Investing can be a highly effective way to grow your wealth over time and support long-term goals such as retirement.
However, it’s important to note that not everyone engages with investing in the same way.
Research from Professional Adviser shows that women are still less likely to invest in ISAs than men, with a noticeable gap in engagement.
This doesn’t mean women are less capable investors, but it indicates that barriers may prevent many from getting started or taking a more active role.
Continue reading to learn about some of the barriers contributing to this gap and how you could navigate potential hurdles.
The gender investment gap is shaped by more than just choices
The “gender investment gap” simply refers to the difference in how men and women engage with investing.
A 2025 Boring Money survey found that 6.7 million women in the UK invest versus 10 million men – a 3.3 million-person difference.
Over time, this disparity can be incredibly impactful, given how beneficial investing can be for long-term wealth creation.
Several behaviours and life circumstances can cause the gap. For instance, the gender pay gap can mean women have less surplus income available to invest in the first place.
Moreover, career breaks for life events, such as raising children or caring for other loved ones, can further interrupt earnings.
Even when women have similar levels of knowledge, they may be more likely to question their understanding or delay making decisions until they feel more certain.
In fact, the survey above found that just 20% of women investors feel comfortable taking on risk when investing, compared with 44% of male investors.
This hesitation can lead to holding more cash or avoiding investing altogether, making it challenging to achieve your long-term goals.
Women often bring strengths that can support long-term investing
Interestingly, many of the traits that contribute to the gap can also make women effective investors, so much so that the Independent reveals that portfolios owned by women typically outperform those held by men by 1.8% each year.
This could be because women tend to take a more measured and disciplined approach to investing.
Indeed, they’re often less likely to trade frequently or react to short-term market movements. According to the source above, women, on average, make 25% fewer trades than men each year.
Frequently checking your portfolio or attempting to time the market can reduce long-term returns, especially if your decisions are driven by emotion.
Data from Fidelity, reported by the Motley Fool, actually found that some of the best-performing client portfolios between 2003 and 2013 belonged to people who hadn’t touched their investments at all. Some had already passed away.
Women are also more cautious about risk, and while this can sometimes lead to hesitation, it could also help you avoid unnecessary exposure to volatile investments.
3 simple ways to navigate the common hurdles and take a more active role when investing
Even though the barriers to women investing are real, there are practical ways you could build confidence and take greater control of your finances. Read on to learn about three.
1. Take small, consistent steps to build your knowledge
Building the confidence needed to invest often doesn’t happen overnight, but rather gradually as you become more familiar with the concepts involved.
Rather than trying to understand everything at once, it may be prudent to focus on smaller, more manageable steps.
For instance, you could take the time to:
- Read about investing concepts such as diversification and risk
- Review your current investments and how they work
- Ask questions during meetings, even if they feel basic.
Over time, these seemingly insignificant actions could help you feel far more comfortable making decisions regarding your wealth.
2. Stay actively involved in financial decisions
If you share financial responsibilities with a partner, it can be easy to take a step back over time.
In some cases, one person might naturally take the lead, especially when it comes to investments. However, this can mean you have less knowledge of what you hold, how your portfolio is performing, or the decisions being made on your behalf.
Over time, this lack of involvement could make it more challenging to feel confident making decisions independently.
So, it’s important to remain engaged in any conversations about your finances.
Even seemingly insignificant actions, such as asking questions or requesting clearer explanations, could help you build confidence and take a more active role over time.
3. Consider taking professional advice
Perhaps one of the more effective ways to overcome investing hurdles as a woman is to seek professional advice.
Indeed, working with an adviser can help you better understand the options available to you and feel more confident about any decisions you make.
Moreover, we could help you:
- Build a plan that aligns with your long-term goals
- Demystify complex concepts in an accessible way
- Provide reassurance during periods of uncertainty.
Importantly, professional advice can help ensure your voice is heard. Rather than feeling as though decisions are being made around you, you could take an active role in building towards your financial future, with expert support along the way.
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Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.