Women and Wealth

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One of the most important shifts in the financial landscape isn’t a new tax law or a market trend. Women are now controlling more wealth than ever before, and that changes everything.

Today, women oversee roughly one-third of U.S. investable assets, about $18 trillion, and that figure is projected to climb significantly by the end of the decade.[i] Globally and across North America, the “Great Wealth Transfer” is accelerating, and women are positioned to inherit and manage an unprecedented share of those assets.

But this isn’t just a macroeconomic headline. It’s personal. And if you are earning, building, or preparing to inherit wealth, this shift directly impacts your long-term planning, investment strategy, and legacy decisions.

Let’s talk about what that means for you.

The Rise of Women as Earners and Owners

Women are increasingly the economic engine of their households. According to the Pew Research Center, the percentage of marriages where the wife is the primary breadwinner has grown dramatically over the past several decades.[ii] And at higher income levels, a meaningful share of women now out-earn their spouses.

At the same time, women-owned businesses continue to grow at a strong pace, influencing hiring decisions, capital investment, retirement plans, and long-term wealth creation.

What does this mean for your financial plan?

If you are the primary earner, your income isn’t just supporting today’s lifestyle; it may be the backbone of your family’s long-term security. That elevates the importance of:

• Income protection strategies
• Disability coverage and adequate reserves
• Tax-efficient investment planning
• Coordinated retirement design

High-earning women often carry both professional leadership and significant caregiving responsibilities.[iii] Time becomes scarce. Complexity increases. Therefore, a clear, streamlined strategy (rather than a patchwork of accounts and assumptions) becomes essential.

The Great Wealth Transfer: Preparing Before it Happens

Over the next two decades, trillions of dollars will change hands as part of the “Great Wealth Transfer,” with a substantial portion of this shift moving to widows through spousal inheritance.

Many women who inherit wealth don’t treat it as “found money.” Research shows they often invest it thoughtfully, reduce debt, support family members, and also give it away strategically.[iv]

Here’s the key question: If you were to inherit significant assets tomorrow, would your current plan be ready?

Preparation isn’t pessimistic: it’s prudent. Because women tend to live longer than men on average, portfolios often need to support 30-plus-year retirement horizons. That changes withdrawal strategies, equity exposure, and inflation protection decisions.

A proactive plan should address:

• Survivor income scenarios
• Portfolio simplification for ease of management
• Step-up in basis planning
• Trust design and beneficiary coordination
• Charitable giving structures that reflect your values

Financial independence isn’t just about building wealth. It’s about being prepared to steward it confidently through every chapter.

How Women’s Growing Influence is Shaping Investment Strategy

As women control a larger share of assets, investment preferences are influencing broader portfolio design. Women investors often emphasize long-term discipline, diversified building blocks, and goals-driven strategies over frequent trading.[v]

Studies suggest women-led accounts can deliver strong risk-adjusted returns, in part because of consistent, buy-and-hold behavior.

What does that mean for you in 2026 and beyond?

It means:

• Portfolios built for longevity, not short-term headlines
• Diversified, cost-conscious strategies designed for compounding
• Stress-tested plans so risk feels calculated—not speculative
• Alignment between investments and personal values

Many women also express strong interest in values-aligned investing and philanthropy . Whether that includes thematic investing or structured giving, capital can be positioned to reflect both growth and purpose.

The takeaway: your portfolio should reflect your goals, not outdated assumptions about risk tolerance or life trajectory.

Why Personalization Matters More than Ever

Despite rising wealth and confidence, many women still report feeling underserved by traditional financial services. A significant portion of assets remain self-managed or held in cash. This is often not due to lack of ability, but due to lack of tailored guidance.

A personalized strategy should account for:

• Career breaks and caregiving transitions
• Entrepreneurship and business exits
• Divorce or widowhood scenarios
• Longer life expectancy
• Multigenerational wealth goals

At Larson, we believe financial planning is not a template: it’s a relationship. Whether you’re stepping into a leadership role, launching a company, navigating an inheritance, or preparing for retirement, your strategy should evolve with you.

You deserve a clear, collaborative process. You deserve to understand your options. And you deserve a plan that empowers you to truly flourish – and not just accumulate.

Your Next Step

The financial power shift is already here. The question is: Is your plan aligned with your influence?

If your income, responsibilities, or assets have changed (or are about to) now is the time to review your strategy. Talk with your Larson advisor about ensuring your investment plan, risk design, tax strategy, and legacy goals are fully aligned with your future.

Financial independence doesn’t happen by default. It happens by design.

[i] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/26/womens-wealth-is-expected-to-boom-where-they-are-investing-and-how-they-can-maximize-returns.html

[ii] https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2023/04/Breadwinner-wives-full-report-FINAL.pdf

[iii] https://www.ubs.com/global/en/media/display-page-ndp/en-20230613-ubs-own-your-worth-report.html

[iv] https://fortune.com/2025/10/16/sideways-succession-women-wealth-transfer-independence-jpmorgan-wealth/

[v] https://www.troweprice.com/financial-intermediary/us/en/insights/articles/2026/q1/building-trust-and-wealth-how-advisors-can-empower-women-to-invest-in-etfs.html