Women Are Investing More Than Ever: 6 Tips to Get Started with Investing

Recent data reveals that women are outperforming men in investment returns, challenging old stereotypes and showing a growing trend of women taking charge of their financial futures. As more women embrace investing, many are surpassing their male counterparts in achieving higher returns.

A study by Revolut, ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, highlights that women across various age groups are seeing impressive investment profits. In particular, women aged 45 to 54 outperformed men in the same demographic, while younger women (aged 25 to 34) and those in the 55 to 64 age range also experienced higher returns than their male peers.

In 2024, women opened 31% more trading accounts than the previous year, outpacing men, who saw a 20% increase in account openings. The most popular investment trend for UK investors was technology stocks, which dominated the investment landscape.

6 Key Tips to Start Investing and Build Wealth

If you’re a woman looking to start your investment journey, here are six essential tips from Yana Shkrebenkova, CEO of wealth and trading at Revolut UK, to help you get started:

1. Start with ‘Why?’

The first step in investing is understanding your motivation. Whether it’s retirement, buying property, or saving for a dream vacation, clarifying your goals can provide direction. As Shkrebenkova says, “Investing is a marathon, not a sprint.” Knowing why you’re investing helps you stay committed to your financial journey.

2. Invest Responsibly and Consistently

Before you invest, ensure your essentials and emergency fund are covered. Once you have a financial safety net, only invest what you can afford to lose. Even small, consistent contributions can lead to significant growth over time thanks to compound interest, which helps your money grow exponentially.

3. Master the Basics of Investing

Avoid falling for “get rich quick” schemes. Understanding how your investments work is key to making informed decisions. Shkrebenkova advises, “Knowledge is your superpower,” and staying curious can lead to better financial decisions. Read reputable sources, listen to podcasts, and research investment opportunities thoroughly.

4. Diversify Your Portfolio

To minimize risk, spread your investments across different sectors, asset classes, and geographical regions. Diversification helps protect your portfolio from market volatility. Regularly review and rebalance your investments to align with your financial goals.

5. Stay Calm During Market Movements

Investing can be emotional, especially when the market experiences sudden drops or surges. It’s important to resist the temptation to panic or chase short-term trends. Stick to your long-term plan, trust your diversified portfolio, and avoid knee-jerk reactions to market movements.

6. Be Cautious of Too-Good-to-Be-True Schemes

If an investment opportunity promises “guaranteed” returns that sound too good to be true, proceed with caution. Often, these schemes are scams or come with hidden fees. Always do thorough research before committing your money.

Why More Women Are Investing

Women, especially Gen-Z, are increasingly becoming active investors. With better access to online resources and a desire to close the investment gap, women are proving that they can excel in wealth management and trading. As technology continues to reshape the financial world, more women are using these tools to build resilient investment portfolios and secure their financial futures.

As Shkrebenkova puts it, “It’s early days, but the data shows that men may need to take a leaf out of women’s books.” The gender investment gap is narrowing, and women are becoming more empowered to take control of their financial well-being.

Final Thoughts on Women and Investing

The landscape for female investors is evolving, and more women are taking charge of their financial futures. By following these six essential tips, you can confidently begin your investing journey, build wealth, and take steps toward achieving your long-term financial goals. Remember, investing is about patience, research, and discipline, so start small and grow your portfolio over time.

3 reasons to consider a Stocks and Shares ISA over a Cash ISA in 2025 Not all ISAs are created equal. And if one is serious about building wealth, it’s important to choose the right investment vehicle. Cash ISAs remain popular. Looking at government figures, there’s currently around £300bn stashed away in these products. If one is serious about building wealth, however, a Stocks and Shares ISA could be smarter. Here are three reasons to consider this type of ISA instead in 2025. Investment funds One advantage of Stocks and Shares ISAs is they (usually) offer access to investment funds. These products provide diversified exposure to the stock market and tend to generate much higher returns than cash savings products (like the Cash ISA, although admittedly it’s a safer option) over the long term. An example of a fund (and one I think worth considering) is Fundsmith Equity. This is a popular product that is invested in about 30 different companies globally. While this fund has had its ups and downs over the years (like all stock market-based investments), it has performed very well over the long term. Since its launch in late 2010, it has returned about 15% per year (before platform fees) – trouncing the returns from cash savings. Investment trusts Stocks and Shares ISAs also offer access to investment trusts. These are similar to funds by providing diversified exposure to stocks, however, they’re traded slightly differently, and often have lower fees. One investment trust I’ve invested in (and I think is also worth others considering) is Scottish Mortgage. This is a growth-focused trust that invests in disruptive businesses like Nvidia and Amazon (it has nothing to do with Scottish mortgages!) This trust can be volatile at times due its focus on tech stocks. However, over the long term it has done well, delivering a share price gain of about 430% over the last decade (roughly 18% a year). Individual stocks Perhaps the biggest advantage of Stocks and Shares ISAs, however, is that they offer access to individual stocks (both UK stocks and international ones). In other words, you can invest in individual businesses. This is riskier than investing in a fund or investment trust. Because every company has its own risks and if something goes wrong, its share price is likely to fall. On the flip side however, there’s potential for much higher returns. With stocks, it’s possible to make 100%, 200% or more from a single investment in a year. One example of a stock that I believe is worth considering today is Uber (NYSE: UBER). A US-listed business, it operates the world’s largest rideshare platform. This company is growing at a rapid rate at present. In 2024, the number of trips booked on its platform rose 19% while the company’s revenue jumped 18%. Looking ahead, I see plenty of growth potential. While the company operates in many countries across the world today, it still has plenty of room to expand to new cities and offer new services (such as train/boat rides). Now, this stock can be volatile at times. Recently it has been swinging around wildly on the back of concerns over Tesla’s robotaxis (which are a potential risk). But over the last five years (which is generally the minimum recommended timeframe for investing in stocks), it has roughly doubled in price. And looking out over the next five years, I see the potential for further gains as the company expands into new markets. Should you invest £1,000 in Uber Technologies right now? When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Uber Technologies made the list?

When it comes to Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), not all options are…

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February 23, 2025