Wealth Professional
By Steve Randall
March 3rd, 2026
Canadian families continue to rely heavily on women when critical life decisions need to be made, including some of the most important financial ones such as estate planning.
Executors, who are responsible for settling estates after death, are more frequently women, with new research revealing that 53% of Canadians appoint a woman to administer their estate, compared with 46% who select a man. The role often involves closing accounts, distributing assets, managing legal paperwork and coordinating funeral arrangements, all duties that can require months of administrative work.
The trend becomes even more pronounced when Canadians plan for medical incapacity. Fifty-five per cent name a woman to make healthcare decisions on their behalf, compared with 45% who appoint a man. Among men, reliance on women is especially clear: 86% designate a woman to step in if they lose decision-making capacity.
The findings, released ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, highlight a persistent imbalance in how responsibility is distributed within families, with women frequently entrusted to navigate complex financial and healthcare decisions during some of life’s most challenging moments.
