By Belinda Inocco, Head of Private Clients at ASK Partners
Recent reporting in The Times points to a striking shift in how women are investing. More are turning to gold as a way to take greater control of their finances, favouring assets that feel tangible, understandable and secure. According to The Royal Mint, women now account for 25% of its customer base, up from just 8% in 2018, a remarkable change in what has long been a male-dominated market.
This trend mirrors what we are seeing at ASK Partners. Female engagement with our platform continues to grow, reflecting a broader movement: women are making more deliberate choices about how they build, protect and manage their wealth, and they are doing so on their own terms.
Women are not more risk-averse — they are more risk-aware
Research consistently shows that women invest differently from men, and often with better results. A study by Warwick Business School found that female investors outperform men by almost 2% a year, largely because they take a longer-term view and resist the impulse to trade frequently. They are more considered in their decision-making and less likely to react emotionally to short-term market noise.
Over time, these behaviours compound into stronger outcomes. Yet despite this, the UK still faces a £678 billion gender investment gap, roughly the size of Switzerland’s economy. This disparity is not about capability. It is about access, confidence and the lack of investment options that align with how many women naturally prefer to invest.
Gold’s rising popularity among women illustrates this clearly. It offers clarity, perceived security and a sense of personal control, qualities that are often missing from traditional investment propositions.
Real estate debt: control, clarity and confidence
Many of the same characteristics that attract women to gold are also present in real estate debt, with the added advantage of predictable income. Women frequently express a preference for investments that are straightforward, asset-backed and insulated from unnecessary volatility. They value transparency around risk and return, as well as clearly defined time horizons.
Real estate debt aligns naturally with these priorities. Loans are secured against property, structured with fixed returns and supported by contractual downside protection. Crucially, unlike direct property ownership, real estate debt involves no tenants, no maintenance and no operational complexity, removing many of the barriers that deter investors.
Why 12–18 month loan terms resonate
Loan duration is another important factor. Typical real estate debt terms of 12 to 18 months are long enough to deliver meaningful returns, yet short enough to feel manageable and visible. This structure discourages overreaction to market volatility and supports the calm, disciplined approach that research shows benefits women investors.
Once invested, the loan can simply be monitored and allowed to run its course, an approach that suits those who prefer to make thoughtful decisions and give them time to mature without constant intervention.
The power of tangible, reliable value
The report noted that women are often drawn to assets with physical presence, durability and clear intrinsic value. Gold embodies this appeal, but real estate debt offers many of the same qualities. Both are underpinned by tangible assets that provide reassurance in uncertain markets.
The difference is that real estate debt also delivers contractual income over a defined period, combining security with predictability, an especially compelling proposition when broader markets feel volatile or opaque.
Closing the gender investment gap
Women are not new to investing. They have simply been underserved by an industry that has too often spoken past them. As more women take ownership of their financial futures, they are gravitating towards asset classes that offer control, transparency and resilience.
Gold may be capturing headlines today, but the deeper story is about women embracing investment strategies that reflect how they think, plan and build wealth. Real estate debt fits squarely within this shift, offering a clear, asset-backed route to attractive, risk-adjusted returns.
As this momentum continues, the responsibility lies with the financial sector to meet women where they are, with accessible, high-quality investment options that recognise and support their strengths.
