It has become increasingly clear in recent years that most women think about money and finance differently than most men. One of the corollaries of this fact is that financial stress affects women differently than men. This truth came into the spotlight during the pandemic, and, according to a recent nationwide survey by LIMRA, the Life Insurance Research and Marketing Association, it’s more true now than ever.
According to a 2025 survey by Fidelity, women caregivers, in particular, felt burdened by money concerns, with 41% describing their relationship with money as “stressful.” Top concerns included unexpected expenses, inflation and its effect on day-to-day expenses and savings, and economic uncertainty. Women are also three times more likely than men to leave the workforce to care for loved ones, and this loss of income (and potentially, Social Security contributions) only increases the potential financial strains they face, both now and in the future.
A survey by financial website Bankrate.com sheds additional light on financial worries for women. According to the study, 46% of women—compared with 38% of men—say that money issues have prompted various emotional and physical health issues, including anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and stress. Women are also concerned about handling emergency expenses and having enough for everyday costs of living (about 60%, vs. 53% for men). This tracks with the ongoing gender pay gap; according to latest US Census data, women’s median salary nationally is $43,394, compared with $53,544 for men. Men are also statistically more likely than women to say they have stock market–related investments (50% for men, vs. 37% for women).
Much of the difference can likely be traced to the much higher incidence of women as caregivers, as mentioned above: a responsibility that has historically mitigated against women’s ability to earn and save as much as their male counterparts. In another Bankrate survey, women in marriages or other domestic partnerships who had children in the home were more likely to say they were experiencing financial stress (51%) than women in the same relationship category who had no children at home (42%). And naturally, single moms indicate financial stress at higher rates (57%) when compared to single women with no children (49%).
What’s to be done? For many women, two big barriers to progress toward greater financial wellbeing are shame (an internal concern for what others think) and fear (an emotional response to perceived danger). Women feel shame because they believe they should know and understand more about finance and investing, and that uncertainty can prevent them from seeking the assistance and advice they need. Fortunately, there are free or low-cost online resources like Women’s Institute for Financial Education (WIFE.org), ElleVest.com, HerMoney.com, and others that specialize in helping women learn what they need to know to take charge of their financial futures. As for conquering fear, few things are more effective than “putting it on paper”: writing down your monthly bills and other obligations, your monthly income, and your budgetary goals. By getting the worries “out of your head” and into a tangible form that you can review, you can often start to eliminate those shadowy doubts and fears that keep you in financial paralysis. Making those first steps—even if they’re small—can be truly liberating.
I’m Kimberly Foss, a fiduciary financial and wealth manager who works to help women in transition and other individuals build smart financial strategies for a more secure future. To learn more about my commitment to the financial wellbeing of my clients, click here to view my website.
