IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
The following presentation by New England Capital Financial Advisors, LLC (“NECFA”) is intended for general information purposes only. No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from NECFA or any other investment professional of your choosing. Please see additional important disclosure at the end of this penetration. A copy of NECFA’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at www.newenglandcapital.com.
Three Numbers Every Woman Should Know
Many women are earning more, inheriting more, and overseeing more wealth than any previous generation. At the same time, women tend to live longer and, in many cases, assume financial decision-making responsibilities earlier than expected. Taken together, those realities raise important questions about how assets should be structured, reviewed, and positioned over time.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we believe that one way to frame the shift in economic reality is through three numbers that are quietly shaping the financial lives of many women: 5, 45, and 59.
5: The Extra Years Their Money May Need to Last
Women in the United States live about five years longer than men on average. In 2023, life expectancy was 75.8 years for men and 81.1 years for women.1
Research also shows that many of those additional years are spent managing chronic conditions, increasing the likelihood of higher healthcare and support costs.2
Women, and the men in their lives, need to prepare for these possibilities.
Longevity brings opportunity and responsibility for women. Stress-testing assumptions, separating assets by time horizon, and acknowledging the possibility of living into your 90s can help bring structure to these realities.
45: The Share of Investable Assets Women Are on Track to Control
Studies suggest that women may control as much as 45 percent of all investable assets in the U.S. and Europe by 2030.3
According to a 2025 study by McKinsey & Company, women controlled roughly $10 trillion in 2018, $18 trillion in 2023, and are on track to control as much as $34 trillion by 2030.3
Much of this growth is tied to the Great Wealth Transfer, with some estimates indicating that 70–80 percent of the coming $83 trillion transfer may accrue to women.4
At the same time, income dynamics continue to evolve. According to the Pew Research Center, 16 percent of opposite-sex marriages now have wives as the sole or primary breadwinner, about triple the share from 50 years ago, while 29 percent of marriages report spouses earning about the same amount.5
59: The Age Many Women Face Widowhood
Widowhood remains a difficult topic, yet the data is striking. The average age of widowhood for women in the U.S. is 59.6
Women live an average of 12–13 years as widows, and household income may decline by 37 percent to 50 percent following the death of a spouse. Nearly 700,000 women lose their husbands each year, and about 40 percent of widows report low confidence in managing finances alone.6
These figures suggest that many women will become sole financial decision-makers earlier than expected, often while still working or supporting others. Establishing relationships with trusted professionals can increase continuity and reduce stress during an already emotional transition.
Here are some actionable steps we recommend:
- Confirm that strategies reflect current and potential situations
- Review ownership and titling
- Build cash reserves to allow for future flexibility
- Review how financial assumptions may function if circumstances change
If you would like to walk through these considerations and discuss how the three numbers may apply now or in the future, we are here to help.
Sources:
USA Facts, March 21, 2025
The Guardian, December 11, 2024
McKinsey & Company, May 8, 2025
Diversified Trust, October 13, 2025
Pew Research Center, April 13, 2023
Gitnux, December 11, 2025
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
Please remember that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by New England Capital Financial Advisors, LLC [“NECFA”]), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from NECFA. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. NECFA is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the NECFA’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request or at www.newenglandcapital.com. Please Note: NECFA does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to NECFA’s web site or blog or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility for any such content. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly. Please Remember: If you are a NECFA client, please contact NECFA, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. Unless, and until, you notify us, in writing, to the contrary, we shall continue to provide services as we do currently. Please Also Remember to advise us if you have not been receiving account statements (at least quarterly) from the account custodian.