{"id":8460,"date":"2026-03-03T16:01:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/?p=8460"},"modified":"2026-03-04T10:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T10:56:09","slug":"international-womens-day-closing-the-gender-wealth-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/2026\/03\/03\/international-womens-day-closing-the-gender-wealth-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"International Women\u2019s Day \u2013 closing the gender wealth gap"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Financial inequality leaves many women with fewer financial resources and less security in later years<\/td>One of the most significant drivers of the gender wealth gap is the difference in pension savings<\/td>There are opportunities at every stage to strengthen financial wellbeing and close the gender wealth gap<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Despite decades of progress, financial inequality between men and women still exists. Differences in earnings, pensions, career breaks and investing habits can build up over a lifetime, leaving many women with fewer financial resources and less security in later years. International Women\u2019s Day on 8 March is a powerful reminder not only to recognise these challenges, but also to take practical steps towards greater independence, confidence and control.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Financial empowerment isn\u2019t tied to age. Whether at the beginning of a career, balancing family commitments, planning for retirement or already enjoying later life, there are opportunities at every stage to strengthen financial wellbeing and close the wealth gap.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Protecting earning power over a lifetime<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Income is the foundation of financial independence, yet women often face barriers that affect their long-term earning potential. Career breaks, part-time work, caring responsibilities and health changes can all impact salary progression and pension contributions. Even today, pay inequality persists and time away from work can have a lasting effect on lifetime earnings. In fact, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that mothers lose an average of \u00a365,618 in pay by the time their first child turns five and are 15% less likely to be in paid employment 18 months after having a child1<\/sup>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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There are ways to stay in control and maintain earning power \u2013 including regularly reviewing career goals, keeping skills up to date and planning for potential life changes. Even small decisions such as returning to work part-time rather than stepping away entirely, or continuing pension contributions during career breaks, can make a meaningful difference over time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Building retirement security early and consistently<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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One of the most significant drivers of the gender wealth gap is the difference in pension savings. Women tend to contribute less over their lifetimes, often due to lower earnings or time away from the workplace. Figures2<\/sup> show that the pension contribution gap increases the closer you get to retirement \u2013 for women aged 40 to 44, it\u2019s 25% and by the time you reach 55 to 59, it\u2019s risen to 38%. As a result, many face a greater risk of financial pressure in retirement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The key message is simple: it\u2019s never too early, or too late, to take action. Checking for gaps in National Insurance contributions, reviewing workplace and private pensions, and understanding how much income will be needed later in life are all valuable steps. Even modest increases in contributions can grow significantly over the years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Retirement planning isn\u2019t just about covering basic needs. It\u2019s about maintaining independence, enjoying hobbies and travel, and having the resources to adapt to life\u2019s changes, from home improvements to healthcare needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Taking control of personal wealth<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Financial independence is about more than income and pensions. It\u2019s about having a clear picture of your overall financial position and building resources in your own name. Life can be unpredictable, and having access to savings and investments provides security if circumstances change, such as relationship breakdown, illness or bereavement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Across all life stages, women are increasingly taking ownership of their financial futures. More are seeking professional advice, managing investments and building personal safety nets. Tax-efficient savings vehicles and long-term investment strategies can help grow wealth steadily, while protection policies can offer peace of mind.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Becoming a more confident investor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Investing remains an area where many women feel less confident, often choosing traditional savings accounts instead. More than half (52%) of UK women have never held an investment product, compared to only a third (34%) of men3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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While caution is understandable, particularly when planning for later life, leaving money in low-interest accounts can mean it loses value over time due to inflation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Learning the basics of investing and developing a balanced approach to risk can help money work harder. Confidence tends to grow with knowledge; taking time to understand options can open up opportunities for long-term growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Planning for the future and for others<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Financial planning is not just about the present. Thinking ahead about inheritance, later-life care and passing on wealth can help protect loved ones and ensure personal wishes are honoured. Updating wills, discussing plans with family members and understanding potential tax implications can all make a lasting difference.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Knowledge is power<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Across every stage of life, the most powerful step women can take is to stay informed and engaged with their finances. From boosting earning potential and strengthening pensions to investing and planning ahead, each action builds towards greater independence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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International Women\u2019s Day is a moment to celebrate progress, but also to recognise the importance of continued action. By building confidence, seeking advice and taking ownership of financial decisions, women can shape stronger, more secure futures for themselves and for the generations that follow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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1<\/sup>ONS 2<\/sup>Aviva 3 <\/sup>LV<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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It is important to take professional advice before making any decision relating to your personal finances. Information within this article is based on our current understanding and can be subject to change without notice and the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. It does not provide individual tailored advice and is for guidance only. Some rules may vary in different parts of the UK.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Financial inequality leaves many women with fewer financial resources and less security in later years One of the most significant drivers of the gender wealth gap is the difference in pension savings There are opportunities at every stage to strengthen financial wellbeing and close the gender wealth gap Despite decades of progress, financial inequality between […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8461,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[32,77],"tags":[],"hd_content_source":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8460"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8460"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8483,"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8460\/revisions\/8483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8460"},{"taxonomy":"hd_content_source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.contentdeployment.co.uk\/quilter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hd_content_source?post=8460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}