Women, Money, and Power: Addressing the Feminization of Wealth | Global Conference 2026

Feminization of Wealth Definition & Trends:

• The term, coined by Ellevest founder Sally Krawcheck, describes the dual shift of women gaining economic power and altering how that capital is deployed globally.
• Economic Power: McKinsey research projects that women will control 40% to 45% of global wealth by 2035, driven by the "Great Wealth Transfer."
• U.S. Specifics: By 2030, U.S. women are expected to control two-thirds of the nation's wealth (approx. $30 trillion), a figure equal to the U.S. GDP.
• 2048 Projection: By 2048, U.S. women are projected to control $54 trillion in wealth.
• Drivers of Wealth Transfer:
  • Longevity: Women live longer, leading to higher inheritance from parents and spouses.
  • Gray Divorce: 67% of divorces now involve women over 50; 40% of all divorces in the U.S. involve women over 50.
  • Primary Breadwinners: The number of women as primary breadwinners has tripled since the 1970s.
  • Entrepreneurship: Women are starting businesses faster than men, often due to barriers in corporate "bro culture" and glass ceilings.
  • Living Arrangements: Increasing numbers of women are living alone or marrying later.

Current Financial Realities & Challenges:

• Security Gap: Over 50% of U.S. women aged 25+ do not consider themselves financially secure; 77% of low-income women report the same.
• Historical Barriers: Women could not open independent bank accounts or obtain credit cards until the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1974.
• The Gender Investing Gap: Women sit on the sidelines regarding investing, costing them hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars over a career.
• Pay Gap: As of 2025 data, women earn $0.84 for every dollar earned by men.
• Career Dynamics: Women face a "double bind" where assertiveness is perceived negatively, while career paths are often cyclical (care breaks, pivots) rather than linear, unlike traditional financial models.
• Decision Making: Women often seek more information before deciding, a trait attributed to feeling loss more acutely than men, rather than a lack of intelligence or confidence.

Behavioral Differences in Wealth Deployment:

• Investment Returns: Women reinvest 90% of their income into families and communities compared to 40–50% for men.
• Capital Allocation Disparity:
  • Venture Capital: Women founders receive only 2% of global venture funding.
  • Philanthropy: Only 2% of charitable giving goes to organizations focused on women and children.
  • Politics: Women contribute 30 cents for every dollar a man contributes to political candidates.
• Confidence Correlation: Ellevest 2024 survey found 94% of women feel their economic power is underestimated; confidence gaps are driven by a lack of wealth, not inherent inability.
• Agency & Relationships: Financial independence via wealth or inheritance makes women twice as likely to leave relationships that do not serve them; 86% of widows fire their financial advisors.

Panelist Insights on Industry & Mindset:

• Sylvia Kwan (Ellevest CEO):
  • Industry models are built for linear male careers; they must evolve to accommodate women's non-linear life stages.
  • Proposes "Wealth Care," measuring success by "Return on Life" (well-being and purpose) alongside financial returns.
  • Advocates for showing women what is possible with current assets rather than telling them what they cannot do.
• Carrie Carbonaro (Advisor/Author):
  • Financial literacy basics: Women must budget, know their net worth (Assets minus Liabilities), and avoid "analysis paralysis" by seeking complete information.
  • Industry critique: Male-dominated advisory teams (80% men) often fail to ask the right questions, making women feel unheard rather than undereducated.
  • Uses analogies like shoes to explain asset classes, proving women can grasp complex concepts when language is accessible.
• Dina Di Lorenzo (Guggenheim Investments):
  • Advocates for women to demand "skin in the game" (equity/ownership) to gain a voice at the table and negotiate effectively.
  • Critiques the "bro club" culture and the tendency for male peers to underestimate women's capacity for high-stakes decisions.
  • Emphasizes the need for advisors to push clients out of comfort zones to build sustainable portfolios.
• Nicole Ari Parker (Actress/Entrepreneur):
  • Highlights that Black women founders receive less than 1% of VC funding despite contributing $1 trillion to the economy.
  • Notes the importance of diverse advisory teams to avoid "gaslighting" and ensure women feel heard.
  • Shares a personal shift from risk-averse saving to investing, acknowledging that fear of loss often stems from historical lack of wealth.
• Barbara Stewart (Author/Researcher):
  • Data shows a 100% increase in women discussing investing with peers post-pandemic (rising from 30% to 60% globally; 75% in Singapore).
  • Finds women prefer "investment salons" (small groups of 10–14) for deep dives rather than traditional large-scale meetings.
  • Identifies top interest sectors as Healthcare and Defense, dispelling the myth that women avoid "sin stocks" or defense.

Forward-Looking Statements & Recommendations:

• Industry Evolution: Financial services must eliminate jargon, sports analogies, and patronizing attitudes, replacing them with inclusive language that respects women's intellect.
• Advisory Shift: Advisors must prioritize understanding a client's unique values and life stage, integrating these into Investment Policy Statements (IPS) alongside returns.
• Risk Perception: The industry must recognize that women are "risk-aware," not "risk-averse," and should be given access to complex investments.
• Future Outlook: As women approach 2030, the shift in wealth is expected to drive a broader societal power shift, enabling "unapologetically feminine" sovereign wealth creation.
• Education Focus: There is a critical need for financial literacy programs targeting young people (Gen Z) and mid-life women (40s–50s) to overcome generational mindsets of extreme caution.