found that just 29% of female respondents in the UK have traded or invested in stocks and shares online, compared to 47% of men. So why are less women investing than men? 58% of women reported thinking it was too risky, and 52% said they felt they did not know enough about online trading and investing.
As with many gender gap issues, it comes down to confidence and forms of imposter syndrome. According toThe cost of living crisis has only exacerbated my feelings.There’s a slight shroud of mystery to the world of investing, which can act as a barrier – or make people nervous about dipping their toe in the water.
So, if you’re keen to invest, but not sure where to start or what everything means, here’s a quick guide to your options, as well as a jargon buster for some common investing terms., it’s a good idea to have a comfortable financial safety net in an easy-access savings account, first. The last thing you want is to have an emergency or loss of income, and realise that all of your disposable cash is tied up in investments, and could have lost value in the short term or take time to access. A good emergency fund will cover 3-6 months’ worth of living costs for most people – you might feel comfortable with less, or you might like to err on the side of caution with a little more.
It’s not a good idea to invest money that you might need in the next 12-24 months, as investing is more of a long-term commitment.