The Royal Mint, the home of UK precious metals investing, has seen a significant uplift in female investors buying gold and silver. New customer data shows that women now make up over a quarter (26%) of its investor base, tripling from 8% in 2018 as more women look to precious metals to manage their investment risk.
This trend is set to accelerate, as a new poll of over 3,000 adults in the UK, undertaken by The Royal Mint, shows 27% of women plan to move their savings into investments in the next year, with 16% of women saying they are considering investing in gold.
Nearly a third of women (31%) are motivated to start investing so that they can grow their wealth over the long-term.
Addressing the investment knowledge gap
The research revealed that 26% of women said they are being held back from investing because of a lack of knowledge, with over a third (35%) stating that they would start their investing journey if they knew more about low-risk investments. Women are 45% more likely than men to feel hesitant to start or expand their investment portfolio because of a lack of investment knowledge. 58% of women who haven’t started investing yet felt investment jargon was too complicated, compared to 47% of men.
When asked what would motivate more women to invest, the power of networks was a common answer. 30% of women said they would be more inclined to invest if their friends discussed investing in a social setting compared to 23% of men. Over a third (37%) of women said they would start investing tomorrow if they had an investment role model.
Commenting on the research, Nicola Howell, Chief Commercial Officer at The Royal Mint said: “This study clearly shows the impact of investment risk and knowledge on female investment participation. While undoubtedly progress has been made in recent years, and more women are expected to invest in the next year, there is a long way to go before a level playing field is reached.
“We want more women to feel empowered when making investment choices, whether that’s in precious metals or any other asset, and our new platform will help individuals make more informed decisions around their future financial security.”
As part of The Royal Mint’s survey, female investors shared their top tips for those who haven’t started investing yet. Their top tips were:
- Be patient and think long-term rather than looking for quick gains
- Start with a small amount of money that you can afford to lose
- Start as early as possible so you have more time to build wealth
- Educate yourself on the basics of investing before making any decisions
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek advice from financial professionals or your peers
The Royal Mint is the UK’s home of precious metals investing, having worked with gold and other precious metals for over 1,100 years. The Royal Mint is proud to offer collectors and investors a wide range of products for at varying price points, making significant inroads into democratising precious metals ownership through fractional products.
