Why Are Women Still Left Out of Financial Planning Conversations in 2025?
- Marc Lowe
- Jun 18
- 4 min read
Throughout my career at some of the largest financial firms in the country, one thing was consistent:
Most of the clients I worked with were men.
Easily 80–90% of the households I advised were led by male decision-makers. Even in married couples, it was often the husband driving the financial planning conversations. The wife might be present, but rarely engaged as an equal partner in the decision-making process.
Fast forward to 2025—and I’m still asking the same question:
Why are women so often excluded from financial planning conversations?
Despite enormous gains in education, income, and wealth accumulation, women continue to face significant disadvantages when it comes to retirement preparedness and overall financial security.
A recent article from Investopedia laid out just how persistent and problematic this gap really is.
The Gender Retirement Gap: 30% Less Income
According to Investopedia, women retire with 30% less income than men on average. That’s a staggering statistic—and it’s not because women don’t care about their finances. The reasons are complex, systemic, and deeply rooted in how our society is structured:
1. Unequal Earnings and Career Interruptions
Women are more likely to take time off from work to care for children or aging parents. Even short career breaks can have long-term impacts on retirement savings, pension eligibility, and Social Security benefits.
Add in the fact that women still earn, on average, 83 cents to every dollar a man earns for full-time work, and the compounding impact becomes clear.
2. Less Participation in Employer Retirement Plans
Women are also more likely to work part-time or for employers who don’t offer retirement benefits. When benefits are available, women may prioritize short-term needs—like childcare or household expenses—over long-term savings. And when they do contribute, they typically contribute less, simply because they earn less.
3. Lower Risk Tolerance in Investing
Research has long shown that women are generally more conservative investors than men. While this often leads to lower volatility, it can also result in lower long-term growth—especially when not paired with a solid, goal-based financial plan. Some of this risk aversion stems from a lack of financial education or confidence, which creates yet another barrier to wealth accumulation.
4. Longevity and Increased Healthcare Costs
Women live longer than men—an average of about 5 years longer in the U.S. That means their money has to last longer, and their healthcare costs are often higher. But if they retire with significantly less savings, they may struggle to maintain their standard of living during those extra years.
5. Being Left Out of Financial Conversations
Perhaps most importantly—and something I’ve seen firsthand—women are often not included in the financial decision-making process. Whether it’s a lack of confidence, lack of outreach from advisors, or cultural conditioning, many women are sidelined when it comes to discussions about investing, retirement planning, and wealth building.
This lack of engagement compounds the problem. When financial advisors don’t proactively include women in the planning process, they reinforce the idea that financial planning is “his job”—which does a disservice to both partners and can lead to devastating consequences if the woman outlives her spouse or experiences a divorce.
So… Why Does This Still Happen?
That’s the big question.
In 2025, women own more businesses, lead more households, and control more personal wealth than at any point in history. And yet the system—both cultural and institutional—still skews male.
We’ve made progress, but not enough. The industry needs to evolve:
Advisors must actively include and empower women in the financial planning process.
Firms need to address gender-specific financial challenges, including career breaks, caregiving, and longevity.
More women need to be represented—as both financial professionals and clients.
My Mission: Changing the Conversation
At In The Money Retirement, we’re committed to helping women—especially those building wealth, running businesses, or preparing for retirement—take control of their financial future. We tailor our financial planning process to address the real challenges women face, not just with empathy, but with strategy.
Because closing the wealth gap isn’t just a matter of fairness—it’s about creating lasting financial security for generations to come.
If you're a woman who's been overlooked in traditional financial conversations, you're not alone—and you're not behind. You just need a plan built for you.
📩 Want to start that conversation? Reach out today and let’s change the narrative—together.
About The Author
Marc Lowe is the Founder & President of In The Money Retirement Planning. He is a Certified Financial Planner and member of NAPFA National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, XY Planning Network & Fee-Only Network. He works with retirees and those approaching retirement. He has over a decade of experience helping these folks grow their net worth, organize their finances and build better lives for themselves and their families.
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