We explored women’s relationship with money

When it comes to managing money, women can approach financial decisions differently than men. This was highlighted by our recent survey – which explored varying attitudes and views between the sexes*. We found that women’s priorities reflect a thoughtful and risk-aware perspective when investing, seeking advice, and inheritance planning. 

Being aware of these trends and what they mean could empower you to make more informed financial decisions. Of course, everyone’s unique and has their own experiences, priorities, and perspectives. Nonetheless, our key findings could be beneficial to know, especially when it comes to the implications they can have for your own money. Here are three important takeaways:
 

Investing: the cautious approach

Women tend to be more concerned about financial risks than men. Our research found that 61% of women are worried there will be a financial crash compared to just 46% of men. Women tend to focus more on potential losses and negative outcomes, which could lead to a conservative investment style. While this caution can help avoid unnecessary financial risks, it may also limit growth opportunities. In other words, being too risk-averse could be considered risky itself, at least when it comes to generating future returns. No risk, no reward as the saying goes. 

Remember, the value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you paid in.

A balanced approach – where risk is assessed and understood – can help women invest with confidence while maintaining financial security. Learning about diversified portfolios, long-term market trends, and risk management can give you the tools to invest wisely without unnecessary anxiety. Of course, financial advice can also be of invaluable help.  
 

Financial help: seeking advice with scepticism

While women value financial advice, they tend to be less trusting of it than men. Our research found that 47% of women worry about entrusting someone to manage their investments, versus only 31% of men. 1 in 3 women were also concerned they’d be judged for their past financial decisions, compared to 1 in 5 men. 

These are important hurdles to jump, as the reality is that expert financial advice has the potential to make your money work harder. Financial advisers are highly trained professionals who’re devoted to improving your financial future. So if there’s anyone to trust with your hard earned money – it’s them. It’s important to remember that nothing is done without your explicit permission, so you’ll always be in control. Of course, it’s natural to feel like you may be judged, especially when it comes to something as private as money, but their goal is simply to get you where you want to be financially, rather that focusing on the past. 
 

Inheritance planning: the unspoken need

Women want advice when passing on wealth, yet are less likely than men to have spoken to an expert about it. This hesitation may be due to a lack of familiarity with inheritance planning or uncertainty about speaking to a financial adviser (as outlined above).

Creating a carefully considered inheritance plan ensures that money and assets are transferred tax-efficiently to those that matter most. Having said that, inheritance tax is a complicated subject – with not much difference between women (32%) and men (40%) claiming to understand its implications. Financial advice can help ensure your loved ones don’t have to pay more tax than they have to. This might involve strategies such as gifting money to family while you’re still alive.
 

Take control of your financial future today

By addressing concerns about risk, advice, and inheritance planning, women can take control of their financial future with confidence. Speaking to one of our non-judgemental, friendly advisers is a great place to start. No pressure, no-obligation – just an informal chat designed to help you understand more about advice and if it’s right for you.

Let’s chat

 

The advice recommendations we make are from a carefully selected range of products and funds. Using a focused and controlled approach allows us to develop an in-depth knowledge of the products, so we can safely and confidently recommend a solution that’s right for you. This is known as restricted advice.

*We surveyed 1,000 men and women, aged 26 and over, with £150,000 or more in investable assets or who expect an inheritance of £300,000 or more. The survey was carried out by Censuswide between 31 January 2025 and 11 February 2025.