The report further points out that fixed deposits have reduced their share in the portfolio from 45% to 20% in five years. Alternatives (PMS/AIF) grew from an incredible 3% to 7%.
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Five years ago, the dominant pattern among Indian women investors was: fixed deposits, gold, and property – the classic ‘safety first’ portfolio. Today, the same group has shifted to allocation-led, target-mapped portfolios that include mutual funds, structured debt products, AIFs, PMS, and, in some cases, global equities and private markets.
While AI tools are entering the investment ecosystem, adoption among female investors remains limited.
The study found that 35-50% of female investors either do not use AI tools or use them selectively, mainly for learning, monitoring and research insights. Importantly, final portfolio decisions rely on human judgment and advisor guidance rather than automated recommendations.
This suggests that AI is emerging as an information and analytics layer in the investment process rather than a replacement for human decision-making.
The report further stated that investors are increasingly adopting “bucket thinking” – organizing portfolios around life goals such as safety, growth, liquidity and inheritance rather than individual products – focusing on “which product should I buy?” “What role should these assets play in my portfolio?”, with portfolio discipline increasingly guided by allocation frameworks and rules rather than market reactions.
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Female investors show increasing maturity during market cycles. To date, 75-90% of investors maintain or revise their investments during market corrections instead of panicking. Meanwhile, about 55% selectively add capital during market downturns, reflecting growing confidence and a long-term approach to investing.
Female investors also develop a more accurate understanding of investment risk. Five years ago, risk was largely described as intrinsic harm. Today, these increasingly include inflationary erosion, failure to meet financial goals, portfolio shrinkage and recovery time, as well as governance risks in household wealth structures, and this shift reflects growing financial awareness and investment sophistication on the part of investors.
The report also states that female investors are increasingly evaluating advisors based on transparency, proactive strategy, financial education and governance support rather than product access, and as a result, the advisor relationship is evolving from product distribution to a strategic partnership in portfolio building and wealth management.
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“Indian women investors are becoming more informed, confident and strategic in shaping their financial future. In the last five years we have seen a clear shift from buying individual financial products to building portfolios structured around asset allocation and long-term goals,” said Ankur Panj MD- Business Director, Equirus Wealth.
Technology, including AI, is starting to play a role in the learning and research process,” Panj added.
((rejection: The recommendations, suggestions, opinions and views given by the experts are their own. (It does not represent the views of The Economic Times.)
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