How to feel ready to invest – and what’s getting in the way

4 minute read

Many people feel unsure about investing. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

New research from Barclays* suggests that while many UK adults have the financial foundations to invest, far fewer feel confident enough to get started. The gap is not just about money. It is about understanding, confidence, and whether investing feels ‘like something people like me do’.

The surprising finding: many people already have the foundations

One of the most striking findings from this research is that a large number of non‑investors report having some financial headroom. Many say they have spare money at the end of the month, and some hold several months of living costs in savings.

This does not mean everyone should be investing, or that there is a ‘right’ time to start. But it does challenge the idea that investing is only for people with large sums or specialist knowledge.

For many, the barrier is not capability. It is confidence.

Why fear and misunderstanding play such a big role

The research highlights a strong emotional barrier: fear of losing money.

When people were asked about investment risk, many overestimated the chance of a complete loss, even when thinking about diversified investments held over several years. This tendency to focus on worst‑case scenarios helps explain why so many people stay in cash, even when they understand that inflation can reduce its spending power over time.

There is also a strong identity factor. Only a small proportion of non‑investors say that investing feels ‘for people like me’. Few feel encouraged by friends or family to invest, even though personal encouragement is one of the most common reasons existing investors say they got started.

If investing does not feel normal or accessible, it is easy to stay on the sidelines.

A simple ‘ready enough’ way to think about investing

Rather than asking ‘am I an investor?’, it can help to ask more practical questions:

Do I have a basic cash buffer for short‑term needs?
Do I understand that investment values go up and down?
Do I know what I want my money to do over the longer term?
Would I feel more confident with guidance or advice?

These questions are not a test. They are a way of understanding what support, information, or structure might help you move forward.

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Choose from one of the options below to complete the first step of your plan. If you already have a financial adviser, they can make sure your savings, pensions, and investments are all doing their bit as part of your plan.