Women in London are more likely to invest than elsewhere in the UK, but men remain more than twice as likely to take the lead on investment decisions in relationships, new research has found.
More than a third of women in the capital (35%) currently invest, according to St James’s Place’s latest Women and Wealth Report.
However, only 22% of women in relationships said they mainly make investment decisions, compared with 52% of men.
Claire Trott, head of advice at St. James’s Place, explained the disparity was not caused by women lacking interest in financial matters.
She said: “The gaps we can see aren’t driven by women lacking interest in money.
WIn fact, women are highly involved in managing all aspects of daily finances.
“The challenge is that too many still feel investing, financial planning and advice are not for people like them, despite the clear benefits they can bring over the long term.”
The report, based on a survey of 6,000 UK adults, found that eight in ten women in London are actively involved in managing day-to-day household finances.
However, this involvement was less likely to extend to long-term financial planning.
Only a quarter of women in London said they mainly lead on retirement planning, compared with 52% of men.
Women in the capital were also less likely than men to have a financial plan in place, a figure which stood at 38% for women compared with 52% for men.
Although London had the highest proportion of female investors among the regions analysed, a gender gap remains.
More than half of men in London (55%) currently invest, compared with 35% of women.
The findings also highlighted differences in confidence around managing future wealth.
Just over half of women in London (53%) said they would feel confident managing a significant inheritance or financial windfall on their own.
That proportion then fell to 44% when women were asked whether they would feel confident investing the money.
Trott said: “In London, women are more likely to be investing than in the other regions analysed, which is encouraging.
“But there remains a significant gap when it comes to who leads on investment decisions, retirement planning and future wealth.
“Building confidence around these decisions is vital as women’s influence over both earned and inherited wealth continues to grow.”
The report also examined the correlation between ongoing financial advice and women’s confidence.
Across the UK, 82% of women receiving ongoing financial advice said they would feel confident managing a substantial inheritance or windfall, compared with 52% of women who did not receive advice.
Women receiving advice were also more confident making changes to their investments, at 74% compared with 41%, and adjusting pension contributions, at 68% compared with 43%.
The research found that women receiving ongoing advice were almost four times as likely to invest as those without advice, at 77% compared with 22%.
They were also more than twice as likely to have a financial plan in place, at 65% compared with 30%.
Trott added: “The research highlights the difference that support can make.
“Women who receive ongoing financial advice are significantly more likely to invest, plan for the future and feel confident making important financial decisions.
“Taking small, practical steps now can make longer-term decisions feel more manageable.”
The research was conducted by Opinium, which surveyed 6,000 UK adults between 17 March and 9 April 2026.
Quotas and post-weighting were applied to make the sample representative of the UK adult population.
The figures concerning financial advice are based on the national sample, while the other figures relate specifically to respondents in London.
To see the full report, visit the St James’s Place website.
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