USA Today · 22 Sep, 09:06 · Finance briefing

Women to inherit $124 trillion in 'great wealth transfer.' Many aren't ready

USA Today reports that women are poised to inherit approximately $124 trillion during the ongoing great wealth transfer.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

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83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

USA Today reports that women are poised to inherit approximately $124 trillion during the ongoing great wealth transfer. Despite this significant financial influx, many recipients remain unprepared to manage such substantial assets effectively. The article highlights a critical gap between the scale of incoming wealth and the financial literacy or strategic planning skills required to preserve and grow it. This demographic shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the professional services sector, particularly in financial planning and legal advisory roles, as families seek guidance to navigate complex inheritance landscapes without jeopardising long-term financial stability.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This massive capital shift directly impacts your career trajectory if you work in or serve high-net-worth individuals. Demand will surge for experts who can bridge the gap between raw inheritance and sustainable wealth management. You should prioritise skills in complex financial modelling, estate planning law, and fiduciary risk assessment. Professionals in finance, law, and private banking must adapt their service offerings to address the specific anxieties and knowledge gaps of female heirs. A smart move is to upskill in holistic wealth advisory, combining technical financial expertise with empathetic client communication. By positioning yourself as a trusted guide through this transition, you capture a growing market segment. Focus on building competencies that help clients preserve capital while aligning investments with their personal values and long-term goals.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Financial Modeling, Law and Risk Management Strategies — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.