BlackRock offers portfolios tailored specifically for women

BlackRock offers portfolios tailored specifically for women
The portfolios take into account gender discrepancies around life expectancy, time in the workforce and income.
JUL 22, 2022

BlackRock Inc. is launching investment products designed for female investors.

The world’s largest asset manager has created “model portfolios” that take into account gender discrepancies around life expectancy, time in the workforce and income, according to a statement Thursday.

BlackRock said its research found that female investors could benefit from being exposed to more risk during certain critical periods in their lifetimes. One major difference for women is that, on average, they live five years longer than men and spend around a year out of the workforce to care for family. 

Compared to a gender-neutral model, one for women is weighted more heavily to growth assets, with about a 1% greater allocation at age 40 and as much as 9% more at about age 55, according to BlackRock. To mitigate the effects of inflation, the model also includes holdings in commodities, inflation-protected Treasury securities and real estate.

Lisa O’Connor, managing director and global head of model portfolio solutions, said at a news conference that the model combines passive, index-linked investments and securities picked by active fund managers.

The portfolios will help female clients “achieve their financial goals,” Carrie Schroen, a divisional director at BlackRock, said in the statement. 

“This is especially relevant as women hold an increasingly larger share of global wealth,” she said.

Latest News

A year after sale, Commonwealth Financial and LPL start cutting staff
A year after sale, Commonwealth Financial and LPL start cutting staff

Commonwealth Financial joins a number of firm that have recently cut jobs.

Pension funds sue Primoris, allege it hid solar cost overruns from investors
Pension funds sue Primoris, allege it hid solar cost overruns from investors

A slow drip of disclosures, an executive exit, and a stock that fell hard before the suit landed

Unpaid caregivers face steeper financial hurdles on path to retirement, EBRI finds
Unpaid caregivers face steeper financial hurdles on path to retirement, EBRI finds

New research finds unpaid caregivers are more likely to struggle with debt, lower savings and diminished retirement confidence than non-caregivers.

Volatility: Best and worst of times
Volatility: Best and worst of times

Large broker-dealers and registered investment advisors have, since 2020, been developing or sticking to strategies and tactics to combat the pain of intense, short-term market volatility

Want to win in the advisor wars? Then make sure you’re offering plenty of choices
Want to win in the advisor wars? Then make sure you’re offering plenty of choices

Centaurus Financial touts its independence as a key selling point at a time when many firms are being swallowed up.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income