Women in the UK are wealthier than at any point in history. Female entrepreneurship is rising, board representation is improving, and inherited wealth is flowing increasingly to women as the baby boomer generation transfers assets 

. And yet, despite all of that, a £599 billion 

 persists. Women are accumulating wealth but not necessarily putting it to work 

Reaping the rewards of investing in women

Women's lack of confidence widens gender investment gap, study finds

, puts it, "we are seeing more women investing, which is absolutely fantastic, but I think there is more that can be done." Understanding why that gap exists, and what closing it actually looks like in practice, is the starting point for any woman thinking seriously about her financial future.

The factors driving the growth of female wealth in the UK are structural and accelerating. Female entrepreneurship is increasing across sectors, and the representation of women at the highest levels of business is following suit.

The numbers reflect this shift. The female billionaire population has grown to 13.3% globally, up from 9% in 2010. In the FTSE 350, 43% of board positions are now held by women. These are not marginal changes. They reflect a generational shift in where economic power sits.

Two further factors are accelerating the trend. As the baby boomer generation passes wealth down, a significant portion is going to women, either as primary beneficiaries or as surviving spouses. And with 42% of UK marriages ending in divorce 

, financial settlements are delivering significant capital to women who may not previously have managed substantial assets independently 

Employee workplace pensions in the UK: 2024 provisional results

Wealth in Women's Hands

The Pension Gap: Where the Disparity Is Most Visible

Despite the growth in female wealth ownership, the 

 tells a different story. In the private sector, 76% of female employees have a workplace pension compared with 81% of male employees. Women also consistently accumulate less over their working lives, a consequence of career breaks, part-time working, and lower average earnings 

Gender pay gap in the UK: 2025

"My advice would be to start as early as possible," Barrett says. "

 is your friend. It can make a huge difference over the longer term." The mathematics of compounding means that time in the market is more valuable than the size of individual contributions. A woman who begins investing at 30 will, in almost every scenario, reach 

 in a stronger position than one who starts at 45 with larger sums.

The gap is not inevitable. But closing it requires action earlier than most women currently take it.

The Barriers: Confidence, Jargon, and a Persistent Misconception

The barriers to women investing are not primarily financial. They are cultural and psychological. Confidence is the most significant.

"A lot of it comes down to confidence," Barrett explains. The 

 industry has historically communicated in ways that assumed a certain audience: high-net-worth, high-risk, and predominantly male. The effect has been to make investing feel inaccessible to anyone outside that profile.

That assumption is wrong. "It's not just for the ultra high net worth. It's not for those with high risk appetites. Anyone can invest," Barrett notes. Clients with small amounts to invest benefit from professional guidance just as much as those with large portfolios. The key is beginning the conversation. Women currently control around one-third of all retail financial assets globally, a share projected to rise to 40 to 45% by 2030, yet affluent women remain less likely than men to work with a financial adviser 

The new face of wealth: The rise of the female investor

The industry's use of jargon compounds the confidence barrier. JM Finn has made a deliberate effort to address this. "We don't use any form of jargon that the industry is rife for," Barrett says. For women who have avoided financial advice because they found it opaque or unwelcoming, that shift in approach matters.

 and investing are concrete, measurable, and time-sensitive. Women of all ages are more likely than men to remain uninvested, particularly in the 35 to 54 age group, despite holding investible assets 

Advice Guidance Boundary Review: Retail Investments consumer research

The UK government provides multiple tax allowances each year, including 

 limits, pension contribution relief, and capital gains exemptions, that go unused by people who have never been guided through them. A financial adviser's first job is often simply to help a client understand what they are already entitled to.

Beyond tax efficiency, the long-term case for investing is straightforward. "Just small amounts month on month, year on year really do accumulate," Barrett says. "It also means that you might be able to retire earlier than you anticipated, live the lifestyle you want to live, and ultimately give you financial security."

What Good Financial Advice for Women Actually Looks Like

JM Finn has run multiple campaigns specifically designed to encourage women to invest, targeting existing clients, prospective clients, and intermediaries. The aim is consistent: create a reason to start.

"It's encouraged women to start talking. It's encouraged women to start understanding a little bit more about maybe what they are doing, what they could be doing better," Barrett explains. "I think often we all wait in our lives to start something at some point and never get round to it. And actually having these conversations now, it encourages people to begin that journey."

The starting conversation does not require a significant sum or a clear long-term plan. It requires only a willingness to engage. From that point, a good adviser can shape the strategy around the client's actual circumstances, not an assumed profile.

The £599 billion gap is not a fixed number. It is a measure of unrealised potential. Every woman who begins investing, at whatever level, starts to close it.

The UK gender investment gap stands at £599 billion:

 Women are accumulating wealth at a growing rate, but uptake of investing and professional financial advice has not kept pace, with real long-term consequences.

Women are building wealth through multiple channels:

 Rising female entrepreneurship, growing board representation, inherited wealth, and divorce settlements are all contributing to a significant shift in wealth ownership.

The pension gender gap remains one of the starkest disparities:

 Women consistently save less into pensions over their working lives, compounding the impact of career breaks and lower average earnings on long-term financial security.

Confidence, not capability, is the primary barrier to women investing:

 The investment industry has historically used jargon and assumed a high-risk, high-wealth audience. Investing is not only for the wealthy, and starting with small amounts makes a meaningful difference over time.

Compound growth rewards those who start early:

 Small, consistent contributions made over a long period produce outcomes that far outweigh larger sums invested late. The sooner a woman engages with a financial adviser, the greater the long-term benefit.

The UK's £599 Billion Gender Investment Gap: Why It Exists and What to Do About It

Rebecca joined JM Finn in 2023 and is a Wealth Planner within the team. She has a BSc in Economics from the University of Southampton and is a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society (PFS) and a Chartered Financial Planner. After university, Rebecca worked as a management consultant at IBM, specialising in financial services, and then gained experience working for IFAs for over 5 years prior to joining JM Finn. Rebecca’s expertise includes retirement planning, tax planning and wealth structuring. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys playing tennis, supporting the Harlequins FC, and skiing.

Wealth Planner

Rebecca Barrett

JM Finn is a UK wealth management firm offering personalised investment management and wealth planning, built on trust, long term relationships and a dedicated investment manager as a point of contact. Our comprehensive wealth management capabilities enable us to help clients at any stage of life, whether just starting out as an investor or looking to optimise your pension assets or maximise a legacy for the next generation. Whether you want to invest for long term growth or to provide an income, our investment expertise can help you navigate the markets to meet your goals. And our wealth planners can review your affairs to ensure you are maximising tax allowances, such as pensions and trusts, either as a one-off exercise or as part of an ongoing review service. This combination of expertise allows our clients to focus on their passions, knowing their wealth is in good hands. 

Our Wealth Planning service will structure your finances to achieve your goals wherever you are in your investment journey, through personal financial advice and financial planning. Our certified personal financial advisers can do this as a one-off exercise or on a long-term regular basis. We don’t insist on an annual review, believing that advice doesn’t change unless your personal circumstances have changed, which is why our clients value our services, knowing they can call on them when they need them, rather than pay for them, when they don’t. We can help individuals, trustees and businesses.

We specialise in discretionary portfolio management – this means we will invest on your behalf to try to meet your financial objectives. We will be fully accountable for running your investments, so you don’t have to worry about making investment decisions yourself. Our robust approach to investment allows you to go about your daily life safe in the knowledge that your financial future is being overseen by our professionals. With a sound risk-based approach at the heart of our services, we will manage your investment in line with your circumstances and capacity for risk.

JM Finn

Arabella joined JM Finn in 2025. Member of the CISI and having studied Business in London and France. She has spent over 25 years working with private clients and their advisers having held positions at Vermeer Partners, Capital Generation Partners, Close Brothers Asset Management and Coutts. Arabella has focused on intermediary relationships for the last 10 years and going forward will also be looking after private clients. Arabella was recognised as Women of the Year Leadership in the Large, Institutional category at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards in 2017.

Rebecca Barrett

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Rebecca Barrett

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The UK's £599 Billion Gender Investment Gap: Why It Exists and What to Do About It

Start your journey to your Financial well-being

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CONTACT US

Start your journey to your
Financial well-being