What Women Need to Know Now
Emma Hardisty, Gary Walker Wealth Management
Hi everyone. Like my lovely introduction from Wendy, I’m Emma. And today what I wanted to really talk about was something that affects half the population but is still not spoken about enough, and that’s financial inequality. So it’s real, it’s happening right now, so I’d like to talk about what women need to know. So let’s start with some uncomfortable truths. Women are retiring with significantly less than men. I’m not talking about pennies. On average, women have 100,000 less in their pension pots at retirement. That gap is quite substantial and most don’t even realize it’s happening. We often hear about the pension pay gap, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface are the hidden factors. So we have unpaid care work, part-time roles, lack of investment confidence, and systemic bias backed into our financial systems.
And here’s the kicker. Women actually live longer. So on average, five years longer than men and we’re more likely to spend time in care. So not only are we retiring with less, we need that money to last us even longer. That gap isn’t just unfair, it’s completely unsustainable. And then don’t even get me started on this motherhood penalty we all know about. So taking a career break for children means losing pay, promotions, and pension contributions. And when women like myself come back, we’re often sidelined and that gap follows us around for the rest of our working lives. And we also have the part-time trap. So in the UK, three out of four part-time roles are filled by women. So these jobs often come without pensions, benefits or a clear path to progress. The workload is real, but the recognition and rewards are not. To me, it’s a structural setback disguised as flexibility.
And in my opinion, women also aren’t risk-averse. We’re underrepresented so most financial content is created with men in mind, leaving women completely out of that narrative. But when we hesitate to engage, it’s not about confidence, it’s about not seeing ourselves as part of that conversation. And like I said, the financial world isn’t built with women in mind. From investment ads to pension policy, we have always been that afterthought. And that makes it harder for women to access good and honest advice and trust it, as can be seen by that scary stat on the far left.
So like I said, the pension system was built in an era when men worked and women stayed home. For decades, it rewarded one income, his or yours sir down there. But it wasn’t until 1975, the same year women were allowed to open a bank account without a husband or a father’s signature, that we got equal access. But this might all sound very bleak, but here’s the truth. We can change this and it’s not a life sentence. This is the result of systems and systems can be reworked. But it starts with awareness, bold conversations and refusing to stay silent. But what can we actually do? So start with knowing your worth. Start with your salary, know your market rate and ask for it. Negotiate like your future depends on it because it truly does. Every pay rise is a pension boost in disguise.
So we also have compound growth. So compound growth turns time into money. Start early, stay consistent. It’s not about timing the market, it’s time in the market that builds real wealth. If you take anything from my presentation today, let it be that time is your greatest financial asset, so please use it wisely. And we’re also told as females to prioritize everything, going to the gym, dropping the kids off at school, paying the bills, everything except for ourselves. But your future self deserves a seat at that table too. Your pension is the self-care for tomorrow. It’s not extra, it’s freedom. So pay it like it’s your most important bill because one day it will be. And money talk is also still very taboo, especially for women. But silence feeds inequality. So start the conversation with your family, your neighbors, your friends, everyone. Because what we don’t talk about holds power over us.
And employers in the room, please step up, this is not a people’s issue, it’s a performance one. So financial inequality costs you talent, engagement and trust. Fair pay and financial education aren’t perks, they’re power. Step up because when women thrive, workplaces do too. And also it’s affecting your bottom line at the end of the day. With 13 million days of work being lost last year due to workers taking time off due to poor financial wellbeing and the cost to employers being 192 pounds per day, I think we can all see how quickly that can just add up. But most people in the room, like myself, I especially wasn’t at school, we were never taught how to manage, invest, or plan for retirement. But it’s never too late to learn or especially to teach. Employers have a powerful opportunity here, financial education workshops. You already invest in training, so why not invest in your people’s financial features too?
So this isn’t just about numbers, this is about freedom. The freedom to walk away from a bad job or a bad relationship. The freedom to choose your career path, take a break, start again, retire early. Financial security gives us women options and with that comes a future that we get to shape on our own terms. So like I said, this isn’t a talk, this is a call to action for me. We’ve seen the gaps, the pay, the pensions, the representation, but we are not powerless, we are not stuck. We are standing quite literally on the edge of change and we all in this room have a role to play. So I’m asking you, join me, challenge outdated systems, start conversations that feel uncomfortable, but so necessary. Empower the women around you with knowledge, support, and opportunity. Because this isn’t just about money, it’s about equality, dignity, and future generations. We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our daughters and we owe it to all of the women that come next. Thank you.
To see the video of Emma delivering her session, follow this link to Vimeo >>> DisruptHR Aberdeen 2.0 – April 24 2025 on Vimeo
