Women opting against sharing finances with partners, survey suggests

Young women are shifting towards financial independence as they abandon “traditional” attitudes towards sharing assets, research suggests.

A survey of nearly 4,000 British women found those aged 16-34 were more likely (31%) to opt against sharing financial assets with their significant other.

Only 26% of those aged 55 plus chose not to share, according to the study by Netwealth.

It said a “backdrop of later-in-life marriages, higher divorce rates and increased financial earnings” prompted the shift.

Netwealth CEO Charlotte Ransom said: “The traditional approach to managing finances jointly is being overturned by a new generation of financially more autonomous females.

“With women increasingly entering marriage later in life, after years of earning their own income and controlling their own finances, it’s unsurprising that many are turning their back on a ‘what’s mine is yours’ approach.”

Nearly half of women holding their wealth separately (45%) said it was to maintain financial independence.

Two fifths (40%) prefer to manage their money as they wish, while 15% do not believe their partner is entitled to their assets, the study added.

Some 3,876 women aged 16 and over were questioned across two surveys in May and June.