Women Stand to Inherit $52 Trillion in the Great Wealth Transfer
Women are set to inherit $52 trillion by 2048 as part of the $124 trillion Great Wealth Transfer, according to Cerulli Associates. This massive generational shift in capital coincides with a broader rise in female executive compensation, stock windfalls, and corporate leadership roles.
Financial services executives gathered at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit to discuss how this financial momentum is reshaping markets. Anna Maria Nekoranec, CEO and cofounder of Align Private Capital, stated during the event that women are building significant fortunes by succeeding in business and taking over corporate boardrooms. Nekoranec pointed to a confluence of factors driving the trend.
We have a perfect storm because it’s not just this wealth transfer,
Nekoranec told leadership editor Claire Zillman during the discussion. What we’re seeing is this acceleration of super talented women reaching higher levels of organizations, getting higher comp, and getting stock…These windfalls need to be planned for.
Artificial Intelligence Accelerates Female Net Worths
The rapid expansion of the artificial intelligence sector is also turbocharging female net worths, according to Mitra Best, founder and CEO of fintech firm Avvra. Best, an investor and AI scientist, noted that industry wealth has historically remained imbalanced due to decisions being made by a select few at the top. She entered the financial services industry to help women invest in emerging technology trends.
JUST IN: Women are set to inherit the majority of the $124T great wealth transfer, but many are unprepared. (USA Today)
Who writes the checks funds the future,
Best said at the summit, explaining her mission to help female investors track which companies receive funding, which technologies draw capital, and which problems are being solved.
Despite these gains, wealth management leaders emphasize that many female assets remain unmanaged. McKinsey & Company estimates that 53% of women’s assets are currently unmanaged by professional advisors, compared to 45% for men, creating a $10 trillion market opportunity for the financial sector.
Advisors Urge Active Wealth Management
Karla D’Alleva Valas, the head of private wealth management at the financial services giant, urged women to prioritize their financial futures by carving out dedicated time to actively manage their money. She noted that women frequently juggle full-time employment alongside the majority of household and family responsibilities, making time management a critical hurdle in building long-term wealth.
All of us need to measure ourselves on our level of engagement,
D’Alleva Valas said during the summit discussion. Meeting with your financial advisor—if you have one—one time a year, that’s your choice.
Financial executives stress that establishing a deliberate investment strategy allows women to optimize their career earnings and turn paychecks into lasting fortunes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Great Wealth Transfer
How much wealth will women inherit by 2048?
Women are projected to inherit $52 trillion as part of the broader $124 trillion Great Wealth Transfer, according to data from Cerulli Associates.
What percentage of women’s assets are currently unmanaged?
McKinsey & Company estimates that 53% of women’s assets are unmanaged by professional advisors, compared to 45% of men’s assets.
What role does artificial intelligence play in the shift?
According to Avvra founder and CEO Mitra Best, the growth of the AI sector is creating new fortunes and driving female participation in venture funding and technology investments.