Women have a more holistic view of financial planning, while men are more goal-oriented and less likely to ask for advice, according to a survey released today by Desjardins Group.

The survey, conducted in the fall, showed that men and woman arrive at the financial planning table with significantly different attitudes to the task.

“The trend that emerges from our study shows a significant difference in terms of the approach: women see financial planning as a whole that involves the well-being of the family, while men have a more compartmentalized approach, based on fixed objectives,” said Eric Lemieux, vice-president, wealth management at Desjardins, in a release.

According to responses from 1,400 people in Quebec and Ontario—evenly split between the sexes—women are generally more concerned about the welfare of others.

For instance, the women surveyed were more worried about financing their children’s education, not becoming a burden on others, having a notarized will and maintaining a budget.

On the other hand, men have their sights firmly set on specific goals. More men than women feel they are solely responsible for their decisions, and are therefore less likely to seek out help. Men also expressed a greater familiarity with financial vocabulary.

Financial independence, however, is a term that both sexes are equally attuned to, according to the responses—although women are more likely to desire such self-sufficiency.