The Rise of Female Investment: Why More Women Are Taking Control of Their Money
More and more women are stepping into the world of investing, and it is genuinely exciting to see. Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable shift as women take charge of their money, make confident decisions, and build wealth in ways that simply were not as common before.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Recent research shows that 71% of women now own investments in the stock market, which is a big jump from 2023. Younger women, in particular, are starting earlier and getting more comfortable with investing as part of everyday life.
And here is a fact you might not expect: when women invest, they often do better than men.
A large study that analysed 5.2 million investment accounts over 10 years found that women earned returns 0.4% higher than men on average. It may not sound dramatic, but over the decades, that difference becomes meaningful and can lead to significant extra wealth.
Why the edge? Women are more likely to take a steady, long-term approach. They tend to invest and hold rather than jumping in and out of the market or reacting quickly to headlines. It is calm, consistent, and surprisingly effective.
But There Are Still Barriers
Even with all this progress, there is still a long way to go. The gender wealth gap is huge. In the United States, women hold only 32 cents for every 1 dollar owned by men. At the current pace, full wealth equality is more than a lifetime away.
A major reason for this gap is confidence.
Only one in three women feels confident making investment decisions, even though the data shows that women are strong investors once they get started.
Lower average pay, time out of work for caregiving, and other systemic challenges also make it harder for women to build long-term wealth.
What Can Help?
The positive news is that support and education are more accessible than ever. From online platforms to free resources, podcasts, and beginner-friendly tools, women now have more help to get started than at any other time.
And the message is simple: you do not need to know everything before you begin.
Whether you prefer to learn first, use a robo-advisor, or open a basic investment account and start small, there are options for every comfort level and budget.
Why This Matters
Women are not just entering the investment world; they are thriving in it. The more we talk about money, share knowledge, and remove old barriers, the closer we get to closing the wealth gap for good.
Because when women grow their money, they gain more than savings or retirement funds.
They gain freedom, choice, and confidence, the ability to make decisions that truly support their lives now and in the future.
The best time to start investing is not “one day”.
It is today, and women everywhere are proving exactly why.
Please Note: We do not give financial advice for that we recommend Lisa at Personal Finance Movement
Sources:
1. Fidelity Investments (2024) - Women & Investing Study: https://newsroom.fidelity.com/pressreleases/new-research-from-fidelity--shows-71--of-women-own-investments-in-the-stock-market/s/db3a5765-9b69-4e51-a315-66ecc51e0066
2. Fidelity Investments (2021) - Women outperform men by 0.4%: https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/about-fidelity/FidelityInvestmentsWomen&InvestingStudy2021.pdf
3. Female Invest company data (2024): https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/female-invest
4. Kukk, M. & Staehr, K. (2023) - European gender wealth gap: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/roiw.12596
5. World Economic Forum (2023) - Global Gender Gap Report (169 years to parity): https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2023/digest/
6. Kantar (2021) - UK £15 billion gender investment gap: https://www.businessleader.co.uk/15bn-investment-gap-shows-failure-of-financial-services-sector-to-win-over-womens-wealth/57254/
7. Scottish Widows (2022) - Women retiring with less in pensions: https://www.scottishfinancialnews.com/articles/scottish-widows-women-set-to-retire-with-100-000-less-than-men
