Why longevity matters for successful women

Longevity is an important issue for everyone. But for women its impact is different, and often greater. Women live longer, earn less on average over the course of their life than men and are more likely to take career breaks. The result is that women often face a more complex financial path over their lifetime, with a greater need to plan for the future.

Nowhere is this imbalance clearer than in professional sport. While male athletes in many sports can earn life-changing sums and walk into commentary boxes, coaching gigs or endorsement deals after retirement, women often face far fewer options. Their peak earning years are shorter, their salaries lower, and their public profiles can be less commercially viable post-playing career.

In short, women’s longevity planning needs to start earlier and carry more urgency.

Former international netballer Chelsea Pitman knows this challenge well. After a decade-long professional career representing both Australia and England, she’s now made the leap from player to head coach at Nottingham Forest Netball, a transition that came faster than she expected.

“I thought I’d take some time out, maybe travel a bit,” she says. “When the coaching role came up, I went into the interview thinking it would just be good practice. But I ended up getting the job.”

While it may seem like a seamless transition, Chelsea’s story is one of careful thinking, flexibility and a willingness to explore life beyond the game. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she took time out to train and work as a police officer, a passion she could have pursued full time. “I knew I’d be OK,” she says. “If I needed to get a job to figure things out, I would. I’ve never been afraid of working hard.”

For women athletes, especially in sports like netball where full-time contracts don’t come with multi-million-pound sums attached, that pragmatic mindset is essential. Chelsea says the Netball Super League is making great progress, with stronger investment, more professional structures and growing public interest. But she’s also clear that players need to take ownership of their futures.

“You never know what’s around the corner. Injuries happen. Contracts end. You have to be adaptable,” she says. “Even if you’re not earning huge money, you can still be smart about it. Speak to someone, have a plan and build something for the long term.”

Regardless of whether you’re a professional athlete or not, woman or not, this is sound advice that everyone should consider.

Chelsea’s story echoes a wider truth about women and longevity. On average, women in the UK live nearly four years longer than men. According to the Office for National Statistics, life expectancy at age 65 is 21 years for women and 18 years for men¹. Yet despite this, women often retire with significantly less in pension savings.

Research by the Pensions Policy Institute suggests that the average woman in her 60s has a private pension pot just over a third the size of the average man’s². Lower lifetime earnings, part-time work, and time out of the workforce for caregiving all contribute.

That’s why early and tailored financial planning is so important for everyone regardless of gender. Building a long-term safety net isn’t just about saving more, it’s about knowing your priorities, staying adaptable, and making the most of your options at each stage of life. As Chelsea puts it, “You’ve got to be ready to grow, to learn, and to have honest conversations, even the awkward ones about money.”

The growing strength of women’s sport could play a powerful role in addressing these long-term challenges. More investment in the professional game doesn’t just mean better pay and conditions for athletes, it also creates a ripple effect of opportunity. More teams mean more jobs for coaches, administrators, physios and performance specialists. It also gives women in sport a stronger platform to extend their careers beyond their playing days.

But the impact reaches even further. Sport helps develop the exact skills women need to thrive in life and work, like confidence, leadership, resilience, time management and teamwork.

Chelsea believes this is where real progress lies. “We’re building something that will help the next generation,” she says. “We want girls to see that netball isn’t just something you play at school. It’s a career. It’s a path. It’s a community.”

And with that growth, more women can enter adulthood (and retirement) equipped with the confidence, skills and support networks they need to meet longevity not as a risk, but as an opportunity.

Throughout her career, Chelsea has consistently highlighted the value of support, whether in the form of teammates, mentors or professional guidance.

That same principle applies when it comes to financial wellbeing. Navigating transitions, preparing for retirement or planning for long-term goals isn’t something that needs to be done in isolation. The right financial planner becomes more than just an adviser, they become a trusted partner in helping you define your priorities, adapt to change and take control of your future.

Whether you’re a professional athlete, a business leader or simply someone thinking about your next stage in life, surrounding yourself with the right people can make all the difference. Because with the right guidance and a clear plan, longevity isn’t a burden to manage, but an opportunity to build something meaningful.

To discuss how to prepare your own finances for longevity, speak to your usual Evelyn Partners contact.

¹ ONS, National life tables – life expectancy in the UK, 11 January 2024

² Pensions Policy Institute, Underpensioned: defining the gender pension gap, February 2024