HSBC Private Bank released a new report on International Women’s Day on 8 March entitled “Women and Wealth: A Global Opportunity,” showing that women create, inherit and control a greater proportion of wealth than ever before, yet many financial institutions are not adapting their approach to meet women’s financial needs.

HSBC Private Bank's latest report â€“ Women and Wealth: A Global Opportunity – finds that wealthy women have historically been underserved compared with men, as many financial institutions have yet to embrace a bespoke approach to engage female clients. This is partly as many do not understand some of the gender differences between male and female investors.

According to a report by McKinsey The new face of wealth: The rise of the female investor, May 2025, affluent women are less likely than men to work with financial advisors. More than half of assets held by women are unmanaged, compared with 45 per cent for men. This means that closing this gap amounts to a $10 trillion sector opportunity for those who can tailor their offer to meet women’s needs, the bank said.

HSBC’s report also shows that women are more likely to believe that the purpose of their wealth is to plan for retirement or to fund their children’s education. More women also want to make a positive impact on society, and they are nine percentage points more likely to support philanthropy, HSBC Private Bank Global Entrepreneurial Wealth Report shows.

The bank's eport was released on 8 March – International Women’s Day – designed to commemorate women’s fight for equality and liberation with this year’s theme being “Give to Gain.” The programme of events is an opportunity for the world’s wealth sector to reflect on how far women have travelled in achieving parity with men in financial services, investment and business, and what further progress needs to be made. 

According to McKinsey, about 40 per cent of investable global wealth will be controlled by women by 2030, amounting to $113 trillion in assets. This is not just positive for women, but also an opportunity for the wealth industry, the bank said. But many financial institutions are not adapting their approach to women’s financial needs, leaving a gap in the market.

“The greatest wealth transfer is under way and women are not just participants – they are decision-makers, founders, investors and stewards of capital. With women building, inheriting, and directing capital at an unprecedented scale, the future of private banking will depend on how well we act as partners,” Ida Liu, chief executive of HSBC Private Bank, said.

Need to expand access

The report highlights that many women investors remain underrepresented in private markets and direct investment opportunities. As such, private banks have an opportunity to expand access and engagement in areas such as private equity, venture capital and co-investments.

Many women also report lower confidence in investment decision-making, reflecting an industry that has historically been designed around male clients. There is an opportunity for private banks to provide clearer advice, education and engagement tailored to women investors, the bank said.

Female entrepreneurs continue to face barriers in building and scaling businesses, including access to capital and networks. HSBC Private Bank research shows that they are 6 per cent less likely to have a mentor to provide business advice and guidance. Research by HSBC also found that for every ÂŁ100 ($134) of equity funding, 2 per cent went to UK female-founded firms.

However, the bank highlighted that the industry is starting to adapt. “As we see more women join the ranks of the ultra-wealthy, we are not only seeing a greater understanding of the make-up of their portfolios and the companies within them, but also increasing demand for a full suite of world-class investment solutions to meet their specific needs,” Lavanya Chari, head of wealth and premier solutions at HSBC, said. See more about International Women’s Day here.