Empowering Women Investors: UBS’s Women’s Investment Circle in Monaco
A conversation with Emma Wheeler, Executive Director and Head of the Women’s Wealth Program at UBS Global Wealth Management
The global wealth landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. Women are increasingly taking ownership and control of wealth at a faster rate than men—a trend expected to accelerate in the coming years. According to industry forecasts, women are projected to control 47% of total private wealth by 2030, reshaping not only financial markets but also how wealth management services must evolve.
Yet despite this growing influence, a disconnect remains. Global research consistently shows that many women feel dissatisfied with the financial advice they receive. Too often, they report that wealth managers misunderstand their goals, priorities, and values.
“By publishing in-depth studies through UBS Chief Investment Offices on women as investors, the industry has begun to better understand how women approach wealth, risk, and long-term planning. These insights are now being integrated directly into client conversations, enabling advisers to provide more relevant, personalized, and trusted guidance,” says Emma Wheeler.
Encouragingly, women’s participation in investing has increased significantly. Investing has become a central topic, with more women seeking to take ownership of their financial futures. However, a noticeable gap still exists between intention and action. While many women express a desire to invest, they do not yet do so at the same rate as men. If this gap persists while women continue to accumulate wealth, it could lead to a significant economic imbalance in the years ahead.
This makes it essential not only for women to engage more actively in investing but also for the financial industry to recognize the scale of change underway—and the opportunity it presents.
According to Emma Wheeler, education is one of the most powerful levers for closing the gap between intention and action when it comes to investing.
To address this, UBS created the Women’s Investment Circle, a dedicated financial education program designed specifically for women. Drawing on insights from the UBS Chief Investment Office and subject matter experts, the program equips women with the knowledge and confidence to either invest actively or play a central role in financial decision-making within their families or partnerships.
Launched recently in Monaco, the Women’s Investment Circle is “a structured financial education program created for women, by women,” says Emma Wheeler. “It is designed to help women either actively invest or, at least, feel confident participating in financial decision-making within their families.”
“The program consists of seven sessions covering everything from understanding women as investors to the importance of investing early,” Emma Wheeler explains. “The next session covers financial markets and asset classes. Then we explore longer-term trends and sustainable investing.”
“After that, we address two topics that might not typically be included in a financial education program but have proven to be of particular interest. One focuses on financial EQ, the emotional and human dimensions of wealth, because women often play a pivotal role in ensuring that decisions start on the right path and lead to sustained, positive outcomes.”
“The other unique session focuses on financial parenting. It emphasizes the importance of instilling good money values and encouraging healthy financial habits in children. We know children begin forming their own money habits around age seven. In today’s cashless society, where children are surrounded by abundance, it’s crucial they understand the value of money. That’s the purpose of our financial parenting workshop,” Emma Wheeler continues.
“We also have a session on shaping your legacy and finding purpose with your wealth. In this session, our Next Generation Solutions and Philanthropy teams discuss creating a meaningful legacy, wealth transfer, and succession planning to prepare future generations for managing and preserving wealth responsibly.”
“The final session focuses on putting everything learned into action, including asset and tactical allocation strategies. By the end of the program, we believe women will be fully equipped to actively invest,” Emma Wheeler concludes.
The program has already been launched successfully in countries including the UK, Australia, and the United States, and most recently in Monaco. Nearly 45% of UBS clients in some regions are now women, reinforcing the importance of scaling such programs globally, with further expansions planned across Europe and Latin America.
How Women Invest Differently
Research highlights several consistent themes in how women approach investing. First, women tend to seek holistic and trusted advice, placing a strong emphasis on building long-term relationships with financial partners. Trust, clarity, and collaboration matter deeply.
Second, women are more likely to invest with clear life goals in mind. Whether planning for education, career transitions, home ownership, or lifestyle ambitions later in life, investment decisions are often mapped carefully across different life stages.
Third, values play a central role. Women frequently align their investments with their beliefs, and when they can see a positive social or environmental outcome from their investments, their willingness to engage—and even take on risk—increases.
Importantly, this is not about risk aversion, but rather risk perception. A lack of experience can heighten perceived risk. As confidence and familiarity grow, so does comfort with investment decision-making.