We stand at the precipice of what may be the most significant economic shift of our lifetimes: an estimated $124 trillion in U.S. wealth will transfer through 2048, according to Fortune. This historic movement of assets will position women, nationally and here in Greater Philadelphia, to influence investment trends, philanthropy, and civic power in unprecedented ways.

But this is far more than a financial milestone. For our region, it represents a generational catalyst that could reshape economic mobility, neighborhood stability, and the leadership landscape of Greater Philadelphia. What makes this transfer truly historic is not only its size, but also the unprecedented concentration of assets flowing into women’s hands and how intentionally those assets will be used.

A convergence of wealth and influence with direct local implications

Women are expected to control almost 40 percent of U.S. wealth in just five years, according to UBS’s Own Your Worth Report. That shift will be felt in Philadelphia, where women are gaining ground by leading select anchor institutions, directing growing philanthropic capital, and holding more corporate roles, though significant gaps remain at the highest levels.

Of the $124 trillion transferring nationally, $54 trillion will go to surviving spouses — the vast majority of whom are women. Another $47 trillion will pass to younger generations, many of whom are Philadelphia’s emerging leaders and innovators. These are the women who sit on our nonprofit boards, run our family-owned businesses, and shape our civic priorities.

For women, wealth has always meant more than numbers on a balance sheet. It means safety and stability in a region with persistent poverty, opportunity in a city working hard to retain talent, and the ability to support causes that influence Philadelphia’s long-term wellbeing.

Women driving regional economic growth

Women’s rising economic power expands opportunity rather than redistributing it. Bank of America’s recent study, Women and wealth: Growing the pie, creating opportunities, shows women’s spending growth outpaced men’s in 2024, driving demand for services, retail, hospitality, arts, and caregiving sectors that sit at the heart of Philadelphia’s economy.

Women over 50 drive the majority of household purchasing decisions in our region. As they increasingly invest in wellness, education, and travel, their choices strengthen local businesses, support cultural institutions, and fuel regional job creation.

Philanthropy with local impact

As women inherit and accumulate unprecedented wealth, they bring a distinctive approach to giving rooted in community, equity, and long-term impact. Philadelphia’s philanthropic landscape already reflects this trend. Women lead several of the region’s largest foundations and giving collectives, and women donors drive significant support for education, healthcare, arts, and economic mobility.

Research from J.P. Morgan shows women give more frequently and often in higher amounts, especially toward causes connected to community wellbeing. From supporting violence prevention to strengthening public schools to expanding mental health resources, women’s philanthropy can shape the direction and resilience of Greater Philadelphia.

When women have the resources and platform to lead, they reinvest in families, neighborhoods, and communities. They move Philadelphia forward.

Expanding political influence in a region that needs it

Pennsylvania remains one of the least represented states for women in elected office. While Philadelphia has made progress, including the recent election of our first woman mayor, women remain underrepresented at nearly every level of government.

With greater control of wealth comes an opportunity, and a responsibility, for women to expand their influence in the political arena. According to the nonpartisan Center for American Women and Politics, men far outspend women in terms of contributions to candidates and political parties. Women donors can help define who holds power on City Council, in Harrisburg, and in Washington, D.C., and what policies move forward around childcare, economic development, community safety, and pay equity.

Investing in women entrepreneurs to strengthen Philadelphia’s economy

The Great Wealth Transfer provides a once-in-a-generation chance to close racial and gender wealth gaps. This opportunity will only materialize if funding is intentionally directed to women-led and minority-owned businesses. The Forum of Executive Women’s 2025 Women in Leadership Report highlights that access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers for women entrepreneurs in our region.

Philadelphia’s women-owned businesses, particularly Black- and Brown-owned firms, are central to neighborhood vibrancy and economic growth. Yet women entrepreneurs receive less than 2 percent of venture capital funding nationally.

Mom Your Business (MYB), which was highlighted in The Forum’s 2025 report, is one of many Philadelphia-based organizations that support Black and Brown women with access to capital, digital tools, and community. Organizations like MYB help women build the financial capacity and networks needed for investment.

When women invest locally through community funds, angel networks, and targeted initiatives, the effect is transformative. Local investment strengthens neighborhoods, creates jobs, and builds pathways to generational wealth.

Preparing for the transfer ahead

As women prepare to assume unprecedented financial control, preparation becomes essential. Three critical steps can transform this transfer from a source of anxiety into a platform for empowerment: breaking the silence around family wealth, gaining comprehensive knowledge about assets and implications, and engaging trusted professional advisors who can help navigate the financial, legal, and tax complexities.

A call to action for Philadelphia

This moment calls us to action as a region. The Great Wealth Transfer is not only an economic reality; it is a civic opportunity. When women have the resources and platform to lead, they reinvest in families, neighborhoods, and communities. They move Philadelphia forward.

In a world where wealth often equates to power, women in Philadelphia will soon hold both in unprecedented measure. The question before us is clear: What will we build with it?

Meghan Pierce is President & CEO, The Forum of Executive Women.

The Citizen welcomes guest commentary from community members who represent that it is their own work and their own opinion based on true facts that they know firsthand.

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Meghan Pierce at The Forum’s 2025 holiday party. Photo by Cathie Berrey, BeauMonde Originals.