Only a fifth of financial advisers in Guernsey are women

A staggering statistic to hear in 2025, but at yesterday’s International Women’s Day event at the St Pierre Park, financial adviser and director at Network Bex Goater shared how women are still under-represented in finance.

‘I think it’s part of historic expectations, and that takes time to filter through, even though it is different now,’ she said.

‘I think its still perceived as a male job subconsciously, but as a job it is all about relationship building, which is something that women are generally really good at.’

While she said she had not experienced too many barriers in her career, she said that she felt that there would still sometimes be the expectation from clients that a man would be advising them, and that women have to prove themselves more than men.

‘There was one time that sticks out to me when I had a meeting with a provider and they aimed everything at my more junior male colleague. People do have that expectation,’ said Bex.

‘Not so much any more as I feel I have more authority now, whether that be because I am older or things have changed, I don’t know.’

As more women handle finances, with 53% of the UK’s millionaires being women, Bex said there was a greater need for women advisers now than ever before.

‘Women want women advisers, it’s a bit like doctors, a lot of women like to see women doctors, people are discussing intimate and personal financial information with us,’ she said.

While it is true that there are fewer financial advisers, Bex said she has noticed a change since she first started, and even how the career is viewed in education now.

‘I always remember when I was choosing my A-levels, I couldn’t do pure economics. I could do home economics, but not pure economics,’ she said.

‘I ended up opting to study at the associated boys school, but now you see this being encouraged for girls.

‘It was very much a woman in a man’s world moment. I was one of four girls and 16 boys in that class.’

She added that it all changed when she had her children, and at that point she felt like she had really worked out what it was to be a woman in the workplace.

‘When I had my two sons, I realised that I had these skills that are so important for my job, being able to empathise, build relationships and a growing importance of emotional intelligence which are strong skills to have in any business,’ she said.

‘But also there is a lot of stigma around being a career woman you feel the mum guilt, and stay-at -home mums are also criticised while there is praise for dads essentially babysitting their own children. It can be hard.

Women in leadership positions are becoming more common.

‘I am lucky though that in the circles I move in I now see a lot of strong female presence, and I think that we are starting to see an increase in women coming in and less of an expectation of a man in charge.

‘There are lots of networking opportunities that include women and we need to keep supporting each other.’