A look at women’s evolving relationship with money

How do women feel about money? Do men and women engage differently with their finances, and if so, why? And what role does generation play?

U.S. Bank conducted an online survey to better understand women’s (and men’s) relationship with money. The survey asked 3,024 respondents – 1,507 men and 1,517 women of all ages who have a minimum of $25,000 in investible assets – key questions about: 

• Their hopes and fears around money

• How they manage their money

• How the pandemic impacted them financially

• How confident they are about managing their personal finances

The latest survey showed:

• Self-confidence in and enjoyment of managing finances is growing among women. While women are less confident than men about their ability to manage finances, younger women are closing this gap. 

• Methods for financial planning vary. Women are more likely than men to refer friends to a financial advisor. Younger women are more likely to use apps and social media for information about investing than older women. 

• Older generations were less adversely affected by the pandemic. Most respondents said nothing changed for them or they saved money during this time. Men invested more of their pandemic savings than women. 

“The most positive insight from this second Women & Wealth survey is the progress younger women have made in engaging with and managing their finances,” said Gunjan Kedia, vice chair of Wealth Management and Investment Services at U.S. Bank. “In our first survey, we found that women weren’t getting the most out of their money or their influence. But our latest results show that in just two years, more women – particularly younger women – are taking the reins when it comes to their money. They are saving and investing more, are making more of the financial decisions for their families and associate more positive emotions with financial planning than ever before.” 

Learn more about the survey findings.