International Women’s Day, which takes place on 8 March 2026, is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
This year’s theme, “Give to Gain”, focuses on the importance of advancing women’s economic empowerment, supporting leadership, and ensuring access to education.
While women’s rights have progressed significantly, challenges surrounding financial equality still remain. UN Women states that the gender pay gap still stands at 20%, meaning female workers earn 80% of what men do.
The gap is even more pronounced for:
- Women of colour
- Migrant women
- Women with disabilities
- Women with children.
Over the course of your lifetime, this gap could have a significant effect on your savings, investments, and security in retirement.
Thankfully, you can address many of these challenges with the right support. Here’s how working with a financial planner could strengthen your long-term financial security.
Women are less likely to seek financial advice than men
Financial planning can considerably improve the long-term outcomes for women, but research shows that women are less likely than men to receive professional advice.
Indeed, Unbiased reports that 69% of surveyed women stated they’d never received financial advice, compared to 64% of men.
Without this advice, you may delay decisions regarding your savings, investments, or retirement. You might even avoid making them altogether.
A financial planner can help you take a long-term view rather than focusing on short-term outcomes, ultimately allowing you to make more informed choices that align with your goals.
Their support is particularly valuable in three main areas.
1. Pension savings
Women tend to retire with lower pension savings than men.
In fact, research from Legal & General found that this pension gap often begins at the very start of a woman’s career, with an initial disparity of 16%.
This is often caused by lower average earnings and time taken out of work due to caring for family or other responsibilities. While these choices are often unavoidable, they can reduce your overall contributions and limit the time available for your savings to grow.
A financial planner can help you assess how much you’ve accumulated so far and identify whether there may be gaps between your savings and the lifestyle you hope to achieve in the next chapter of your life.
If, after doing so, there is a shortfall, they can explore practical ways to address it. This might include:
- Adjusting your current contributions as and when your income increases
- Making up for missed contributions later down the line
- Reviewing how you invest your retirement savings.
Having a clear plan in place could help ensure your retirement savings can support your ideal lifestyle, even if your circumstances change.
2. Investments
Long-term investing can be an effective way to help build financial security, but many women still seem to lack confidence.
According to PA Future, 64% of surveyed women reported having little to no knowledge of investments compared to 43% of men.
Even though caution can reduce your overall exposure to risk, it can also limit your potential for long-term growth. Over time, this could make it more challenging to achieve your long-term goals.
A financial planner can help by shifting your focus from short-term market movements to your long-term objectives.
This could reduce the temptation to make knee-jerk decisions during periods of volatility, which could ultimately harm your portfolio's overall value.
A financial planner can also ensure your investments remain aligned with your goals, risk tolerance, and investment time frame.
And, understandably, these factors will likely change as you progress through life. So, a planner will conduct regular reviews with you, adjusting your approach to investing as your priorities shift.
3. Financial confidence
The amount you save or invest is undoubtedly important, but your financial confidence is just as vital in helping you achieve your goals.
It’s easier than you may think to overlook confidence. Yet a lack of belief in the decisions you make could lead to hesitation or delayed choices. You may, for example, experience a fear of investing, meaning you miss out on opportunities that might otherwise help you reach your long-term goals.
Or, if you’re already invested, a sudden period of downturn could cause you to exit the market. However, history has shown that markets tend to recover eventually, and acting on knee-jerk decisions may only crystalise your losses.
You might even rely on the knowledge of others when, in reality, what works for them might not necessarily suit your own plans.
A financial planner could address this by offering some much-needed context. Regular discussions about your financial situation could make complex topics easier to understand, and decisions feel more manageable.
Moreover, when you understand why you’re making certain decisions, you might feel more comfortable asking questions or taking a more active role in your financial future.
Then, as your confidence grows, you might find you’re much more engaged with your finances and better equipped to make decisions that support your progress towards your long-term goals.
Get in touch
We could help you review your financial situation and build a long-term financial plan that supports your goals.
To find out more, please email enquiries@alexanderpeter.com or give us a call on +44 1689 493455.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates, and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.
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