I love seeing women talk openly about money and investing. Truly. For decades, money conversations were treated like some weird social faux pas. Don’t ask. Don’t share. Don’t compare. Especially as women.
And while that silence is cracking, let’s be honest, plenty of women still feel a little… reserved when the topic comes up. Old conditioning dies hard.
But here’s what’s actually happening behind the scenes.
As of recent data, roughly 71 percent of women in the US are now investing in the stock market. That’s a massive shift. Participation has jumped about 20 percent since 2023 and is up more than 40 percent compared to 2018. Translation? Women are no longer sitting this one out.
Over the last five years, I’ve completely shifted how I think about money and investing. And with that shift came a decision. I stopped being quiet about it. I talk about money openly, candidly and without apology. With friends, family and anyone who’s curious.
One of my close girlfriends had a healthy savings account. Low six figures just sitting there, earning barely anything in interest. She shared that she dreamed of buying a home but felt stuck. Like it would take forever or might never happen because she’s 46.
Not legendary thinking. Understandable, but not legendary.
I asked her a simple question. Would you be open to investing in the stock market? Nothing wild. Nothing risky for the sake of excitement. Just a straightforward, long term approach focusing on well established companies. The kind everyone’s heard of, especially in tech.
She admitted she’d always been curious about investing but no one in her circle talked about money. So the curiosity never went anywhere.
She asked if I’d help guide her. I did. And within three months, she started seeing real growth. The kind that shifts how you see your future.
Now let me be very clear. I’m not a financial advisor or a stockbroker. This isn’t that. What I am is someone who learned how to make her money work for her. I’ve had smart friends in the investment world. A husband who’s done exceptionally well. And I research the hell out of things I care about. Money happens to be one of them.
And here’s the part no one talks about enough.
Multiple studies from institutions like Fidelity and Warwick Business School consistently show that women tend to outperform men when it comes to investing. By anywhere from about half a percent to nearly two percent annually. Why? Because women are patient. We don’t panic sell or trade out of ego. We play the long game.
My mom started investing just over a year ago. She’s 74. And yes, she’s seen her money grow. For my nephew’s 18th birthday, instead of something forgettable, I gave him money to invest in stocks. He started three years ago. That’s how generational shifts actually happen.
Zoom out for a moment.
Between 2018 and 2023, global wealth controlled by women grew by over 50 percent. That growth is outpacing the market average. By 2030, women are projected to control roughly 40 to 45 percent of all retail financial assets across the US and EU.
This isn’t a trend. It’s a transfer of power.
If you’ve been sitting on the fence about investing, take this as a nudge. Or a lovingly delivered shove. It’s never too late and definitely not too early. Your money is not meant to gather dust. Put it somewhere it can grow with you.
xx Maria, redefining midlife as your most savviest era
