Majority of Women Investors Feel Financially Confident but Regret Delayed Start, Survey Finds

A recent survey conducted by Charles Schwab reveals that while 90% of women investors believe they are on track to meet their financial goals, a significant majority — 85% — regret not starting their investment journey sooner.

The findings, based on responses from 1,200 U.S. women aged 21 to 75, indicate that women begin investing at an average age of 31. When broken down by generation, millennials started at age 27, Gen Xers at 31, and baby boomers at 36.

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All participants had at least $5,000 in investable assets, excluding retirement accounts and real estate, and were primary or joint household financial decision-makers. Top reasons for the delayed start included a lack of financial knowledge (54%) and limited funds to invest (53%).

Experts emphasize that early investing is key to maximizing financial returns through compound growth. “Start saving while you’re young because you have lots of years for your money to grow,” said Carolyn McClanahan, certified financial planner and founder of Life Planning Partners.

Jeannie Bidner, managing director at Charles Schwab, described compounding as a “snowball effect,” noting that starting five years earlier can result in nearly $500,000 more in retirement savings. For example, investing $6,000 annually from age 25 with a 7% return can yield nearly $1.5 million by age 67, compared to just over $1 million if starting at age 30.

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The report also highlighted that 58% of women learned to stay invested through market volatility, and 42% developed and maintained financial plans.

“It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, it’s a get-rich-slowly scheme,” said Katie Gatti Tassin, author of "Rich Girl Nation," speaking at an event in New York.