Blueprint for Success: Women Investors Strike a Disciplined Balance Between Patience and Risk

Charles Schwab survey shows six in ten women investors are comfortable taking risk in their investments, and most point to patience and discipline as their top investing strengths.

Additional Key Highlights:

• Women investors largely prefer to use a combination of their own research and guidance from a financial professional (42%). Nine in ten think they are on track to reach their investing goals.
• Women investors are sharing their knowledge. One in five say they frequently discuss financial information with others (19%), and almost half (46%) say they discuss finances on an occasional basis.
• About half (51%) of women investors surveyed said they got started before the age of 30.

WESTLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Women investors are taking a risk-savvy, patient approach to investing, and 90% feel they are on the right track to reach their financial goals, according to a new Charles Schwab survey of 1,200 American women investors who are primary or joint financial decisionmakers in their households.

The study revealed that women investors are comfortable taking risk in their investments (61%) and play the long game when it comes to realizing potential returns. Most are focused on reaching long-term financial goals (80%) and to get there, 50% point to patience as their biggest investing strength, followed by discipline (45%).

Women investors say their greatest investing strengths are…
Patience – willing to wait for investments to grow	50%
Discipline - stick to a plan and avoid emotional or impulsive decisions	45%
Consistency – invest regularly to build portfolio over time	33%
Planning – carefully plan investments to align with goals	32%
Open-mindedness – willing to explore new investing products or strategies	29%
Collaboration/Mentorship – seek advice to guide investment decisions	24%
Knowledge – strong understanding of investment products and strategies	21%

According to Schwab’s survey, the three biggest investing lessons women investors say they have learned are staying invested through market volatility (58%), acknowledging their risk tolerance (57%), and diversifying their investments (54%).

“As barriers to entry have come down and access to financial information and resources has increased, retail investor participation and engagement has skyrocketed – and women are a huge part of that trend,” said Jeannie Bidner, Head of Schwab’s Branch Network, overseeing the firm’s nearly 400 branch locations across 48 states. “Women are laser focused on reaching their long-term investing goals – and they are digging into the process with enthusiasm. Today, more than ever before, women can invest how they want, and we are incredibly proud at Schwab to offer a vast range of low-cost products, advice, digital and human support, education and more to help investors meet their goals.”

Empowered and engaged

Overwhelming majorities of women investors say that managing their investments gives them a feeling of empowerment (91%) and that they enjoy investing (83%). Nearly two-thirds (62%) think of themselves as investors and one quarter (26%) think of themselves as traders. Additionally, 89% of women investors are very or somewhat confident about their investing strategies.

Women are highly engaged in the investing process, largely preferring a combination of doing their own research and guidance from financial professionals (42%). More than half say they turn to professionals for financial information (61%), while 41% go to the internet to find resources, 39% turn to their family, 35% rely on investment or brokerage firm online resources, and 28% take to social media. Three-quarters of women feel it is important to be able to seek financial information, research or advice anonymously (76%).

About one in five women investors (19%) frequently discuss financial information with others and almost half (46%) say they discuss finances on an occasional basis. The people they discuss financial information or advice with most often are family (79%) and friends (56%) and the top reasons for these conversations are:

• to learn new financial information or advice (56%),
• to support others during financial challenges (41%),
• to feel more confident in their financial decisions (37%), and
• to help others manage their finances overall (37%).

“Women are confident and comfortable in the drivers’ seat when it comes to their investments and broader finances, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are going it alone,” said Bidner. “They also value guidance from financial professionals and tap their own community to collaborate with others, including family and friends. For the women we surveyed, do it yourself doesn’t mean do it in isolation.”

Getting off to an early start

About half (51%) of women investors surveyed said they got started before the age of 30, while 29% started in their 30s and 13% started in their 40s. The top reasons they first started investing: to grow their money and save for retirement. Notably, one quarter say they started investing simply to learn how. Two in five worked with a financial professional when they started investing, and the same number received advice, encouragement or support from family or friends, while a third turned to online resources or tools.

Top reasons women start investing
To grow their money	70%
To save for retirement	59%
To become financially independent	40%
To reach financial goals like owning a home or paying for a child’s college education	37%
To learn how	25%
For fun	8%
To participate in the markets	8%

Today, women investors are invested across a variety of investment products, with individual stocks being the most popular investment type.

Top investment products currently or previously owned by women investors
Stocks	84%
Mutual funds	58%
Bonds	53%
Real estate investments	50%
Cryptocurrencies	32%
ETFs	29%
Options or futures	20%
Alternative investments	18%

Overcoming challenges

Though women investors feel empowered and enthusiastic about investing overall, 85% say they wish they had started investing sooner, and 65% say they delayed saving and building wealth because they didn’t have enough extra earnings to set aside. Thinking back to when they first got started investing, the top two hurdles cited by women investors are lack of financial knowledge/education (54%) and limited funds (53%). According to the survey, women investors say ongoing challenges like lower pay (31%), career pauses to care for children or others (20%), and fewer job opportunities (14%) have impacted their ability to invest.

While women face unique challenges with their finances, most feel like they are on the right track to meet their financial goals (90%). In fact, when asked about the why they feel they’re likely to reach their goals, Schwab’s survey shows women investors believe investing has become more accessible (38%), there are more investment options (33%) and financial education is more broadly available (32%).

“Our study revealed some really encouraging trends for women investors, including a high level of optimism, a pragmatic approach towards risk and the ability to stay patient,” said Bidner. “Combine those factors with a commitment to core investing principals – which comes through in the data – and we see an incredibly bright future for women investors.”

To learn more about how Schwab serves women investors, from those just starting out to those with decades of experience, visit Schwab.com/women-in-investing.

About the Schwab Women Investors Survey

The online survey was conducted by Logica Research from January 7, 2025, to January 23, 2025, among a national sample of 1,200 women investors in the United States, aged 21 to 75, with at least $5,000 in investable assets and who are primary or joint financial decisionmakers in their households. Detailed results can be found here.

Disclosures

​The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to changes without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic, and geopolitical conditions.

Data herein is obtained from what are considered reliable sources; however, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

About Charles Schwab

At Charles Schwab we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging the status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors and the advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients’ goals with passion and integrity.

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) is a leading provider of financial services, with 36.9 million active brokerage accounts, 5.5 million workplace plan participant accounts, 2.0 million banking accounts, and $10.28 trillion in client assets as of February 28, 2025. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company provides a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC, https://www.sipc.org), and its affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation plan services; referrals to independent, fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors through Schwab Advisor Services. Its primary banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank, SSB (member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides banking and lending services and products. More information is available at https://www.aboutschwab.com.

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Hibah Shariff

Charles Schwab

415-667-0507

hibah.shariff@schwab.com

Source: The Charles Schwab Corporation