How female financial advisers overcome gender barriers

Advisers share views on International Women’s Day 2023

clock • 8 min read

In light of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), a day recognising how far we have come towards gender equality and how far we still have left to go, Julia Bahr talks to women in financial advice about their route to success…

Recent records from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) show that only a sixth (16%) of regulated financial advisers in the UK are women. That figure has hardly moved during the past 20 years. PA spoke with advisers and industry experts to get their thoughts on sexist stereotypes and barriers to career progression in a thus-far male-dominated industry. Kingswood learning and development manager Ellie Pilkington, who was shortlisted for the Rising Star category at PA's Women in Financial Advice Awards (WIFA) last year, says one of the biggest challenges she has observed for women in ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Carla Brown on PFS/CII relationship reset and how chartered status is 'essential'

Carla Brown on PFS/CII relationship reset and how chartered status is 'essential'

PFS president and chair joins Professional Adviser in the studio

Professional Adviser
clock 10 July 2026 • 1 min read
FCA spotlights vulnerability in latest Consumer Duty review

FCA spotlights vulnerability in latest Consumer Duty review

Treatment of vulnerable clients still an area of improvement for firms

Sophia Panayi
clock 10 July 2026 • 2 min read
LV= again backs PA's Women in Financial Advice Awards as headline sponsor

LV= again backs PA's Women in Financial Advice Awards as headline sponsor

Second year as lead sponsor on WIFA

Professional Adviser
clock 09 July 2026 • 1 min read