Just a third (33 per cent) of women feel confident about making investment decisions, compared to 54 per cent of men, according to a study by Handelsbanken Wealth and Asset Management.

Its 2025 Wealth Survey found that the investment confidence gap between men and women was "persistent" and "significant", with 41 per cent of women feeling assured about pensions, compared to 57 per cent of men.

Men were also found to dominate long-term financial planning, with 43 per cent managing pensions compared to 32 per cent of women, and 38 per cent steering investments compared to 19 per cent of women.

Furthermore, men (38 per cent) were more likely to feel confident in sharing financial advice with friends and family than women (29 per cent).

“This is deeply concerning,” said Handelsbanken Wealth and Asset Management client director, Lucy Allington.

“In an era where self-reliance is key to financial security, we must empower women to take charge of their long-term futures.”

Despite this, younger women were showing progress on investment confidence, with 40 per cent of 18-34 year old women feeling confident about making investment decisions, compared to 29 per cent of those aged 55 and older.

The gender wealth gap was also narrowing, with the disparity 3.4 times smaller for women aged 35-54 than those aged 55 and older.

“Education is starting to level the playing field,” Allington stated. “But we can’t stop here.

“When I meet couples, regardless of age, I consistently see men taking more financial risks, while women hesitate. This isn’t about ability but rather confidence. The fear of risk can lead to inaction, preventing women from growing their wealth effectively.

"Being mindful about taking on risks is certainly something we should praise and support, but we don’t want to see ‘analysis paralysis’ among women. We need to make sure their investments hold the right level of risk to target their long-term financial goals."

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