New Report: Latina Wealth in America

"Latinas are doing everything right: working, caregiving, earning degrees, and starting businesses; yet systemic inequities continue to block wealth-building opportunities,” said Orson Aguilar, President & CEO of LatinoProsperity. “This report is a call to action to our leaders that action needs to be taken to unlock Latinas’ full potential as drivers of America’s economic future."

Key Findings:

• Pay Inequities That Won't Close: Latinas earn 27% less than White women, even after accounting for education and experience. With focused efforts, the wage gap will take more than 60 years to close.
• Entrepreneurship is Soaring, but Funding is Not: Latina-owned employer businesses surged 82% in just five years, now generating $120 billion annually and employing nearly 900,000 workers. Yet, they receive less than 1% of venture capital dollars.
• Housing and Asset gaps: Only 49% of Latino households own their homes, compared to 65% of U.S. households. Latino homeowners overall hold 28 times more w ealth than Latino renters, underscoring both the critical role—and fragile foundation—of homeownership.
• Retirement and Investment Shortfalls: Latinas report an average of just $1,345 in retirement income and $700 in investment income annually—far below that of White women, at $4,411 and $3,171, respectively.
• Debt Delaying Life Milestones: Over one-third (36%) of Latinas reported delaying buying a home or pursuing education due to debt burdens. 
• Educational Gains, Unequal Returns: More than 3.5 million Latinas hold bachelor’s degrees or higher—triple the number since 2000. Still, only 20% of Latinas have a degree compared to 38% of White women. Even with graduate degrees, Latinas earn less than equally educated peers. 
• Citizenship Status Widens Gaps: Naturalized Latinas earn 38% more than their U.S.-born Latina peers, while those without citizenship earn 67% less—underscoring how legal status drives income inequality and limits wealth-building opportunities.
• Financial First Responders: Latinas disproportionately shoulder family emergencies, draining savings and stalling wealth-building. Just 35% have emergency savings, compared to more than half of White women. 
• A Broader Vision of Wealth: In interviews and six national roundtables, Latinas defined wealth not only as assets but also as stability, health, peace of mind, and the ability to support family with dignity.

"When a community that fuels the state's growth holds only a tenth of White household wealth, that's not just a gap - it's a statewide risk. We need bold, targeted policies to expand homeownership, unlock fair capital for entrepreneurs, and ensure quality jobs with retirement benefits." Orson Aguilar, President and CEO, LatinoProsperity

Key Findings:

• Wealth: Median Latino household wealth in California is $52,700 versus $474,800 for White households - a ratio of about 1:9 (11% parity), more than twice as wide as the national Latino-White gap.
• Income: Median Latino household income is $99,600 versus $136,000 for White households (27% gap), with disparities widening at higher income levels.
• Homeownership: Just 46% of Latino households own their homes compared to 66% of White households. Latino wealth is heavily concentrated in home equity, leaving families vulnerable to shocks, higher costs, and climate risks.
• Entrepreneurship: Latino-owned employer firms grew 38% from 2018-2023, yet face higher loan denial rates and smaller, costlier financing. Closing the Latino business revenue gap could add $268 billion to California's economy annually.
• Retirement & Financial Markets: Only 38% of Latino households participate in retirement plans, compared with 60% of White households, limiting long-term asset growth and resilience.

“Our research shows that Latinos are enthusiastic adopters of digital financial tools,” said Orson Aguilar.  “But if these technologies aren’t designed with our lived experiences in mind, they risk repeating the same injustices we’ve long faced. We need innovation that listens to and learns from our communities.”

Key findings in the report highlight both opportunities and risks in the fintech sector:

• Latinos are adopting mobile banking, buy-now-pay-later tools, and alternative credit products at higher rates than other groups.
• 56% of Latinos report using alternative financial services such as earned wage access (EWA) and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) tools, often to manage everyday expenses.
• A lack of transparency, poor customer service, and the layering of multiple financial products—often with unclear terms or hidden fees—can add financial strain to households already struggling to make ends meet. Click below to read the full report.