Fewer than half of British people consider themselves confident investors, with a significant gender disparity revealed in a new survey.
Just 44 per cent of people describe themselves as assured in their investment decisions, a figure that jumps to 57 per cent among men but plummets to a mere 31 per cent for women, according to findings from Aviva.
The study also highlighted a common perception, with six in ten (61 per cent) believing that some individuals are “born investors” rather than developing the skill over time.
Interestingly, nearly a third (32 per cent) of investors surveyed only ventured into the market later in life, driven by personal interest and curiosity.
Furthermore, over two-fifths (42 per cent) expressed a desire to alter past investment management decisions if given the chance, while 23 per cent admitted to making choices they now regret. Only a fifth (21 per cent) reported being encouraged by family members to consider investing from a young age.
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of people surveyed said they are interested in changing their attitude towards investing and have a desire to build confidence.
This interest peaked among 18 to 24-year-olds (87 per cent) – around double the proportion of people who are aged 55 and over (44 per cent).
Alistair McQueen, head of savings and retirement at Aviva, said: “It is easy to think investing is a talent you’re born with but in reality, confidence is learned over time.
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“Many people only start to feel comfortable once they have tried it and realised that investing is more about steady habits than bold moves.
“The positive signal from this research is how many people want to build their confidence.
“Starting small, keeping things simple and giving yourself time can go a long way towards turning curiosity into action.”
Censuswide surveyed 2,000 people across the UK in April.
Here are some suggestions from Aviva to build confidence when investing:
1. Consider building a buffer first
Setting up a basic emergency fund will help avoid the need to cash in investments at short notice. Investors could then get started with building a small regular amount that they will not miss to gradually build a habit.
2. Keep it simple
People could consider starting with something diversified so they are not relying on one company or sector for their investment to grow.
3. Pick a timeframe
Investing is usually for money left untouched for the medium to long term – five years or more.
4. Think about where you are getting advice, particularly online
Be wary of promises of guaranteed returns or secret strategies. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.