- Investing
Female wealth is growing at pace, fuelled by inheritance, more women in higher earning careers, and a rise in female entrepreneurship. Yet it is not a consistent picture across the board; research tells us that many women are facing gaps in their finances.
As the largest provider of financial advice in the UK, St. James’s Place is committed to helping women take charge of their financial future. We are supportive of government initiatives to get more people to invest and have recently supported the launch of the UK’s Retail Investment Campaign.
Over the next 12 months we will publish a series of articles aimed at helping women feel empowered when navigating all aspects of their money.
Our in-depth features aim to reassure and encourage women to take action to secure their financial future, whether they’re running a successful business or on a career break, taking a more proactive approach to their pension planning or thinking about how to invest an inheritance.
At a glance
- Women hold more wealth than at any time in history and this will increase over the coming decades.
- Structural and financial barriers prevent many women from reaching financial parity with men, and although this is changing, it takes time.
- We know the right messages can boost how women respond and engage when it comes to finances and investing.1
Why this moment matters
The female wealth landscape is changing. The great wealth transfer will see money passed down to younger generations in the coming decades, and women are expected to be the major beneficiary in this.
Women are also generating their own wealth in greater numbers than at any time in history, through entrepreneurship, business and in senior roles in the workplace.
But despite this, research shows, on average, women continue to face significant gaps in their savings, investments, and pensions, that could negatively impact their financial future.
SJP’s Financial Health Report 2026 found women were less likely to have a financial plan (33% of women versus 42% of men) and less likely to invest (27% of women versus 43% of men).2
A report by the government-backed Pensions Commission has also found among women approaching retirement (aged 55-59) pension savings are, on average, half the value of those held by men.3
Equal in ambition, different in approach
It is important to recognise that women don’t lack the ambition or motivation to act and they generally share the same financial goals as men.
They are, however, less comfortable with investing and approach the journey from different perspectives. They generally have the right intentions in terms of planning and saving, but there are many barriers, not just financial hurdles, which deter many women from engaging with their finances.
Our behavioural science research, conducted earlier this year with Ipsos, found that typically women were more motivated, compared to men, to invest by tangible messages around investment, which talked about both and benefits and drawbacks in real terms. Being able to connect present decisions with future outcomes is important.
It means financial providers, and advisers, need to think about how they communicate investment messages to ensure they resonate with women to get them engaged and to take action.
Women want to make informed decisions about their money, but if the messages don’t land in the right way or resonate with who they are they are less likely to take positive action.
Our focus on women and wealth
Through our dedicated series of articles focusing on women and wealth, finance and planning, we will look at the important money issues facing women, offering a viewpoint through the lens of financial advice.
We’ll kick off our series by looking at the social phenomenon which has been dubbed the great wealth transfer, and the impact it will have, particularly on women, who stand to gain most from this shift of assets. This is where wealth will be inherited by widows as the first of the baby boomer generation dies and then passes down the generation on. It means some women will need to make decisions about a sizeable inheritance and this might be the first time women have had to take financial control.
In addition to the issues around inheritance, we’ll also explore what happens when finances change dramatically overnight (for better or worse), such as when women go through divorce, job loss, career changes, or managing money after a windfall.
In the autumn we’ll address the problem of the gender gaps that persist across the workplace and in financial services. This will include the gender pay gap, which in turn has a knock-on impact causing a gap in pensions, savings and investments for women. We’ll also follow this up by reviewing ways to boost women’s participation in investing, looking at access, relatability and engagement.
Later in the year our focus will switch to women in later life, including planning for retirement and long-term care. This is an area of increasing concern for women, who tend on average to live longer than men, due to the rapidly escalating costs of care.
We’ll also include important help and guidance around finance for female business owners, and we’ll examine how successfully the financial advice industry represents women and why it matters.
This series is aimed at women who are looking to engage more with their money and take positive steps towards a stronger financial future. But it is also for financial advisers and partners, who may want a deeper understanding of the issues at stake, as they help women navigate and chart the best course.
There is huge potential to build stronger foundations for the future of women’s wealth. The profession can step up and help women navigate the right path in a way that suits their lives, building financial resilience and security.
If you’re looking for advice or support speak with your financial adviser. They can help you break down some of the issues discussed here to help you move forward with a clear plan.
Sources
1Behavioural 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.
2Financial Health Report 2026. On behalf of St. James's Place Opinium surveyed 6,000 UK adults nationwide between 17th March and 9th April 2026. Quotas and post-weighting were applied to the sample to make the dataset representative of the UK adult population.
3Pensions 2050: Evidence and Future Priorities. Interim Report. 19 May 2026. Pensions Commission.
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