New Year, New Investor: one in five plan to increase their investments in the New Year 

As the New Year begins, many people take stock of their lifestyles—setting fresh goals, breaking old habits, and committing to positive changes for the year ahead. Investing is no exception.

The latest research from global equity investment trust Alliance Witan has found that many investors are planning to change up their approach in order to start the year on the right foot with one in five investors (20%) planning to increase the amount they invest in the New Year.

19% of the 1,000 investors surveyed said they are also planning to speak with a financial adviser in the New Year, while another 19% plan to stay more up to date with market performance. 

Many investors are also looking to diversify their portfolios, with 11% planning to invest in a new sector or country, while another 11% are considering investing in a new asset class.

Millennials leading the resolution charge

Across the survey, Millennials (28-43-year-olds) over-indexed on almost all resolutions, with 35% planning to increase the amount they invest in 2026, while 26% plan to speak with a financial adviser. 

Similarly, a quarter of Millennials plan to seek the help of AI platforms for guidance on investing decisions (24%), compared to the 11% average across those surveyed. Another quarter (24%) of Millennials plan to take an educational course focused on finance and global markets, compared to 9% of investors on average. 

18% of Millennials are also planning to follow financial influencers more closely, over double the average of 7%. Just 12% of Gen Z (18-27-year-olds) plan to do the same, followed by 6% of Gen X (44-59-year-olds) and just 1% of Baby Boomers (60-77-year-olds). 

Gen Z investors were the most likely to say they plan to invest in a new sector or country (21%) or a new asset class (27%), while also planning to increase their risk appetites in the New Year (19% vs the average of 8% across those surveyed).

Mark Atkinson Senior Director at WTW, which manages the trust, said: “The New Year is a time for people to reset, and recent market volatility may have inspired investors to rethink their strategies for 2026. Unsurprisingly, younger investors are spearheading this change, whether that’s by opting to diversify their portfolios or seek extra advice from qualified sources. These investors may still be finding their comfort zones while they work out the best investment strategies for their objectives, a luxury of having longer time horizons.

“For those just starting out, it’s important to remember that investing always carries a degree of risk. For this reason, staying invested through periods of volatility and seeking diversified global exposure is a good baseline strategy for any investor with a longer-term time horizon, especially those yet to call themselves seasoned investors.”