Why Women Wait Too Long to Invest (And How to Start Today)

Women start investing on average 10 years later than men. That delay costs us hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Let's talk about why—and more importantly, how to stop waiting.

The Cost of Waiting

The Numbers Don't Lie

Starting at 25 vs 35, investing £200/month at 7% return:

Start at 25 (40 years to retirement)

• Total invested: £96,000
• Value at 65: £525,000

Start at 35 (30 years to retirement)

• Total invested: £72,000
• Value at 65: £244,000

That's £281,000 difference—for just 10 years' delay and only £24,000 more invested.

Why Do We Wait?

"I Don't Know Enough"

This is the biggest barrier. Women tell me:

• "I don't understand stocks and shares"
• "I wouldn't know what to pick"
• "What if I lose everything?"

Here's the thing: you don't need to be an expert to invest. You don't need to pick individual stocks. You don't need to watch the markets.

"I Can't Afford It"

Many women assume investing requires thousands. It doesn't.

• You can start with £25/month
• That's less than many spend on coffee
• Small amounts compound into big amounts

"I'm Saving for a House First"

House deposits are important. But consider:

• You can do both (even small amounts help)
• Lifetime ISAs give you 25% bonus toward both house AND retirement
• Your future self needs protecting too

"The Market Feels Scary"

Market volatility gets headline coverage. What doesn't:

• Over 30 years, stocks have always beaten cash
• Short-term drops are irrelevant for long-term investors
• Inflation erodes cash savings too

"I'll Do It Later When..."

There's always a reason to wait:

• When I earn more
• When the kids are older
• When I've paid off X
• When the market settles

But "later" is expensive. Very expensive.

How to Start Today (Really, Today)

Step 1: Just Open an Account (10 minutes)

Choose a platform:

• Vanguard (lowest fees)
• Nutmeg (most guided)
• Hargreaves Lansdown (most choice)

Open a Stocks and Shares ISA. You don't need to deposit anything yet.

Step 2: Set Up a Small Regular Amount

Start with whatever you can:

• £25/month is fine
• £50/month is great
• £100/month is excellent

The amount matters less than starting.

Step 3: Pick One Simple Fund

Don't overthink this. Choose:

• A global tracker fund, OR
• A target-date fund (picks investments based on your retirement date)

Both are diversified, low-cost, and require zero ongoing decisions.

Step 4: Automate and Ignore

• Set up a direct debit
• Don't check it constantly
• Let compound growth work

But What About...?

"What If Markets Crash?"

They will. Several times during your investing life. But:

• You're not selling, so paper losses don't matter
• Crashes are buying opportunities (your regular investment buys more)
• Historically, markets have always recovered

"Should I Wait for a Better Time?"

No. Studies show:

• Time in market beats timing the market
• Missing just the 10 best days over 20 years halves your returns
• You can't predict those days

"What If I Need the Money?"

That's what your emergency fund is for. Investing is for long-term goals (5+ years).

Your Challenge This Week

Do one thing:

1. Open an investment account (even if you don't fund it yet)
2. Calculate how much you could invest monthly
3. Research one global tracker fund
4. Set up a £25 test investment

Just start. Future you will be incredibly grateful.

Ready to begin? Our investing module in the Financially Fit course walks you through every step.