In honour of International Women’s Day this week, I am setting out to bust some of the most persistent myths about women and investing. The fact that in 2026 these myths are still a thing is, at the very least, disappointing.

After nearly three decades in investment markets and advice, I can say with complete confidence that most of these myths say far more about outdated stereotypes than they do about reality.

So here we go.

Myth 1. Women are more risk-averse

This is simply not true of many of the clients I see. I work with women who have created substantial wealth by taking bold, calculated risks in their careers, and that confidence carries through to how they invest. Women with portfolios comprising 90 per cent or more in growth assets are not uncommon in my world.

Across many conversations, I make sure they understand the risks they are taking and what their portfolios might look like if markets turn. They remain comfortable. Many have weathered far greater risks in business and in life.

Myth 2. Women are not interested in investing

This one always makes me smile. In my experience, some women are deeply interested in investing, and some do not think they are. For those who are unsure, I work with them to build confidence and uncover what genuinely motivates them, so investing becomes relevant to their lives. Education and connection are the keys to engagement. The jargon and ego need to be left at the door.

What I often see is that some women have been excluded from financial decision-making earlier in life, particularly in long marriages where one partner “handled the money”. That is a confidence gap, not a capability gap.

When given space, education and support, women step into financial leadership roles with clarity and strength. I see it all the time.

Myth 3. Women are bad with numbers

The number of people who assume my job is all about maths always amuses me. Of course, numbers matter, but building a good portfolio involves far more than arithmetic. It requires judgement, discipline, patience, an understanding of risk and an ability to make decisions under uncertainty.

Investing is as much about behaviour as it is about spreadsheets. In fact, managing emotions through market cycles is often far more important than calculating a percentage return.

For women who feel less confident with numbers, education is key. Once the concepts are explained clearly and without jargon, the fog lifts very quickly. I have worked with many women who began by saying, “I’m not good with this stuff,” and who are now strong, capable and thoughtful investors.

Again, what I see is not a lack of ability. It is often a lack of exposure or encouragement. When that gap is addressed, confidence follows.

Myth 4. Women only want to invest with impact or an ESG lens

Again, I do not find this to be true. There is no pink portfolio. Asset allocation is driven by goals, time horizon, liquidity needs and risk tolerance, not gender.

When I attend female investor gatherings, I often notice an underlying presumption that because you are a woman, you must want to invest for impact. That assumption bothers me. I am not quite sure why women are seen as being responsible for saving the world.

I have ESG and impact conversations with all my clients, men and women alike. It is an area I genuinely enjoy working in. Some care deeply. Some do not. Most sit somewhere in the middle.

One of the funniest responses I have ever received was from a couple who looked at each other and said, “Would you like our dinner party answer or our real answer?”

I am only ever interested in the real answer.

The truth is this. Women are not a niche category in investing. We are half the population and increasingly control significant and growing pools of capital, particularly as the great wealth transfer gathers pace.

The real path to success is not about teaching women to invest like men, or men to invest like women. It is about working with each client as an individual, understanding who they are and what truly matters to them.

Meeting people where they are, helping them define what truly matters and building a strategy that supports it is why I come to work each day!

Kind regards,

Shelley Marsh
Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) & Founder
Wealth Differently

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