“Women can shape their financial future”

Sandra, was there a particular moment when you realized how important financial literacy is for women?

There was no single moment. It was more a series of conversations with women in both my personal and professional life.

In the case of divorce, for example, women often realize only after separating from their partner that they do not have their own pillar 3a, even though they have always worked. I also meet successful female entrepreneurs who make important business decisions every day but devote too little time to their own finances and retirement planning.

What does financial literacy mean to you personally?

I view this question from a slightly different perspective. For me, financial literacy – or simply financial knowledge – is part of basic education. That is why it should be taught in school.

Role models matter too. My mother had a strong influence on me. We talked about money regularly at home, and she made financial decisions.

But financial topics are not second nature to everyone. The challenges facing the pension system make this especially clear. To look to the future with confidence, you need to engage with your finances and plan actively. Financial literacy is central to that.

What role does financial literacy play in women’s personal confidence in daily life?

Financial literacy is a catalyst. It gives women greater confidence – and ultimately greater self-determination – in financial matters. It also helps them speak on equal terms with a partner or a bank advisor.

Which finding from the “Women’s Perspectives 2026” study stayed with you most?

I have worked with this topic for a long time, so the findings did not surprise me. The study confirms that financial literacy remains important and that women want to engage with financial topics. 

The results also show that many women feel comfortable with everyday money matters, such as household budgeting, paying bills and completing tax returns. But long-term decisions and investing are a different story.

Many of the women surveyed say they follow investment topics but have never invested themselves. And three in ten have not looked into investing at all. That is a gap we need to close.

The study is therefore a useful barometer. It shows where we need to start and how we can support women more effectively.

If you had to sum up the study in one or two sentences, what does it tell us about women’s financial reality in Switzerland today?

Women have a firm grip on their day-to-day finances. But when it comes to long-term issues such as their own retirement planning, too much potential is still going untapped. 

The study also shows that financial security has a positive impact on women’s well-being. The encouraging message is that women can take control.

By taking a more active approach to their long-term finances, they can strengthen their confidence and well-being. The first step is often the most important.

In practice, do you see differences in how women and men talk about money, make decisions or assess risk?

It’s not black and white, but there are clear tendencies. Women tend to see money more as a source of opportunity and are often more reserved in conversations about it. Men are more likely to discuss financial topics actively, share tips or exchange views on investment strategies. Differences also show up in risk behavior: when women invest, they tend to choose more defensive strategies or keep money in a savings account. Over the long term, that means they miss out on significant return potential.

The study shows that women often feel they are not doing enough financially to prepare for the future. How do you interpret that?

What is interesting is that women often sense they should be doing more for their retirement planning. Yet they hesitate when it comes to actually investing.

According to the study, one reason is that women often think they do not have enough money to make investing worthwhile. But that is a misconception. Regular investing can help build wealth over time, even with small amounts.

The key is to give yourself a push and take the first step. An online capital calculator can help, for example, by showing how your assets could grow over the years if you invest a set amount each month. That often opens people’s eyes to the opportunities of long-term investing.

Another finding of the study is that women have a strong need for security. Does this contribute to their reluctance to invest?

Yes, security is also a factor. Many people see money in a bank account as safe. They are often less aware that inflation can gradually erode its value. 

In a suitable investment portfolio, by contrast, assets can grow over the long term. Our role is to explain these connections clearly.

If a woman says, “I want to feel more confident about money, but I don’t know where to start”, what small first step would you recommend?

I think the first step is to build a basic understanding of financial topics. There are many ways to do that. The UBS Women’s Wealth Academy, for example, offers learning content on a wide range of financial topics. It is a good starting point before taking the next steps, because we see time and again that women want to understand exactly what they are doing before they invest.

What exactly can the Women’s Wealth Academy offer?

We created the digital platform because many of our female clients told us they wanted to inform themselves independently first. 

The Academy offers articles, interviews and learning paths on a range of topics, allowing users to access content that fits their personal situation. It covers everything from retirement planning and investing to family life, careers, matrimonial property law and inheritance law.

Looking ahead, how would you like us to be talking about women’s financial literacy in a few years’ time?

Finance is an important social issue. Today, we still often need to look at it through a gender lens.

I hope that in a few years, we will no longer need that lens, and that women and men will be equally active in planning their long-term finances, investments and retirement. 

And personally, what gives you a sense of financial security today?

Transparency is very important to me – for both my retirement planning and my overall financial situation. A clear retirement plan gives me confidence that my partner and I can shape our future as we envision it.