A new survey from Beacon Pointe Advisors, one of the largest female-founded RIA firms in the U.S., finds that active financial decision-making—not wealth alone—is the primary driver of confidence among women investors. The HerWorth research initiative, which gathered responses from more than 10,000 women between late 2025 and early 2026, reveals that only 31% of women describe themselves as highly confident managing their own money. However, that figure nearly triples among those who actively lead their own financial decisions.
Women who work with a financial advisor report a roughly 60% increase in confidence compared to those who go it alone, with 38% of advised women feeling highly confident versus 24% of unadvised women. Confidence climbs further—to 42%—among women who engage multiple advisors for specialized support. The findings underscore the importance of advisor relationships in bridging the confidence gap, particularly as an enormous intergenerational wealth transfer places more assets in women's hands.
Shannon Eusey, co-founder and chairman of Beacon Pointe, said in a statement: "When women become more involved in financial decisions, they ask different questions, make more informed choices, and become more confident over time. That is where real transformation happens." The firm argues that the industry's opportunity lies not just in preparing women to inherit assets but in building the confidence for them to actively direct financial decisions once they hold them.
The white paper identifies coordination as a decisive factor in advisor relationships. Demonstrated results and a clear understanding of client goals were the top reasons women would recommend an advisor, cited by 34% and 21% of respondents, respectively. But limited coordination across a client's full financial picture was the single biggest reason for advisor relationships falling short, named by 25% of women surveyed. This suggests that advisors who fail to integrate services across a client's entire financial life may lose trust and business.
Nearly three in ten women surveyed hold substantial cash uninvested, which Beacon Pointe estimates totals more than half a billion dollars in idle cash across HerWorth participants. Among women with portfolios exceeding $500,000, 63% had more than $100,000 sitting uninvested, often for longer than a year. The study frames this as forgone growth potential, though it notes that appropriate cash levels vary by individual circumstances. This echoes findings from a recent Vanguard survey showing 46% of women hold cash in sub-3% accounts despite inflation concerns.
Many financial decisions remain unaddressed. Almost half of women surveyed (47%) said they had not yet made plans for aging parents, and 32% had not put an estate plan in place. Investment management, retirement planning, and estate planning topped the list of areas where women wanted more help, cited by 38%, 41%, and 35% of respondents, respectively. Healthcare planning, insurance, and support with aging parents trailed, each named by 18% to 19% of women.
Trust in artificial intelligence for financial decisions remains limited. Some 86% of women surveyed said they do not trust, are skeptical of, or only somewhat trust AI for financial planning. This aligns with broader industry data: a recent HSBC survey found that while 57% of affluent investors use AI for research, 59% still trust human advisors for final decisions.
The HerWorth survey combined a nationally fielded panel with an organically recruited group spanning different regions, income brackets, and life stages. As more wealth shifts into women's hands over the coming decades, the study suggests that advisors who help women build confidence through active engagement and coordinated planning may capture a growing share of that market.
