International Women’s Day is coming up on March 8th.
And it is more than a celebration.
It is a timely lens on one of the most important shifts in wealth management: women are increasingly the primary wealth holders, investors, and financial decision-makers, including at the high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) level.¹
For affluent women, this shift often coincides with major financial transitions such as entrepreneurship, liquidity events, inheritance, divorce, or stepping into the role of family CFO. The result is not simply more women participating in markets, but a structural change in who sets the agenda for portfolio construction, tax strategy, philanthropy, and multi-generational legacy planning.¹
Women now control a growing share of investable assets
Women control a substantial and rapidly expanding portion of global wealth. According to McKinsey & Company, women now control about one-third of retail financial assets in the United States and Europe, representing approximately $60 trillion globally.¹ In the U.S. specifically, total assets controlled by women grew from roughly $10 trillion in 2018 to $18 trillion in 2023, increasing women’s share of total household financial assets from about 31 percent to 34 percent. McKinsey projects that by 2030, women could control nearly $34 trillion, or approximately 38 percent of U.S. assets under management.¹
For UHNW women, these figures represent real influence over capital allocation across public markets, private investments, real estate, operating businesses, and philanthropy. They also signal a shift in the wealth management landscape: the traditional definition of the “primary investor” is evolving.¹
The Great Wealth Transfer is accelerating women’s financial influence
A major contributor to this growth is the ongoing intergenerational transfer of wealth. Industry research consistently shows that women are positioned to inherit a significant share of assets due to longevity and estate structures.² This transfer amplifies women’s role in long-term financial decision-making and elevates the importance of thoughtful estate planning, governance, and continuity strategies at the UHNW level.²
How women invest: discipline and long-term focus
Beyond asset ownership, research highlights meaningful differences in investment behavior. A 2025 Charles Schwab survey found that approximately six in ten women investors are comfortable taking investment risk when it aligns with their goals, and many cite patience and discipline as core strengths.³ Notably, about half of women investors began investing before age 30, reflecting earlier engagement with financial markets.³
Investment discipline matters. A 2025 Forbes analysis noted that women’s portfolios have historically outperformed men’s by an estimated 1.8 percentage points annually, often attributed to fewer reactive trades and a longer-term perspective.⁴ While results vary by individual and market conditions, the underlying behavioral trend is particularly relevant for UHNW investors focused on compounding, risk management, and longevity planning.⁴
A persistent advisory gap
Despite women’s growing financial power, a gap remains in how wealth management services are delivered. McKinsey reports that a significant portion of assets controlled by women remain underserved relative to potential demand, reflecting misalignment between traditional advisory models and women’s priorities.¹ For many HNW and UHNW women, wealth strategy extends well beyond performance metrics to include tax efficiency, family governance, philanthropic impact, and long-term security.
What this means for HNW and UHNW women
International Women’s Day underscores a simple reality: women are shaping the future of wealth. Control of assets is increasing, investment behavior favors long-term discipline, and generational transfers are reinforcing women’s role as financial leaders.¹³ For UHNW women, the opportunity lies in translating that influence into cohesive strategy that protects capital, supports legacy goals, and aligns wealth with purpose.
These trends are shaping how wealth is managed today. Schedule a conversation to discuss how a more personalized approach can support your goals.
Sources
¹ McKinsey & Company, The New Face of Wealth: The Rise of the Female Investor
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/the-new-face-of-wealth-the-rise-of-the-female-investor
² Anderson Partners, The $34T Opportunity That Could Finally Prompt More Hiring of Women FAs
https://andpartners.com/news/the-34t-opportunity-that-could-finally-prompt-more-hiring-of-women-fas/
³ Charles Schwab, Women Investors Survey 2025
https://www.aboutschwab.com/women-investors-survey-2025
⁴ Forbes, Shelley Zalis (July 24, 2025), Women Are Redefining Wealth, and the Future of Investing
https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleyzalis/2025/07/24/women-are-redefining-wealth-and-the-future-of-investing/
Investment advisory and financial planning services offered through Bleakley Financial Group, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser, doing business as OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners (herein referred to as “OnePoint BFG”). For more information regarding OnePoint BFG including important disclosures, please visit https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/.
The third-party information contained herein is provided for informational and discussion purposes only. OnePoint BFG does not represent this third-party information as its own. While OnePoint BFG has gathered this information from sources deemed to be reliable, OnePoint BFG has not reviewed or verified any information input by your financial professional or that of the third-party source, nor can OnePoint BFG guarantee the completeness or accuracy of this data.
OnePoint BFG does not offer legal or tax advice. This document is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified attorney or tax professional. You should not take any action based solely on the information provided on this report without seeking legal counsel from a licensed attorney or tax professional in your jurisdiction. No attorney-client relationship is formed by your use of this document.
This communication has been provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment, legal or tax advice or as a recommendation. This material provides general information only. OnePoint BFG does not offer legal or tax advice. Please contact legal counsel or your tax advisor to recommend the application of this general information to any particular situation or prepare an instrument chosen to implement the design discussed herein. Circular 230 notice: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, this notice is to inform you that any tax advice included in this communication, including any attachments, is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalty or promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter.
OP 26-0078
