Women and investment

Wealth never stands still, nor does the world's approach to it. HSBC polled 5,616 affluent women as part of its Quality of Life Report and it's clear that many women today are managing their wealth in different ways to previous generations, often showing more engagement with a greater range of financial products and services.

Women are also building more wealth today than in the past, and in different places. In 2022, women in Asia overtook Europe to hold more wealth than anywhere else outside North America¹. By 2025, women in the UK are expected to hold fully 60% financial assets².

And their goal is clear: according to our research underlying the HSBC Quality of Life Report 2024, 46% of women say achieving financial security is their top reason to invest.

Generational differences in how women approach their finances are some of the most striking aspects of the discussion around women and wealth today.

Younger affluent women globally, especially 'Gen Z', are notably more engaged with finance. According to our research, they spend more time reviewing their financial plans, are more likely to seek professional advice, use more financial products and track their investments more closely.

One basic reality makes it invaluable that women prioritise investing and wealth management: life expectancy is increasing every year. It stands at 75.9 years for women today³, but Gen Z will live even longer, with life expectancy rising to above 80 years by 2050⁴. This has many implications, including the longer retirements that women will need to finance.

Whilst this shift can be observed globally, there are regional nuances however.

In Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and China, it appears that younger affluent women are more financially fit but in the UAE and India, for instance, the pattern is likely to be reversed with women's financial fitness perhaps growing stronger with age.

We believe knowledge is the key to enabling women to build their wealth. Knowing what information and resources are on offer is a good first step.

This continuum – knowledge, leading to better-informed decisions, and then to better financial outcomes – is the lens through which we look at our wealth offering. This enables us to help women add to their knowledge and unlock the connections they need to invest in the future they see for themselves, whenever their starting point.

We often find that we can build on the success that women are already having in building their financial knowledge.  In the UK, for example, we see that women account for 58.5% of users of our 'Saving Goals' financial education programme.

But that is only part of the story. Think back to the goal women gave us – financial security. That desire is the start of everything, because it means having the resources to fulfil your dreams, not just deal with challenges.

We recognise that different generations of women have different needs when it comes to managing their finances – and have different dreams and ambitions. Those could be securing the perfect first property, putting their children through university, or funding a retirement that lets them do more than just pay the bills.

At HSBC we can help with financial planning or investment advice that adapts to women's changing needs throughout their lives. Regular portfolio reviews are a great way to ensure that you are still on track to meet your goals.

We are excited to be alongside you on the journey, helping you manage your finances so that your wealth can help you achieve your dreams.

That journey starts with knowledge. Where it ends is up to you.