Single Women Seek Financial Counseling at Higher Rates, Face Tighter Budgets

Event summary

  • Single women represented 37% of financial counseling clients at Money Management International (MMI) in 2025, compared to 21% for single men.
  • Single women clients had an average annual income of $43,000, 13% lower than single men in the same client population.
  • Unsecured debt for single women increased 42% since 2019, compared to a 35% increase for single men.
  • 81% of single women clients had low to moderate incomes (below 80% of Area Median Income), compared to 75% of single men.

The big picture

MMI's data highlights a growing financial disparity where single women, despite carrying lower average debt, face higher financial strain due to lower incomes. This trend underscores the need for targeted financial education and counseling services, particularly as economic pressures continue to mount. The findings also reflect broader industry challenges in addressing systemic financial inequities.

What we're watching

Income Disparity
How the persistent income gap between single women and men will impact financial stability and counseling demand.
Debt Growth
Whether the faster rise in unsecured debt among single women will lead to more severe financial distress.
Counseling Effectiveness
The pace at which early financial counseling interventions can mitigate long-term financial strain for single women.