International Women's Day: Measuring the profession's progress

'The number of female advisers remains stubbornly low'

clock • 4 min read

International Women's Day rolls around again on 8 March. In a fast-paced and busy world, I see this annual event as an important opportunity to take stock of the progress we've made as an industry and the work that's left to do.

One thing I'm really pleased about this year is the growing recognition that diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is not a box-ticking exercise but a real driver of value in your business. Diverse talent means diverse perspectives - and if you make sure that everyone in the room is heard (that's the inclusion part!), it's the best way to ensure you're meeting the needs of the broadest possible range of customers. Within the advice industry, it's also increasingly widely understood that clients might prefer to speak to advisers who share their backgrounds and experiences. The financi...

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

Feel Good Friday: Quilter pledges £3m towards financial education

Feel Good Friday: Quilter pledges £3m towards financial education

Alongside £1m in grants supporting charities

Professional Adviser
clock 13 February 2026 • 1 min read
Brits unlikely to see IFAs despite Budget impact

Brits unlikely to see IFAs despite Budget impact

Just 19% were likely to seek advice, Continuum finds

Isabel Baxter
clock 12 February 2026 • 3 min read
Treasury consults on AR regime adding further FCA and FOS permissions

Treasury consults on AR regime adding further FCA and FOS permissions

Amid concerns about consumer harm and weaknesses in oversight

Isabel Baxter
clock 12 February 2026 • 3 min read