As women increasingly become household breadwinners, wealth creators and financial decision-makers, FNB is encouraging them to prioritise life cover, income protection, Wills and estate planning to protect their families and the wealth they are building.
Female-headed households account for 42.6% of households in South Africa, according to Statistics South Africa’s 2025 General Household Survey, highlighting the significant financial responsibilities carried by women.
From raising children and managing households to supporting ageing parents and extended family members, many women are responsible for the wellbeing of several generations at once. These responsibilities can make it difficult to prioritise their own long-term financial security.
“Women are often the first to step in when a family member needs support, whether emotionally, physically or financially. While this commitment reflects incredible strength and resilience, it can sometimes come at the expense of their own financial security,” says Jabulile Sigasa, Customer Experience Head at FNB Insurance.
For households that rely heavily on one person’s income and support, unexpected events such as illness, disability, accidents or loss of income can place significant pressure on family finances.
Sigasa says women should consider their own financial protection as part of planning for the people who depend on them.
“One of the most important financial lessons women can embrace is that protecting yourself is not selfish. In many cases, your ability to care for others depends on your own financial wellbeing. By putting appropriate protection in place, you’re also protecting the people who depend on you,” she says.
Life cover and other protection solutions can provide financial support when circumstances change unexpectedly. FNB currently offers life insurance alongside disability, critical illness and estate protection options.
As more women accumulate assets through careers, entrepreneurship, investments and property ownership, estate planning is also becoming an increasingly important part of managing family wealth.
“Women are increasingly playing a central role in creating, growing and preserving wealth within families. Estate planning ensures that the wealth and security they’ve worked so hard to build continues to benefit their loved ones and future generations,” says Carin Meyer, Product Head for Wills and Deceased Banking at FNB Fiduciary.
A valid Will remains one of the central tools in estate planning. It allows individuals to record how they want their assets distributed and can be used to nominate a guardian for minor children.
“Estate planning is ultimately an extension of the care and responsibility that many women demonstrate every day. It provides clarity, reduces unnecessary stress for loved ones and helps ensure that your wishes are carried out in a way that protects the people who matter most,” Meyer says.
Estate planning can extend beyond a Will to include reviewing beneficiary nominations, considering the needs of dependants and ensuring important financial information is organised and accessible.
FNB describes an estate plan as something that should evolve as circumstances change, including following marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or changes involving significant assets.
For women who have spent years creating financial stability for their families, these decisions can help determine how assets and wealth are transferred to the next generation.
“A well-structured estate plan helps transform years of hard work into a lasting legacy. It provides certainty during difficult times and helps ensure that family wealth continues to serve the purpose for which it was intended,” Meyer adds.
During Women’s Month, FNB is encouraging women to review their financial wellbeing, protection needs and estate plans.
This can include reviewing life cover and income protection, ensuring a Will remains valid and up to date, checking beneficiary nominations and considering whether adequate provision has been made for children and other dependants.
As women take on greater roles in supporting households and creating family wealth, financial protection and estate planning provide mechanisms for protecting both their current responsibilities and the assets they intend to leave to future generations.
