More than half (56%) of women who have not yet invested say they have evaluated this opportunity in the past. When asked what would push them to try, motivations similar to those of women who are already investing are presented: increase their long-term savings (41%), build financial security for the family or children (40%) and rapidly increase their capital (29%). This is what emerges from a research conducted by N26 in Italy which traces the behavior of investing and non-investing women.
Women between 35 and 44 years of age are particularly open to investing in the future: 60% have already evaluated the possibility of starting to do so. Among non-investors, the sectors they could most likely consider include real estate (29%), followed by cryptocurrencies (26%) and banking products (23%).
In fact, the potential of new investors in Italy appears significant: as many as 72% of those who already invest say that in 2022 they plan to increase their monthly sum. Female investors aged between 35 and 44 are planning to double the amount destined to seize new investment opportunities compared to the past (+ 111%).
The fundamental role of financial education
Both women who are already investing and those who are considering doing so, research N26 indicates, point to lack of disposable income as the main reason limiting further investment or preventing starting (42% and 52% respectively). One third of female investors (33%) also cite some uncertainty about their future financial stability (29%).
For women who are not investing yet, poor knowledge (32%) and a lack of confidence in investment products (15%) represent significant barriers. When asked what would encourage them to start investing, over a quarter of the female sample (28%) put adequate training on the subject first, while 23% want more open and simple conversations about the benefits and risks of ‘investment. Two out of five women (40%), in fact, declare that they have no opportunity to discuss the subject with anyone. Another useful aspect, according to women who do not invest, would be the support of professional consultants who could help women who intend to invest (22%).
Although the lack of knowledge is not an obstacle for Italian women who already invest and the overwhelming majority (76%) feel confident in making decisions in this area, just over half (55%) say they are adequately informed about financial instruments . The low level of financial information is particularly visible among the youngest (aged between 18 and 24 years), in fact 81% declare themselves safe, but only 48% feel informed.
Nearly 2 in 5 women (38%) who invest consider i banking products, such as savings accounts, as the preferred financial instrument, followed by insurance products (eg life insurance and pensions), preferred by 34% of the interviewees and by the trading of cryptocurrencies (30%).