By Abby Salameh
Why Should Financial Advisors Focus on Women Inheriting Wealth for their Growth Strategy?
The Great Wealth Transfer is underway, and women are set to become the primary decision-makers for a significant share of those assets. Yet many Advisory businesses are still structured around outdated engagement models that unintentionally sideline female beneficiaries until a major life event forces change.
For Advisors focused on growth, this isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a retention risk. When women inheriting wealth don’t feel informed or included early on, they’re far more likely to seek a new Advisor during life’s most pivotal moments.
How Do Financial Advisors Miss the Mark When Serving Female Beneficiaries?
Historically, many Advisors have focused on male breadwinner households or “couple” clients, leading women who inherit money to often feel excluded, uninformed, or sidelined.
Even worse, after a spouse’s death, most women switch Advisors within a year. Why? Because they were never really part of the conversation.
This is the gap. And it’s costing Advisors billions of retained assets every year.
The Opportunity: Build a Growth Engine Around Women Inheritors
Capturing this segment isn’t just about acquisition; it’s about retention. Research shows that when Advisors engage both spouses earlier in the conversation, asset retention after a spouse’s death is far better.
Ask yourself: In my meetings with my clients, am I engaging with both spouses? Or do I predominantly engage with the man?
For a firm building persona-based playbooks, this segment provides a “growth-readiness” path: new clients, new assets, unique service trajectories.
Female Beneficiaries: Three Key Client Segments
- Newly widowed women navigating financial decisions during an emotional transition.
- Next-Gen inheritors stepping into family wealth or business assets.
- Women taking the financial lead in dual-income households following an inheritance.
Across segments, women want guidance that respects their goals and supports their growing role in the household’s financial life.
What Do Women Inheriting Wealth Look for in a Financial Advisor?
Female beneficiaries consistently prioritize:
- Clarity around what to focus on first.
- Holistic planning that includes estate, taxes, caregiving, and longevity.
- Warm, transparent communication, and space to ask questions.
- Values-driven decision-making tied to impact, family, and legacy.
- Support through transitions, not just a single meeting.
How Financial Advisors Can Build a Strategy Around Serving Female Beneficiaries as Clients:
1. Segment and Build Simple Personas
Identify women in your book who are widows, Next-Gen beneficiaries, or likely future inheritors. Use concise persona decks to guide outreach and planning.
2. Train Your Team on Inclusive Engagement
Lead with curiosity and empathy. Provide clear explanations, visual summaries, and step-by-step support. Women value Advisors who create a judgment-free space.
3. Market Directly to Women Inheriting Assets
Create content such as “Your First 90 Days After an Inheritance” or host small StrongHer Money® style events where women can learn and connect. Imagery should show women as decision-makers, not spectators.
4. Strengthen Household Engagement
Retention increases dramatically when Advisors build relationships with spouses and adult children before a transition. Use family meetings and Behavioral Finance tools to deepen trust.
5. Build Simple Operational Support
Tag inheritors in your CRM, set automated follow-ups, and create a small resource library for female clients receiving assets. Even a few structured workflows make a big difference.
Download the Guide Here: How to Serve Women With Newly Inherited Wealth
Why This Strategy Positions Financial Advisors for the Great Wealth Transfer
Serving women inheriting wealth isn’t just the right move; it’s a competitive advantage.
This is your chance to:
- Capture a $30 trillion market before it’s saturated.
- Build stickier client relationships grounded in trust.
- Explore RFG’s StrongHer Money® program to better attract, win, and serve female clients.
Your Next Step: Move Into 2026 With a Clear Advantage
StrongHer Money® gives male and female Advisors tools, education, and ready-to-use content to authentically engage female clients who are inheriting wealth. If you want to build deeper relationships and position your business for long-term growth, this is the moment to lean in.
Schedule a confidential 20-minute discovery call to learn how to bring this strategy to life.