Mass Affluent Women and Younger Investors Redefine Investing Habits in UK, HSBC UK Research Reveals
By Lauren Towner · 20 November 2025

A new generation of ambitious investors is transforming the face of wealth in the UK, with women and younger people leading the charge, according to new research from HSBC UK.
The study of over 1,200 mass affluent consumers found that traditional wealth stereotypes are being rewritten, as more women and young investors take control of their finances and pursue bold investment goals.
Women breaking barriers in wealth creation
High earning women are increasingly outpacing men in their financial journeys, with 24% earning £100,000 or more before the age of 30, compared to 21% of men. They are also setting their sights high; 46% of affluent women aspire to be millionaires or multi-millionaires.
They also have higher aspirations when it comes to building their wealth in the next five years, with women hoping to increase earnings by £184,000 in the next five years, more than triple the surveyed male average of £57,000.
Among those with millionaire ambitions, more than a third (35%) expect to achieve this within four years, and one in five (22%) within just two years, signalling a confident, fast-moving shift in financial independence.
Younger investors diversifying and driving confidence
Younger investors aged 25–34 are taking a markedly different approach to wealth building. While 77% of all investors still hold money in cash savings, younger people are moving beyond traditional routes, only 33% would prioritise saving in a cash ISA in the future (vs 53% average).
Instead, 24–35-year-olds are embracing alternative assets such as:
- Cryptocurrency (55%)
- Private equity (44%)
- Real estate (54%)
- Forex (38%)
- Gold and raw materials (35%)
- Venture capital (32%)
Companies in this story: HSBC
People in this story: Xian Chan