Analysis of Rplan.co.uk data over the 12 months to 6 April 2015 revealed a gender disparity in risk appetite, with 35 per cent of investment by males is in high risk funds versus 28 per cent for females.
These variations in risk appetites are reflected in the relative allocations between equities and bonds, according to Stuart Dyer, chief investment officer of Rplan.co.uk.
Whereas 58 per cent of investments by females went into equity funds and 16 per cent into fixed income, males put 64 per cent of their investments into equities and 14 per cent into fixed income.
Investments in property were around the same for both sexes at 5 per cent. Both sexes also hold a high proportion of their investments in cash: 15 per cent of females’ and 17 per cent of males’ investments are held here.
The most popular investment fund for females is the CF Woodford Equity Income fund and for males it is the Vanguard LifeStrategy 60 per cent Equity fund.
Males are more favourable to index-tracking funds, with 31 per cent of their investments made into them. Only 22 per cent of investments by females are made into these.
Mr Dyer said: “Every investor, whatever their sex, should invest with levels of risk that suits them.
“The key considerations for investors are that they understand their own risk tolerances, their goals and the importance of investing over a sufficiently long term. Once they are clear on these points, they need to adopt a rigorous process to work out where to invest.”
Rplan’s research comes after Opinium Research surveyed 2,002 adults for Unbiased, finding that around 61 per cent of women have never sought advice from a financial adviser, compared to 53 per cent of men.
The study also revealed that women are less likely than men to seek professional financial advice across all areas of finances, with only 7 per cent of women having already taken advice to help them plan for retirement, compared to 16 per cent of men.
emma.hughes@ft.com
