Rise of Women in Investing – Confidence Growing, But Planning Still Limited

Mrs. Kamakshi Sridharan

C0- Founder, https://www.walletwealth.co.in/

A study titled “DSP Winvestor Pulse 2025–26”, released jointly by DSP Mutual Fund and YouGov, highlights significant changes in the attitudes and investment behaviour of urban investors in India.

Women Taking More Investment Decisions

The study surveyed 5,050 investors across 13 cities. One of the key findings is that women are increasingly becoming independent in making investment decisions.

However, the research also reveals an interesting contrast: while confidence in investing has increased, structured financial planning is still relatively low.

Key Highlights

Aspect	2022	2025	Insight
Women making investment decisions independently	44%	56%	Rapid rise in women’s financial independence
Confidence in making investment decisions	–	84%	Most investors feel confident deciding on their own
Investors with both goals and a financial plan	–	33%	Planning remains limited
People who view money as “freedom”	27%	35%	Emotional meaning of money evolving
Women preferring travel over buying a house	–	41%	Changing life priorities
Satisfaction among those using financial advisors	–	94%	High trust in advisory services

Increasing Financial Independence Among Women

One of the most important shifts identified in the study is the rise in women’s financial independence.

· In 2022, only 44% of women made investment decisions on their own.

· By 2025, this has increased to 56%.

While the figure for men stands at 68%, the faster growth among women reflects a major structural change.

Women are not only making decisions independently but are also increasingly consulting professional financial advisors.

Women’s Investment Behaviour	2022	2025
Making decisions with support from financial advisors	17%	24%
Identifying themselves as self-taught investors	13%	16%

This indicates that financial knowledge and confidence among women are steadily improving.

High Confidence – But Limited Planning

The study highlights an important paradox.

Aspect	Percentage
Investors confident in making decisions themselves	84%
Investors with clear financial goals and plans	33%

There is also confusion about what constitutes long-term investing.

Perception of “Long-Term”	Investors
3 years or less	~50%
5 years or more	28%

This suggests that while investors feel confident, clarity about long-term planning is still lacking.

The Meaning of Money Is Changing

Earlier, money was mainly viewed as a means to meet life’s needs. Now it is increasingly associated with freedom and financial security.

Meaning of Money	2022	2025
“Freedom”	27%	35%
“Financial independence & security” as main goal	44%	48%

This shift indicates that Indian investors are gradually moving toward long-term financial independence.

Changing Life Goals

Women’s life priorities are also evolving.

Top Aspirations Among Women	Percentage
Travel	41%
Buying a home	28%

Especially among women aged 25–44, travel and life experiences are becoming more important than home ownership.

Trust in Financial Advisors

Among investors who use financial advisors, 94% reported satisfaction. However, many investors still do not use advisory services.

Reasons for Not Using Advisors	Percentage
Hesitation to share personal financial information	39%
Online information considered sufficient	35%
Difficulty accepting external advice	32%

This shows that privacy concerns remain a major barrier.

Continued Investing Even During Market Declines

The study also reveals a positive trend:

· 62% of investors said they would continue investing even during market downturns.

· 15% of men said they would increase investments during market falls.

· Among women, the figure is 10%.

Women tend to prefer lower-risk investment options, such as:

· Debt mutual funds

· Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

Conclusion

The DSP Winvestor Pulse 2025–26 study highlights key shifts in India’s investment landscape:

· Women’s financial independence is rising rapidly

· Investor confidence is increasing

· However, clear financial goals and long-term planning still need improvement

Overall, India’s investment culture is steadily evolving. The growing participation of women in investing is likely to play a crucial role in strengthening family financial security and wealth creation in the future.

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