A new modern trader: How Millennial women are making their mark

The world of investing is evolving—and more young women are finding their place. According to Schwab’s Women Investors Survey, Millennial women are increasingly embracing trading as part of their financial journey. In fact, 37% of Millennial women surveyed identified as traders compared to 23% of Gen X and just 11% of Boomers.

And this shift isn’t just about identity—it’s also about engagement. Millennial women started investing earlier with an average age of 27 compared to 31 for Gen Xers and 36 for Boomers. 

Rather than following a single path, this new wave of female traders brings a range of perspectives, priorities, and styles. They’re navigating financial markets on their own terms—taking the initiative to develop their own approaches and striving toward unique goals.

Shanaya, a 30-year-old full-time technology consultant loves to stay active and cook. Living with her fiancé, she thrives on structure and organization. Her passion for trading was sparked by her dad, who taught her the value of financial independence. 

“We didn’t grow up with much, and [my dad] still found a way just by being careful and tracking and investing. I think it’s always just been important for me to not have to stress about money as much as I possibly can by trying to save and invest for retirement… It’ll save me a lot of stress and headache.”

Rachel, a 34-year-old stay-at-home mom, part-time fitness instructor, and ultra-marathon runner, manages her family’s finances and enjoys the sense of accomplishment trading brings. Inspired by both her frugal mother and her CPA husband, Rachel finds trading to be a way to secure her family’s future. 

"I am setting money aside in trading to not touch for a very long time, ten, fifteen, twenty years, to watch it grow. We want to help our kids with college; that’s a big one. And then to be able to retire earlier than most is huge." 

Katy, a 37-year-old school guidance counselor with a passion for travel and her pets, describes her trading approach as "moderately aggressive." Encouraged by her brother and driven by the need to boost her workplace retirement account returns, Katy is a relative beginner, having started trading a few years ago. 

"My brother gave me a short book about the general rules of trading and investing. I read that and I was looking at my 403(b) account through work… I changed a lot of things up in there and then that just got me interested in opening up other accounts and seeing what I could do through those."

Despite their busy schedules, these women have found ways to incorporate trading into their routines even if they aren’t day trading. Shanaya places trades 1-2 times per week and spends about 30 minutes each day researching stocks with tools from her brokerage and other sources. She usually trades from her living room in the evenings, often discussing trades with her fiancé. As she’s become more confident investing, she’s found herself playing a financial mentor role with some of her friends, telling them that it’s easy to get started and emphasizing that trading doesn’t need to be as confusing as it seems.

Rachel often trades in the early mornings when the house is quiet. She prefers trading from her phone, appreciating the simplicity and portability. She’s in several FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) Facebook groups, where she takes a “fly on the wall’ approach, watching and listening to what others who are in a similar situation to her are doing.  Her strategy is to buy when stocks are low, hoping they will go back up.

For Katy, trading during work breaks or in the morning on her phone keeps it convenient and allows her to cross it off her to-do list. She regularly reviews her portfolio and turns to online research tools that will help her understand the technical analysis of the market in a simple and visual way. Risk management is woven into her decision-making and approach: she decides to make a trade, then waits a couple days before placing it to make sure she’s certain, and that nothing has changed in a rapidly evolving market.

Each of these women has established trading strategies and a trading routine, which helps them remain consistent in their trading plans. They generally trade from the same location at the same time of day, fitting it seamlessly into their lives alongside jobs, childcare, and hobbies. As Shanaya puts it, she believes "daily habits create the biggest results."

Trading has taught these women valuable lessons and boosted their confidence in handling financial matters. Shanaya emphasizes the importance of feeling in control of her financial life. 

Rachel is goal-oriented, and achieving financial goals through trading and investing gives her a sense of pride and accomplishment. While she’s primarily focused on setting aside money for her children’s education and her and her husband’s early retirement, which means longer-term investments and a more conservative strategy, she’s recently made some riskier short-term moves that have paid off. It has boosted her confidence and made her feel like she’s contributing more financially to the family.

Katy, while newer to trading, recognizes the importance of being involved in financial processes and thinks it would be impactful to have a community of like-minded women to lean on when it comes to the subject. "I think it’s important for women to become more aware of what they’re investing in, planning for the future, not letting someone else run your accounts, knowing what’s in the funds you’re buying. It’s really important. I wish I had more women to talk to about it."

These women have learned that trading is simpler than it appears and encourage others to start sooner, stressing financial independence and security as reasons why. Shanaya advises, "Start today." Rachel echoes, "Get started ASAP," while Katy concurs, "Get started now."

"Financial security is knowing you have the money for what you need,” says Katy. “Financial freedom is more open; I feel like financial freedom is what I’m shooting for.”

Shanaya, Rachel, and Katy show that women are making trading fit their lives, goals and futures. Whether their motivations are reducing stress, building a college fund, or saving for retirement, they’re proving that trading can play a key role, especially if you start with small, consistent steps. And while they aren’t on Wall Street, their financial strategies are still impactful.

And as the Schwab Women Investor Study found, they are part of a new generation of women traders that is reshaping what financial confidence looks like. Getting started with a nudge from a financial role model, and trading in what has traditionally been a male-dominated field, these women are aspiring to achieve financial independence by adopting smart investment strategies. It’s a movement that’s thoughtful, intentional and it’s just getting started.