Financial confidence is closely tied to active participation by women in financial decision-making, according to the findings of “HerWorth,” a national study of 10,012 female investors released on Wednesday by female-founded RIA Beacon Pointe Advisors.
The study suggests the greatest opportunity is not just preparing women to inherit wealth, but helping them build the confidence to lead financial decisions, according to the firm.
The “most significant finding” from the study is that “women who lead their own financial decisions are nearly three times more confident than women in more passive roles,” Shannon Eusey, Co-Founder and Chairman of Beacon Pointe, told Wealth Solutions Report by email. “What is so powerful is what that tells us: confidence is built through engagement.”
“Only 31% of women feel highly confident managing their finances,” the study said.
Among the study’s other findings: Women working with a financial advisor reported about a 60% increase in financial confidence, while almost 40% of women want more space to focus on their finances.
“A great advisor can play a critical role in that process by creating a space where women are actively involved, asking questions and participating in decisions rather than simply being informed after the fact,” Eusey told WSR.
“With the historic transfer of wealth underway, advisors have an extraordinary opportunity and responsibility to help more women build confidence through meaningful participation in their financial lives.”
However, the “most concerning finding” of the study is “the gap between wealth and financial confidence,” Eusey went on to say. “Even as women accumulate greater assets, many still report significant financial anxiety and lower confidence, and higher levels of wealth do not necessarily close that gap. In fact, the research suggests that substantial amounts of money may remain in cash, which can reflect hesitation and uncertainty rather than intentional long term planning.”
Eusey added, “What makes this especially concerning is that women are poised to control an unprecedented share of wealth. If greater wealth alone does not create greater confidence, then the industry cannot assume this problem will solve itself. Advisors have a critical role to play in helping women move from anxiety and inaction to informed, active participation in their financial lives.”
According to the study, “As your confidence grows, the questions you ask about money will shift. Early on, the questions are often: Am I on track? What should I learn next? Later, the questions move outward: How might markets, the economy, or life changes affect my plans?”
However, the study says, “One thing stays steady at every stage. Roughly 4 in 10 women say they do not have enough time for money matters.”
“The HerWorth study highlights the importance of understanding how we can best serve women,” according to Heather O’Neill Fairbanks, Beacon Pointe Partner and Managing Director. “In my 35 years of serving women, I’ve seen firsthand the value of creating an environment where they feel comfortable asking questions and receive guidance tailored to their unique needs.”
“As an advisor, it’s important to create a space where women feel seen, heard, and empowered,” Jill Steinberg, Beacon Pointe Partner and Managing Director, said in the release. “In my experience, educating women and encouraging them to make financial decisions builds confidence that extends well beyond their financial lives.”
“At Beacon Pointe, we’ve long believed that financial confidence is built through trusted relationships, personalized advice, and meaningful engagement,” according to Matt Cooper, CEO of Beacon Pointe. “HerWorth gives us powerful new data that helps us better understand how to continue supporting women as they navigate increasingly complex financial decisions.”
The participants were surveyed online from late 2025 through early 2026, Beacon Pointe said. The sample combined a “nationally fielded paid panel with an organically recruited cohort, drawing women across regions, income levels, and life stages,” according to the firm.
Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jeff.berman@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
