Women investors want more clarity and confidence in an uncertain economy. Here’s how to get it

You’re already saving, investing, and planning for the future. But if you’re like many women investors navigating today’s uncertain economy, you may be wondering whether your current strategy still lines up with your goals.

You’re not alone. Recent financial statistics on women and retirement planning from the Nationwide Retirement Institute® shows that 77% of women investors are concerned about a U.S. economic recession over the next 12 months.

Making financial decisions may feel more complicated in today’s economic environment, and you might be questioning what to do next. Those questions deserve thoughtful consideration.

A financial professional can serve as a valuable sounding board—helping you understand your options, offering clarity and context, and talking through decisions in a way that respects your perspective, goals, and priorities while helping you feel more confident in your financial strategy going forward.

Economic uncertainty is creating more financial pressure for women investors

Concerns about inflation, market ups and downs, and a possible recession can make it harder to feel certain about retirement and your financial future.

One of the biggest questions many women investors are asking is whether their current strategy can withstand economic uncertainty and market swings. One-third (33%) say they don't have a strategy to help protect their assets against market risk, and another 14% aren't sure if they do, according to our research.

Retirement planning questions are also top of mind. One in three (33%) of women investors say not knowing how much they’ll need to retire comfortably is a top retirement planning concern, our survey found.

When there are a lot of moving pieces to think through, it can help to slow down and seek guidance. A financial professional can help you evaluate your strategy, revisit your plan, and better understand your options as you consider your next steps. And while having a conversation with a financial professional may feel especially relevant right now, it can also help you stay on track with your goals as circumstances and economic conditions change over time.

Why professional guidance matters in financial planning for women

You may already be contributing to a 401(k), investing regularly or setting money aside for the future. But even when you think you’re doing all the right things, it’s not always easy to know if you’re saving enough for retirement or if your overall financial plan aligns with your goals and comfort level with risk.

Many women investors want to better understand their options so they can make informed financial decisions. That may be a big reason why 34% of recent Nationwide Retirement Institute survey respondents said they prefer to work with a financial professional to help guide their financial planning.

For many, the value of that relationship comes from being able to ask questions, better understand their options, and take a more active role in financial decisions. What's more, these conversations often feel more meaningful when they're collaborative and educational rather than one-sided.

Questions like “Am I on track?” or “Is my portfolio prepared for market swings?” don’t always have simple answers. Financial planning and investment strategies for women often require a nuanced approach, one that must account for gender-specific challenges, such as increased longevity, pay disparities, and career pauses due to caregiving responsibilities.

A financial professional can help you address those unique challenges, along with talking through different scenarios, how they may affect your long-term plans, and what adjustments may make sense along the way.

Now is a good time to take a fresh look at your financial plan

Periods of economic uncertainty can be a good opportunity to pause and reassess your financial strategy.

That could include asking questions like:

• How much income will I realistically need in retirement?
• Am I comfortable with the amount of market risk in my portfolio?
• Are my current savings habits supporting the future I want?
• Have recent economic changes affected my financial priorities or timeline?

You don’t need to have all the answers right now. But taking time to review your financial plan regularly can help you spot areas that may need more attention and make more confident decisions about what to do next.

Financial planning isn't a one-time event

The decisions you make about your money today may look different five or 10 years from now. Your priorities and circumstances may change. So might the economy, your career, your family situation, or your vision and timeline for retirement.

That’s why many women investors choose to maintain an ongoing relationship with a financial professional rather than treating financial planning as a one-and-done activity.

Regular check-ins can create space to revisit goals, reassess financial decisions, and change course when needed—especially during periods of economic uncertainty, when it may be tempting to react emotionally to headlines or short-term market moves. Having a trusted professional to help you step back, weigh your options, and keep your long-term priorities in focus can make those moments easier to navigate.

You don’t have to figure it out alone

If you're feeling uncertain about the economy or questioning parts of your financial strategy, you’re not alone. Many women investors are navigating the same concerns and pressures right now.

Financial uncertainty isn’t a sign that you’re behind or doing something wrong. It’s a reflection of a challenging economic environment and the reality that financial planning often involves difficult decisions and tradeoffs.

Our research suggests many women want to better understand their options and play an active role in financial decisions. A strong relationship with a financial professional should support those goals by helping you feel informed, respected, and involved in the conversations shaping your financial future.

If you’d like help evaluating your financial strategy or planning for what's next, consider speaking with a financial professional.

Sources and Disclaimers

The Harris Poll, on behalf of Nationwide, conducted an online survey in the U. S. among 528 advisors and financial professionals and 2,012 investors ages 18+ with investable assets (IA) of $10K+, January 15-February 6, 2026. Among the investors, there were 882 women investors and 421 women investors working with a financial professional. Among the advisors, there were 119 women advisors.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data for advisors is accurate to within ± 4.3 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For investors data is accurate to within ± 2.98 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact news@nationwide.com.