The Influence of Women as Providers and Consumers of Wealth Management Advice Is Growing

Meet the Challenge or Miss the Opportunity.

Recent data indicates only about 20% of the wealth management industry’s producing advisors are women. However, it’s important to note that the future is tilting female: Women represent 26.5% of producing advisors with less than five years of industry tenure and, overall, have a median age of 42, versus 47 for men.¹

It is perhaps fortuitous that emerging financial advisors are skewing female just as the Great Wealth Transfer is kicking into high gear. Actuarial data continues to show that women, on average, outlive men. That means women are likely to be among the primary beneficiaries of this wealth transfer—and many prefer to work with women advisors. This bodes well for the industry – if today’s firms proactively cater to the needs of, and deliver the right resources to, women financial advisors and the expanding base of female clients.

What does that look like? For wealth management firms, it begins with building and nurturing interactive communities designed around women professionals and the clients they serve.

Be the Partner Women Advisors Need

I look at my own firm and see an enterprise where 43% of our Vice Presidents are women, 28% of our executives are women, and four women sit on our 11-member Executive Council – including our CEO Amy Webber.²

Having women in leadership positions is a step in the right direction, but it does not guarantee an environment where women advisors can flourish. Many firms, like Cambridge, support women advisors via dedicated, women-centric initiatives designed to build community, support participants’ professional goals, and expand their networks. From educational conferences and forums to coaching and mentoring programs; I’ve seen the impact.

Our Cambridge Community of Women program launched in 2011 and it has produced results. Cambridge has seen a 57% increase in the number of female advisors producing $1 million or more over the last 5 years, and the number jumps to 72% over the last 10 years.3 This isn’t accidental. It’s a result of intentional strategic planning, authentic motivation, and tailored service and support.

Intentional. Authentic. Tailored.

Translating these industry buzzwords from ideals into functional frameworks is where the magic happens for everyone along the service chain. After all, the same elements that drive engagement between firm and advisor will cascade down to the relationship between advisor and client.

How can firms and advisors deliver support that taps into these important values without it feeling forced or inauthentic?

It starts at the top, with firm leadership that recognizes the nuances associated with supporting women advisors and are willing to invest in programs and resources that deliver. Often, this comes down to a firm’s values, culture, and commitment to inclusion.

Establishing SMART goals – ones that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound – is imperative. Having metrics to illustrate the impact of women-centric initiatives is key to celebrating successes and pivoting to mitigate shortcomings.

Show up. Firms should be proactively present at industry events as speakers or attendees to get the message out and learn from colleagues and competitors. At the practice level, advisors need to remain in front of clients, creating events that align with their interests.

Don’t exclude men from the conversation or the movement. Many men are staunch advocates for women, wanting to support the women in their office, their business partners or their daughters, not to mention their female clients who will control the majority of investable assets in the near future.

Engaging the Women Who Rely on the Wealth Management Industry

How can we cultivate the next generation of women advisors? We must foster mentor/mentee relationships. Be constantly mindful of the succession planning needs of older affiliated advisors and connect them with potential successors. Look outside the industry for career-changers – and be sure to communicate all the benefits of working in wealth management for women.

Ultimately, wealth management is a relationship business where clients are always front of mind. As more women seek professional financial advice, building and sustaining strong relationships becomes essential to growing a practice, and it’s a strength many women naturally bring to the role. Whether that means creating a welcoming meeting space with couches instead of traditional across-the-desk seating, or noting meaningful milestones like birthdays and anniversaries (or, for a new widow, acknowledging a difficult first Valentine’s Day), these small gestures can make a lasting difference and help foster the long-term relationships advisors strive to build with female clients.

However, never forget that female clients remain fact based, data driven, and results oriented. They work with you to protect and grow their account balance and optimize their wealth. Be engaging and empathetic, but not at the expense of expertise.

¹FINTRX. (2026). A Data-Driven Look at Representation, Leadership, and the Next Generation of Wealth Management. FINTRX.

²As of 3/13/2026

³As of 12/21/2025