Four in 10 women would not feel confident managing household finances following the death of a partner, LV= research finds

New research* from investment, protection and retirement specialist LV= suggests financial advisers have an important opportunity to help improve financial preparedness among couples. The research found that 41% of women did not agree they would feel confident managing household finances if their partner died, compared with 66% of men who agreed they would.

As more women are inheriting and managing wealth**, LV’s findings highlight an important opportunity for advisers to engage women earlier and help improve long-term financial preparedness. This presents an opportunity for advisers to encourage more open discussions about money and ensure both partners are actively involved in financial decision-making. Helping women feel informed and engaged today could be critical to maintaining trusted adviser relationships tomorrow.

The findings, unveiled in LV's latest Wealth and Wellbeing Research Programme*, also found that women aged 35 to 54 are more likely to report feeling stressed, worried about money and exhausted. Many women in this age group are also balancing financial ambitions with caring responsibilities for children, parents, partners or other relatives.

Women are playing a significant role in the UK's financial landscape. Government research*** shows that nearly half (46%) of UK entrepreneurs are now women, up from around one-third in 2018/19, while women's economic inclusion has accounted for 40% of UK economic growth since 2000. Combined with the significant transfer of wealth** expected over the coming decades, these trends mean women will increasingly shape decisions about how wealth is accumulated, managed and passed on. As wealth is transferred between generations, often through inheritance, women are expected to become increasingly influential in financial decision-making and long-term planning. For advisers, this makes building trusted relationships with women more important than ever.

Through its Invest in Women campaign, LV= is working with advisers to encourage earlier and more meaningful engagement with women as individual clients. By combining consumer insight, practical conversation tools and dedicated support, the campaign aims to help advisers better understand the experiences and priorities shaping women's financial journeys, build financial confidence, improve preparedness for key life events and support better long-term financial decision-making.