What Female Wealth Advisors Bring to the Table in High-Stakes Planning

More Women Are Becoming Wealth Advisors

The number of women in wealth management is growing. Right now, about 23% of all Certified Financial Planners® in the U.S. are women, according to the CFP Board. That’s up from 20% a few years ago, but still far from even.

This matters because more clients—especially women and families—want advice that feels personal, clear, and relevant. And that’s where female advisors tend to stand out.

Women Bring a Different Approach

Female wealth advisors often work differently than their male peers. Not better or worse—just different in ways that matter.

Many focus more on listening first. They ask more questions and take more time to understand a client’s real goals, fears, and habits. A study by McKinsey found that female advisors are more likely to talk about long-term life goals before diving into numbers.

That’s key in high-stakes planning—where the decisions involve selling a business, setting up trusts, or protecting assets for future generations.

They See the Whole Picture

In high-net-worth planning, the biggest risk isn’t missing a spreadsheet cell. It’s missing the full picture.

Jessica Jung, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with clients across the U.S., says that one of her clients came in with a seven-figure portfolio but no idea who would run his business if he got sick.

Jung helped him build a new plan, one that included a third-party sale, a gradual step-back timeline, and a private trust to keep family dynamics smooth.

This kind of planning takes more than investment skill. It takes empathy, structure, and clear communication—traits many women naturally lean into.

Privacy Isn’t a Buzzword—It’s a Need

High-net-worth clients want privacy. Not as a luxury, but as a shield.

Women advisors are often more tuned into this. They help clients avoid putting large assets in their personal names, which can open them up to lawsuits or media exposure.

One female advisor shared how a couple in their 60s owned every property under their joint names—including a beach home with high visibility. She moved those properties into an LLC and added a revocable trust, reducing risk and future tax burdens.

“Most people don’t realise that privacy is protection,” she said. “It’s not about secrecy. It’s about control.”

Women Know What It’s Like to Be the Only One

Female advisors have experience being outnumbered—especially in finance. That gives them a different kind of toughness. They know how to ask better questions because they’ve had to fight to be heard.

When advising female founders or business owners, this can be a superpower.

Many women who own companies feel talked over in boardrooms. When they work with a woman who’s been in the same spot, the dynamic changes.

“It’s the first time someone didn’t make me feel stupid for asking about estate tax,” said one founder after switching to a female-led firm. “It was just a better fit.”

They Help Clients Think Long-Term

Short-term wins are easy to chase. A female advisor is more likely to ask: “What happens when you’re gone?”

That sounds heavy. But it’s smart.

Women in wealth planning often push clients to set up family trusts, name power of attorney, and make backup plans for kids, employees, and charities.

It’s not just about money—it’s about legacy.

One female CFP worked with a client who had a successful ecommerce brand and two adult children. The client assumed her son would take over, but he had other plans.

The advisor helped the client build a transition plan that included a business sale, a charitable trust, and a family investment account that all three could manage.

The client got peace of mind. The kids got choice. No arguments needed.

The Data Backs It Up

A 2022 study by Fidelity found that 90% of women want to work with an advisor who listens, and 65% say they’d prefer one who’s also a woman.

And according to a 2023 Cerulli report, women advisors have higher retention rates and are more likely to get referrals from their clients.

In high-stakes planning—where one bad call can cost millions—trust matters. And trust is built on listening, clarity, and connection.

What You Can Do

You don’t need to switch advisors overnight. But you should ask yourself a few key questions:

Do I feel heard when I talk to my advisor?
Have we talked about my life goals—not just my portfolio?
Do I know who will handle things if I step back, get sick, or pass away?
Are my assets structured to protect my privacy?

If you answer “no” to any of these, it might be time for a second opinion.

You can also:

Ask your advisor how they handle family transitions and business exits.
Request help setting up a trust or LLC if you own property or a company.
Make sure you’ve named beneficiaries, a power of attorney, and a successor trustee.