Financial anxiety outweighs confidence among UK adults, new research shows

New research commissioned by Aegon’s Money: Mindshift campaign reveals a finely balanced but concerning emotional divide in how UK adults feel about money, with negative emotions (51%) slightly outweighing positive ones (49%) overall.

While the split is close, the findings highlight a persistent confidence challenge. More than one in five (22%) say money makes them feel anxious most of the time, compared with just 21% who describe themselves as confident about their finances. 

When asked what would most increase confidence when making important financial decisions, respondents most cited clearer information and explanations (28%), followed by a better understanding of their own financial behaviours (20%). A further 14% identified emotional reassurance as the key factor.

The findings underline the important role advisers and employers play in shifting the overall emotional balance – helping more people move from negative to positive financial mindsets, particularly where decisions are complex or emotionally driven.

To address this, Aegon will host Money: Mindshift Week from 2 to 4 June – a series of live online sessions for advisers and employers focused on the behavioural drivers of financial decision making, improving conversations on financial wellbeing and life planning, and covering themes such as retirement readiness, identity and money, and emotional intelligence, with contributions from Dr Tom Mathar, Dan Haylett (financial planner and author of “The Retirement You Didn’t See Coming”), James Woodfall (an ex-financial planner who now runs “Raise Your EI” – emotional intelligence training for financial advisers) and Alice Hooper Scott (Director of The School of Life at Work).

Dr Tom Mathar, Head of Money:Mindshift, said:

“While the overall split between positive and negative emotions about money is close, it’s significant that more people still fall on the negative side. That tells us this isn’t just a knowledge gap – it’s an emotional and behavioural one.

Financial decisions are rarely just about numbers; they’re about identity, priorities and what people want from life.

Money: Mindshift Week is about helping advisers and employers unlock those deeper conversations so more people can begin planning the life they want to live with the resources they have.”

Money: Mindshift Week forms part of Aegon’s wider work on financial wellbeing and behavioural insight, aimed at supporting advisers and employers in addressing the life questions that financial decisions are really answering.