When the call came, she was folding towels. A trust officer from the bank said, “Your father’s estate has cleared probate. The distribution will hit your account by Friday. You should probably speak to your financial advisor.”
Except she didn’t have one. And she had just inherited $6.2 million.
Welcome to the Great Wealth Transfer, where women are receiving life-changing sums of money—often with little preparation, no roadmap, and a whole lot of emotional baggage.
According to Cerulli Associates, $11.9 trillion of the Great Wealth Transfer will pass between generations by 2030. And a substantial share of that wealth is landing in the hands of women, often for the first time in family history.
UBS’s 2025 Own Your Worth report highlights the stories of some of these women, and the findings are as telling as they are sobering: 89% of women who inherited say they wish they had been more involved in family financial discussions earlier.
What’s more, many women who inherited money felt pressure, guilt, and confusion when the transfer actually occurred. The inheritance didn’t just come with dollars. It came with expectations.
Money has memory. It also has shadows. For many women, receiving an inheritance triggers a cascade of emotions that may include:
Grief
Guilt
Responsibility
Anxiety
Even shame about not feeling "grateful enough"
One of our clients said, "I felt like I had to prove I was worthy of this gift. But no one ever taught me how to manage money."
And that’s the crux. Women are often socialized to be budgeters and savers—not investors, strategists, or legacy planners. So when the wire hits the account, there’s often a deep chasm between control and confidence.
Without adequate financial education or a plan to manage the inherited funds, many women adopt behavior patterns that don’t serve them well. Common responses include:
Do nothing and hope it sorts itself out. Inaction is one of the most common responses. The fear of making a mistake leads many women to freeze entirely.
Outsource it all and cross your fingers. Some hand everything off to a partner or friend (who may not have financial experience) or to a legacy advisor they barely know. That can leave them vulnerable to poor decisions or mismatched values.
Spend from emotion, not intention. In some cases, women rush into big purchases, gifts, or debt payoffs before creating a broader plan for the money. While generosity isn’t bad, reactionary giving often leaves the bigger picture fuzzy.
In UBS’s 2025 Own Your Worth report, 76% of women said they ultimately became more confident after inheriting—but that it took time, guidance, and the right partnership.
We see this firsthand in our practice. Take Carla. She inherited $3.5M from her mother’s brokerage account. There was no trust in place, no tax planning, and Carla and her mother had never talked about the money Carla would inherit. She felt embarrassed to ask “basics,” but didn’t know how to move forward.
Working collaboratively, we helped Carla:
Build a sustainable withdrawal and giving plan
Create a "Freedom Fund" for causes she cares about
Work through her money scripts and guilt
Three years later, Carla is hosting legacy dinners for her own kids. Because ownership isn’t just about assets—it’s about alignment.
So what can you do to resolve this kind of issue in your own life? Focus on these four key elements of your financial wellness:
Get clarity on the numbers. What do you own? Where is it held? Who are the stakeholders? Without facts, fear takes over.
Build a planning team that respects your voice. Find a fiduciary advisor who educates and empowers you—not just someone who talks spreadsheets.
Reflect on purpose before you plan. Get clear on the big picture by asking, “What does this wealth allow me to do, be, or build?” “What legacy do I want to create?”
Allow for the emotional journey. You’re not behind. You’re not bad with money. You’re in transition. Give yourself grace.
Inheritance is not a final chapter—it’s a plot twist. You get to decide whether it’s the beginning of stewardship, reinvention, or quiet strength. But here’s the truth: No matter what path you choose, you don’t have to walk it alone.
If you’ve inherited recently and feel overwhelmed, let’s talk. Our team at Artisan Financial Strategies specializes in helping women navigate wealth events with confidence, clarity, and intention. Because the story of your wealth deserves a strong, empowered narrator.
SOURCES:
Cerulli Associates, U.S. Wealth Transfer Report, 2022
UBS Own Your Worth 2025: Women and the Great Wealth Transfer, ubs.com/women