UBS: Wealth for Women in Asia surges, but investment barriers remain
UBS Global Wealth Management is taking a proactive approach to addressing the financial barriers that women face in wealth accumulation and investment.
According to Marianna Mamou, head of advice beyond investing at the bank’s Chief Investment Office, financial institutions play a crucial role in raising awareness and providing holistic advice to women investors.
“At UBS, we have developed a purpose-based advisory framework to help investors align their investments with their personal goals,” Mamou told AsianInvestor Wealth in an interview. “Our aim is to help investors achieve their financial objectives by providing relevant, holistic advice based on their individual circumstances and aspirations.”
Mamou emphasised that strengthening financial confidence and education is key to bridging the investment gap. Gender gaps in pay, pensions and funding for female entrepreneurs remain significant obstacles, and many women experience a lack of confidence in financial decision-making, leading to missed investment opportunities.
“Holistic advice, along with efforts to strengthen financial confidence and education, will help bridge the investment gap,” she said. “Financial institutions also play a role in raising awareness of issues related to women’s wealth, such as funding gaps and retirement gaps.”
Women’s wealth in Asia on the rise
Women in Asia are accumulating wealth at an unprecedented pace, making the region home to the second-highest concentration of women’s wealth globally, according to a recent Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report. While this financial empowerment is a significant milestone, barriers such as gender pay gaps, pension disparities and a lack of financial confidence continue to hinder women from fully realising their wealth potential.
Mamou noted that the rapid economic development in Asia, coupled with an increasing number of women entering high-income roles, is driving this trend. Additionally, generational wealth transfers, whether through inheritance or widowhood, are further elevating women’s financial influence in the region.
“While women’s wealth in Asia has grown substantially over the past decade, ongoing efforts are needed to address existing disparities and ensure equitable financial opportunities for all,” Mamou explained.
Confidence gap in financial decision-making
Despite these positive developments, challenges remain. Financial education is emerging as a crucial factor in helping women take control of their wealth. Initiatives aimed at enhancing financial literacy and confidence can empower women to make informed investment decisions, ensuring that they build sustainable wealth for the long term.
Mamou’s advice to women looking to build wealth is simple: start early, take control of financial planning, and make investment decisions based on personal goals and values.
As women in Asia continue to amass wealth at an accelerated rate, financial institutions and policymakers must work together to eliminate barriers and create an ecosystem that supports women’s financial growth. By addressing disparities and fostering confidence in investing, the full potential of women’s wealth can be realised, benefiting not only individuals but also the broader economy.