UBS Women’s Perspectives 2026: Women in Switzerland prioritize security over returns when managing their money

Zurich, June 9, 2026 – Healthcare costs are a burden, budgets are tight and daily life is challenging – and yet: women in Switzerland manage their finances prudently and with a high degree of independence. This is shown by the new study “Women’s Perspectives 2026”, which UBS conducted for the first time in collaboration with the research institute gfs.bern. This representative survey of over 1,000 women aged 16 and older provides a nuanced picture of the financial attitudes, concerns and behavioral patterns of women in Switzerland.

When it comes to managing money, stability is the top priority for women. 94 percent of women say that money gives them a sense of security. Security also dominates when it comes to investing (57%), well ahead of wealth accumulation (34%) and returns (21%). Women view investments primarily as a way of protecting their money rather than an opportunity to grow it. At the same time, over half (56%) say they occasionally wonder whether they are saving enough for the future. The concern is there, but many find it difficult to take the step toward active planning.

“For many women, long-term financial planning is closely linked to factors such as available time, perceived complexity or finding the right way to get started. That’s why it’s crucial to provide guidance and make financial topics so accessible and understandable that they can be applied to everyday life and encourage the move to active financial planning”, says Sabine Magri, Head Personal Banking at UBS.

Professional advice or active wealth building remain the exception. Nearly three in ten women (28%) do not actively seek information about investments, even though the topic is on many women’s minds.

Investment information is typically sought through personal advice. 40 percent of women cite bank advisors as their most important source of information. Informal sources also play an important role. 27 percent get their information from friends or family, and just under one in five women rely on traditional media such as newspapers or TV (19%).

More than eight in ten women (82%) rate their money management skills as good or very good – a notably high figure. When financial challenges arise, women primarily respond by controlling their spending (73%) and managing their budgets (56%).

Women who rate their handling of money as “very good” are noticeably more satisfied with their lives than those who are uncertain with money – 78% compared to 53%. In addition to education and social integration, financial self-perception thus emerges as one of the strongest factors influencing life satisfaction. Good money management not only affects a person’s budget, but also their sense of well-being.

Almost half (46%) of women list healthcare costs among the top five issues in Switzerland. In household budgets, health insurance premiums rank by far as the largest expense – ahead of taxes and housing costs and regardless of income or household type. Financial strain is primarily experienced as structural pressure from fixed basic expenses and not as a result of poor personal decisions.

About the study
The “Women’s Perspectives 2026” study was commissioned by UBS and conducted by gfs.bern. It is a standalone survey conducted as part of the UBS Worry Barometer. 2,037 people aged 16 and older from across Switzerland were surveyed, of whom 1,014 were women and 1,019 were men. The survey was conducted from 16 December 2025 to 11 January 2026. The sample is representative of the resident population of Switzerland (margin of error ±2.2 percentage points).

UBS Switzerland AG