A seismic shift is reshaping the financial landscape—and women are at its center.

In the quiet aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic transformation has been gaining momentum with little fanfare: the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in human history. At its center stand millions of women, poised to become the primary stewards of family fortunes built over generations.

The $100 Trillion Opportunity

Over the next two decades, Baby Boomers will transfer an estimated $124 trillion to younger generations. Women will receive the lion's share—approximately $100 trillion. This staggering sum flows through two primary channels: $47 trillion inherited by daughters and granddaughters, and $54 trillion passing to women as surviving spouses.*

This isn't merely a statistical footnote. It represents a fundamental redistribution of economic power.

Women are simultaneously building wealth through their own efforts. Female entrepreneurship has reached record highs, with women-owned businesses growing at double the rate of their male counterparts. In corporate America, women continue breaking through glass ceilings, with female representation in C-suites steadily climbing. By 2030, U.S. women are projected to control $34 trillion in financial assets—nearly five times the $7.3 trillion they managed in 2010.

The Preparedness Paradox

 Despite this imminent financial responsibility, a troubling disconnect exists. A Citizens Bank study revealed that only 16% of women feel "very confident" managing inherited wealth.** This confidence gap doesn't reflect capability, it reveals a planning failure.

Too often, women report being excluded from critical financial conversations before inheriting assets. This creates a jarring transition when wealth transfers, particularly when compounded by grief and new responsibilities.

For women reading this: Now is the time to claim your seat at the financial table. 

The Female Financial Lens

Research consistently reveals that women approach wealth with a distinctive perspective, one that prioritizes security, legacy, and impact over short-term performance metrics.

Studies show women are more likely than men to:

-Invest according to personal values and ethical considerations

-Consider intergenerational impacts when making financial decisions

-Seek collaborative relationships with financial advisors

-Desire educational resources before making major decisions

These tendencies create unique opportunities for advisors who understand how to engage female clients meaningfully.

The 70% Warning Sign

Here's a statistic that should alarm every financial advisor: 70% of widows switch financial advisors within one year of losing their spouse.***

The message couldn't be clearer. If you've built your client relationship primarily with one spouse while neglecting the other, you're likely to lose the relationship entirely when circumstances change.

At Stavis Wealth, we believe effective planning requires all voices at the table. We engage entire families when appropriate, facilitate open discussions about legacy goals, and ensure every client, regardless of gender, feels equipped to make financial decisions with clarity and confidence.

Your Wealth, Your Voice

The Great Wealth Transfer isn't just changing who controls the money. It's transforming how wealth management happens. Women are increasingly the decision-makers, whether managing $100,000 or $100 million.

For women anticipating an inheritance or already managing significant assets, we invite you to start a different kind of conversation. Not just about investment performance, but about what truly matters: how your wealth can serve your values, protect your family, and create the legacy you envision.

The wealth transfer has already begun. The question isn't whether women will control unprecedented financial resources—it's whether they'll be prepared to leverage that power effectively.

Are you ready?

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* https://www.cerulli.com/press-releases/cerulli-anticipates-124-trillion-in-wealth-will-transfer-through-2048?utm_source=chatgpt.com and https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/women-will-inherit-most-of-the-124t-great-wealth-transfer/488434?utm_source=chatgpt.com

** https://www.citizensbank.com/learning/great-wealth-transfer-women-shaping-financial-future.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com

*** https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/women-as-the-next-wave-of-growth-in-us-wealth-management