Financial dependence belongs in a museum, not in a bank account: empowering women on the stock market

In 2025, women in Germany were more actively involved in the stock market than ever before: 5.4 million female investors, 1 million more than in 2024, benefited from the economy's success through shares, equity funds and ETFs. On International Women's Day on 8 March 2026, Deutsches Aktieninstitut is calling for further support for women's own initiatives with regard to wealth accumulation and retirement provision. 

‘Financial dependence belongs in a museum, not in a bank account,’ says Henriette Peucker, Chief Executive and Member of the Board of Deutsches Aktieninstitut. ‘That's why it's good news that more and more women are seizing the opportunity to take control of their finances. It's not just about securing your retirement, but also about having the freedom to make decisions and shape your own life.’

An important step towards gender equality

Deutsches Aktieninstitut's Shareholder Numbers 2025 show that the number of female investors has recently risen by 24 per cent. Among men, growth of 12 per cent was recorded. Although women have caught up, men are still well ahead when it comes to investments in shares, equity funds and ETFs in terms of total numbers, with 8.7 million. This imbalance has a negative impact on retirement income, but also on women's financial freedom.

‘A broadly diversified, long-term and continuous investment in shares secures average returns of between 6 and 9 per cent per year. It is the best long-term way to provide for old age or save for specific life goals,’ Peucker notes. ‘Empowering women on the stock market is therefore also an important step towards gender equality.’

More determination in supporting women

Political initiatives are pointing in the right direction but are still too tentative. Peucker: ‘The planned early retirement pension treats boys and girls equally and, in conjunction with a retirement savings account, can contribute to the equal participation of women and men in the stock market in the long term,’ Peucker emphasises.

Furthermore, women in particular would benefit from decisive political impetus in the area of equity investment. ‘The federal government is still called upon to improve the use of equities in all three pillars of pension provision by creating better framework conditions and to follow the EU Commission's call for the introduction of a tax-privileged investment savings account in Germany as well,’ Peucker continues.

Further current studies can be found here:

• Children's savings accounts in international comparison: What can we learn from other countries for the early retirement pension? (September 2025)
• With the capital market to the nation of the future. Sweden's success factors (April 2025)
• Study on retirement savings accounts: What Germany can learn from other countries when it comes to private pension plans (May 2024)
• Position paper: Promoting Savings and Investments Accounts in the EU: Flexibility and incentives for investors are key success factors (July 2025)