International Women’s Day 2025: advisers share insights for financial empowerment 

Women are set to own 60% of UK wealth by 2025, a trend expected to continue over the next decade as they inherit, build, and manage wealth.  

Despite this, financial confidence remains a barrier, with many women missing out on investment opportunities, pension planning, and long-term wealth-building strategies.   

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we asked various financial advisers from the Unbiased platform for their insights and practical steps on how women can improve their finances and build secure futures.  

The responses highlight key steps women can take to build financial confidence, secure long-term stability, and overcome gender-specific financial challenges.    

Knowledge is power: Financial education is the foundation   

Many advisers stress that education is the first step toward financial empowerment, helping women feel confident in making decisions about savings, investments, and pensions.   

"Educating yourself is one of the most important ways of empowering yourself and your family. You can protect yourself with financial knowledge, but you must also take appropriate risks to help build wealth," says Brighda Thomas, Cullen Wealth.   

George Leeson of Clarity Wealth adds: "Knowledge is the first step to financial empowerment. Taking the time to understand your spending, savings, and investments is a great foundation.

Taking control: Investing and pensions matter   

The survey responses reveal that women often delay investing due to a lack of confidence and miss out on long-term wealth-building opportunities.   

Lauren Langridge of Folio Partners shares her experience: “It wasn’t until my late 20s that I started to question if my money was actually where it should be and started to look into other options, such as investing, and what that looked like for me."   

Similarly, Deborah Jacobs of PenLife Associates urges women to prioritise their pensions: "The gender pension gap and career breaks for caregiving can further impact income and stability. But the good news is - it’s never too late or too early - to take control of your financial future. Prioritising your pension, even in small ways, can have a huge impact."   

David Toner of True Potential Wealth Management agrees, noting technology can play a crucial role as people can harness it to take control of their finances and achieve long-term goals via regular tax-efficient investments.   

Addressing gender-specific financial challenges   

Women face unique financial challenges, from career breaks to longer life expectancies, making long-term planning even more critical.   

"As women, we often place the needs of others ahead of our own, so financial planning tends to be at the bottom of a long ‘to do’ list,” notes Deborah Jacobs.   

Lorraine Cregg of Depledge Strategic Wealth Management adds: "Women often view money differently – they consider what it can do for their lives and the lives of their families, rather than an end in itself. Furthermore, women face unique financial challenges, notably a longer life expectancy, which requires a different approach to financial planning."   

Alan Francis of BFM suggests a policy change that could help: "Women can have career gaps for bringing up children, which affects their pension funds. One of the greatest things the government could do would be to allow the annual allowance to be split between partners, instead of the small £3,600 allowance for non-workers."   

The power of female financial advisers and mentors   

Many women feel more comfortable seeking advice from female professionals as they better understand their financial priorities and concerns.   

April Leeson of The Private Office (TPO) believes mentorship is key: "Building a relationship with a female financial adviser or business/professional mentor who can provide guidance on your plan, share their own experiences and expertise and offer support in building financial confidence is invaluable in my opinion.  

“Too often, women and their individual priorities are misunderstood, and building trust with a knowledgeable adviser who can help is invaluable in feeling secure and free."  

Similarly, Mikki-Leigh Gant of Walden Capital highlights the importance of representation: "I regularly meet clients who prefer to work with a woman adviser, and while the financial services industry is still light on female representation (16%), the situation continues to improve year by year.”   

Alec Cameron of Advice 2 U calls for early engagement in financial literacy with educational programmes to encourage more women into the industry: "More young people need better information about money and to start that dialogue much earlier; it’s not just about young women.   

“And we need the media to change the visual interpretation of women in the finance industry; they need to be the investors, the entrepreneurs and occupy the top jobs."   

Taking action: Steps towards financial independence   

Advisers encourage women to take proactive steps, including salary negotiations, leveraging investment opportunities, and using financial tools.   

"See if you can renegotiate your salary to reflect your worth. Surround yourself with financially savvy women who inspire and support you. Don’t be afraid to seek professional advice," advises Owrang Rahmani of Credius.   

Emma Jones of RE Mortgages Midlands emphasises the importance of homeownership: "More women are confidently securing mortgages alone, and we believe that property ownership is a powerful step toward financial empowerment."   

Finally, Paul Bartlett of Piccadilly Wealth Management encourages women to be proactive: "We’ve seen firsthand how financial knowledge builds confidence and independence. More open conversations, clearer advice, and better access to opportunities can help women grow their wealth and achieve their goals."   

Get expert financial advice   

Unbiased is committed to helping everyone navigate their financial journey by connecting them with professional financial advice. 

Whether it’s understanding investments, building a pension, or planning for homeownership, the right support can make all the difference.    

Unbiased can quickly match you with a qualified financial adviser, mortgage broker, or accountant who can help you reach your long-term goals.  

Disclaimer: These recommendations from advisers are based on their personal opinions. It’s always best to seek expert advice beforehand.