Women generally earn considerably less than their similarly qualified male counterparts, and studies have shown that men are generally more informed about financial planning than women. But despite certain shortcomings and disadvantages, Female are managing to hold their own when it comes to investing. Here are the six possible reasons :
1. Women save more in the first place :
Despite the fact that men tend to significantly out-earn women for the most part, females tend to save at higher rates. Fidelity reports that women set aside an average of 9% of their paychecks each year for workplace retirement savings, compared to 8.6% for men. And when it comes to nonworkplace accounts, like IRAs, women tend to save more as well.
2. Female are more less risk takers.
They play it safer than men. They are less likely to break red lights taking high risk, and they are more likely to fasten their seat belt and get their blood pressure under control.
Surveys tell that female are willing to avoid large losses and are less inclined to act on incomplete information. This risk aversion may be due to emotional differences. Men tend to display aggression in the face of negative events, while mostly female are more likely to feel fearful. This fear factor contributes to feelings of uncertainty, and it may lead women investors to be highly reserved.
3. Women are less informed about their finances.
Men are often self-directed learners and like to do their own research. Females, on the other hand, like a more social learning experience, but they don’t always get a social element when it comes to personal finance issues.
Talking about money is still considered forbidden. One survey found that 65% of them were less likely to talk about finances with friends and family than other sensitive topics such as health or work issues. Additionally, the Investment and financial services in our industry is still run mostly by men, which can make investing feel less inclusive.
Finally, both overconfidence and under confidence can hurt female investors. But one thing is to be noted that total risk avoidance can also result in missed opportunities.
4. Women are less likely to own stocks
Female keep a full 70+% of their assets in cash, whereas men hold maximum 60% in cash, according to a survey by BlackRock.
Female already face unique obstacles in wealth accumulation such as the gender wage gap, less financial education, and more lengthy and frequent career breaks to care for children or aging parents. A hesitancy to invest can make the situation worse.
A lack of an appropriate investment strategy can be devastating.
5. Women portfolio managers are mostly underrepresented
Men gained 85% to 90% of net new portfolio management roles from 1990 through the end of September 2017, according to a Morningstar website study. Today, the ratio of men to women mutual fund portfolio managers sits at almost ten to one.
Female participation may benefit any work setting, and the asset management industry is no exception. Investment firms are increasingly starting programs to promote gender diversity and tackle unconscious biases.
6. Why should Female invest more
They tend to perform better. Several studies have statistically shown that female investors often outperform their male peers in respective investments.
The average male investor tends to be more confident and trade more often, whereas Female investors are more likely to buy and hold. So that even when women make dubious selling decisions, they do it less frequently, minimizing the negative effects. Females mostly stay focused on their long-term goals like retirement funds, funding higher education, etc. rather than a benchmark, and stick to a plan.
Nearly 90% of women will be solely in charge of their own finances at some point in life—and that number will only go up as women get financial education early, delay marriage, and often outlive their spouses. It is vital for men and women alike to be fully aware and in control of their investments.
