey was conducted online between 17 October and 20 November 2025. Quotas were applied and data are weighed to match the profile of the population.
2 St James’s Place Women and Wealth Report 2026. On behalf of St. James's Place, Opinium surveyed 6,000 UK adults nationwide between 17 March and 9 April 2026. Quotas and post-weighting were applied to the sample to make the dataset representative of the UK adult population.