Financial education is a feminist issue: Why every woman needs a wealth strategy
For women to control their futures, they must control their finances.
That idea is simple, but for too long the systems supporting it haven’t been. Women continue to earn less, invest less and retire with smaller savings than men — even though studies show they’re better at investing when they do.
A recent report from the World Economic Forum found that women investors often outperform men by nearly two percentage points each year. Meanwhile, McKinsey’s research shows women are on track to hold nearly $114 trillion in global wealth by 2030.
Yet, barriers remain. Centuries of exclusion from financial systems, gender pay gaps and a lack of confidence around investing still hold women back. That’s why financial education and investing for women are essential steps toward equality and long-term stability.
Why women need a wealth strategy
Because money is power, it’s important to have a plan for how to grow it. A wealth strategy gives structure and purpose to your financial goals, helping you move from day-to-day budgeting to long-term financial independence.
But improving women’s participation in finance isn’t just about representation; it’s about creating a more resilient financial system overall. Women who invest are more likely to stay invested, make steady decisions and focus on future growth rather than short-term wins, the World Economic Forum report shows.
In short, women’s investing behavior aligns with strong, sustainable financial health. But to reach that point, women need access to education, tools and the confidence that they can and should be managing their own wealth.
A clear wealth strategy helps:
- Turn intention into action. It moves you from saving “when you can” to saving with purpose.
- Clarify priorities. Align your investments with your personal values — whether that’s family security, career flexibility or community impact.
- Build momentum. Seeing small wins early, like consistent saving or growing interest, helps build confidence to start investing more strategically.
- Plan for change. Your needs and income will shift over time, so your plan should too. Revisiting your goals regularly helps you stay flexible and focused.
- Create long-term security. A thoughtful approach to saving and investing for women can help bridge the gender wealth gap and make future financial goals more attainable.
How to get started on your path
You don’t have to come from wealth or have a finance degree to build financial strength. You can start from anywhere, with any income, background or level of experience. The key is to start learning and take one step at a time toward your financial goals.
If you’re new to this journey, explore resources like Empeople’s financial health programs and the Empeople Financial Success Center. Personalized, one-on-one financial guidance is free to Empeople members with All-In member status. Our financial experts can help assess your current financial situation and strategize goals for where you’d like to be.
From there, we’ll work with you to create a personal money workflow that builds upward through each financial milestone:
- Build your foundation.
Start with a clear budget that tracks what’s coming in and what’s going out. Use this phase to cover essentials, pay down high-interest debt and build an emergency fund that covers at least three months of expenses. - Establish saving habits.
Automate contributions to a high-yield savings account or set up direct deposits into designated financial goals like travel, homeownership or retirement. Small, consistent actions make a bigger difference than one-time efforts. - Begin investing intentionally.
Once your emergency fund is in place, look for opportunities to grow your money through diversified investments. - Keep learning.
As your income and responsibilities change, keep revisiting your plan. That flowchart of financial milestones — from budgeting and saving to investing — isn’t a straight line. It’s a cycle of review, growth and recalibration.
Once you have the groundwork done, you can focus more of your attention on deeper, long-term investment management.
Building wealth and investing for the long term
With this financial stability, you can start building wealth — and that’s where investing for women becomes especially powerful. Here are a few options to consider:
Retirement savings: If your employer offers a 401(k) match, take full advantage by investing as much as they match. It’s free money that compounds over time. Also consider consolidating the old 401ks from past jobs into an IRA and/or a Roth IRA, which have unique benefits. Our free, online retirement saving strategies resource can help you make the most of those contributions.
Index funds: These track the performance of a market benchmark like the S&P 500, giving you instant diversification at a low cost. They’re a straightforward way to invest in hundreds of companies at once. When one company or sector dips, another may rise, helping you weather market swings.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): Similar to index funds but traded throughout the day like a stock, ETFs make it easy to buy into a mix of assets, such as stocks, bonds, or commodities, bundled as a single fund.
Bonds: Government or municipal bonds can add stability to your portfolio. While they generally pay lower interest over time, they carry lower risk than stocks and often carry tax advantages, making them a solid counterbalance to market ups and downs.
Your mix of these investments depends on your financial goals and timelines. Time is your best friend when investing. The more time you have before you need to access your money, the more risk you can bear, and the more reward you may reap. If you’re saving for retirement, a more stock-heavy portfolio can make sense. If you’re closer to needing money, bonds can help reduce volatility.
For personalized guidance when you first start investing, you can connect with Empeople’s investment advisors to discuss which combination aligns best with your comfort level and long-term plan.
It’s time to get started
Investing for women isn’t about competing with men or chasing the next market trend. It’s about claiming the confidence, security and influence that come with financial independence. When women grow wealth, everyone benefits — families, communities and future generations.
Start where you are. Learn what you can. And take that next step, however small, toward your own financial freedom.
