Business · Companies · 5 hrs ago
Women face growing financial power as wealth transfer accelerates
Women are expected to inherit $52 trillion by 2048 as part of a wider $124 trillion transfer of wealth.
They are also gaining senior roles, higher pay and company stock, adding to their financial power.
Wealth executives say these changes create a major opportunity for women and the financial services industry.
They say women need to plan for windfalls and make time to manage their money, even when work and family responsibilities compete for attention.
An estimated 53% of women’s assets are unmanaged by professional advisers, compared with 45% of men’s, according to McKinsey & Company.
That gap represents a potential $10 trillion market for wealth managers, while giving women a chance to take greater control of their finances.
Executives also point to AI as a growing investment opportunity, though one speaker said decisions in the industry remain concentrated among a few people.
Their advice is to set a financial strategy and stay engaged with investments; no specific next step was announced.
Women are expected to inherit $52 trillion by 2048 as part of a projected $124 trillion wealth transfer, according to Cerulli Associates.
At a Fortune summit, wealth industry executives said women’s rising earnings and financial influence are creating new opportunities.
Anna Maria Nekoranec said more women are reaching senior roles, earning higher compensation and receiving stock.
Mitra Best said she wants to help women invest in industries and technologies shaping the future.
McKinsey & Company estimates that 53% of women’s assets are unmanaged by professional advisors, compared with 45% of men’s.
- Who
- Women gaining wealth and financial influence, and wealth industry executives discussing how to support them.
- What
- Executives said wealth transfers and rising earnings are creating financial opportunities for women.
- When
- Fortune published the article on October 16, 2026. The discussion took place at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit this year.
- Where
- At Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit; the source does not state where it was held.
- Why
- Women are expected to inherit substantial wealth and are earning more as they reach senior roles, creating a need to plan and manage their finances.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Women are projected to inherit $52 trillion as part of the Great Wealth Transfer, according to Cerulli Associates.
Fortune published its article on women’s growing financial power and the wealth transfer.
- Projected wealth transfer
- $124 trillion
- Women’s projected inheritance by 2048
- $52 trillion
- Women’s assets unmanaged by professional advisors
- 53%
- Men’s assets unmanaged by professional advisors
- 45%
- Estimated market opportunity for wealth managers
- $10 trillion
What people are saying
We have a perfect storm because it’s not just this wealth transfer
we can change the world with it
Who writes the checks funds the future
All of us need to measure ourselves on our level of engagement.