Women are gaining more financial influence than ever before. But for Christian women, the bigger question isn’t simply how much wealth they will control. It’s what they will do with what God has placed in their hands. Pam Pugh, Co-Founder of Women Doing Well and President of VirtuAssets Foundation, has spent years helping individuals and families think about how to use their assets virtuously. She believes women are entering a significant season of financial stewardship—one shaped by greater earning power, longer life expectancies, entrepreneurship, and an enormous transfer of wealth. Those changes create opportunities, but they also call for preparation. For Christian women especially, growing economic influence offers an opportunity to prayerfully consider how their resources can serve God’s purposes and the good of others. Four Shifts Reshaping Women’s Financial InfluencePugh points to four significant shifts taking place in the financial landscape. The first is education and earning power. Women now represent 62% of college graduates and earn more than half of all doctorate degrees. Four in 10 physicians and attorneys are women, and among women ages 25 to 54, 78% work outside the home. Women also make the vast majority of consumer purchasing decisions, giving them significant influence not only through what they earn but also through how they spend. The second shift is longevity. Because women generally live longer than men, many will eventually become the primary decision-maker for their household wealth. Pugh notes that women live an average of 5.8 years longer than men and that an estimated 90% of women will manage their wealth independently at some point. She also points to estimates that women will inherit $124 trillion through 2048, including $54 trillion transferred to spouses, many of them widowed baby boomers. A third change is the growth of women-owned businesses. Pugh says one in 11 working-age women is an entrepreneur, while women own 39% of closely held businesses in the United States. Those businesses employ 12.9 million people and generate $3.3 trillion in revenue. For many women, entrepreneurship is not simply about earning more. It can also provide flexibility and greater control over how work fits into the rest of life. Finally, Pugh sees a shift in how women think about wealth itself. A Broader Definition of WealthFinancial wealth matters, but Pugh says many women view wealth more holistically. They think not only about money but also about physical, spiritual, social, and intellectual well-being. That perspective changes money's purpose. Financial resources become a tool rather than an end in themselves—something that can provide freedom and help accomplish meaningful purposes. Pugh also points to research suggesting women tend to be patient, studious, holistic, and methodical investors, with many prioritizing aligning their investments with their values. For Christians, that raises a deeper question: If God has entrusted us with greater resources and influence, how do we prepare to steward them faithfully? Pugh offers a simple framework. Step One: DreamImagine you were preparing for a month-long trip overseas. You wouldn’t simply show up at the airport and hope everything worked out. You would think about where you were going, what you would need, what you already had, and who could help you prepare. Financial stewardship deserves similar intentionality. Pugh encourages women to begin by prayerfully envisioning where they may be headed. One helpful exercise is to imagine your life five years from now and ask: If I were confident that God was with me, what would I explore? Then write it down. Consider not only what your financial life looks like, but the kind of life you hope to be living. What values are evident? What relationships matter most? What kind of work are you doing? What does generosity look like? The point isn’t to predict the future. It’s to become intentional about where you are headed and why. Step Two: Take InventoryOnce you’ve thought about where you may be headed, ask another question: What’s already in your hand? Pugh draws that language from Exodus 4:2. Moses was reluctant when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. After Moses repeatedly expressed his fears and inadequacies, God asked him, “What is that in your hand?” It was a shepherd’s staff—something ordinary that Moses may never have imagined could play a role in what God was calling him to do. The same question can help us recognize what God has already entrusted to us. Your “inventory” includes more than the balance in your bank or retirement account. It may include relationships, financial resources, knowledge, experience, skills, opportunities, and even lessons learned through hardship. Rather than beginning with what you lack, begin by identifying what you already have. Step Three: Talk About It and Make a PlanA dream becomes far more actionable when you share it and support it with a plan. Pugh encourages women to talk about their goals with trusted friends, peers, family members, and, when appropriate, a financial professional who understands their values. A like-minded advisor can help turn broad hopes into concrete financial strategies. That might involve evaluating whether current resources will support future needs, clarifying investment objectives, or determining how saving, spending, and giving decisions can work together to support long-term goals. That guidance can be particularly valuable when uncertainty becomes paralyzing. Questions such as Will I have enough? or Can I accomplish what I believe God is putting before me? can be difficult to answer alone. A thoughtful financial plan cannot eliminate uncertainty, but it can help you understand where you stand and make informed decisions about the road ahead. What Will You Do With What’s in Your Hand?Women’s economic influence is changing dramatically through education, employment, entrepreneurship, longevity, and generational wealth transfers. But influence itself is not the destination. Stewardship asks a different question: What will you do with what God has entrusted to you? Pugh encourages women to recognize the opportunity before them, prayerfully consider what God has already placed in their hands, and prepare intentionally to use those resources for His glory and the good of others. You may not know every step that lies ahead. But you can begin by dreaming prayerfully, taking inventory, seeking wise counsel, and moving forward faithfully with what you already have in your hands. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I owe about $78,000 on a Discover card, and they’ve offered to settle the debt for roughly $58,000. How would accepting the settlement affect my credit?I’m 58, own my home and car outright, and need to set up a will and possibly a trust. Where should I start if I want an estate plan that reflects my Christian values?I’m 24, living at home, and almost finished paying off my student loans. How should I start budgeting, investing, and preparing for rent or a future home purchase? And at my age, how should I think about renting versus buying?Resources Mentioned:Become a FaithFi PartnerWomen Doing WellVirtuAssets FoundationOpen Hands FinanceFaithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly MagazineFaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob WestWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
