Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the contributions of women around the world. This day is an important reminder of the progress that women have made and the importance of continuing to fight for gender equality.
Most of the Bleyer team are women, so today is a special time to recognise the importance of empowering women and commit to creating a world where all women can live and work with dignity and respect.
Women’s empowerment is a critical issue in today’s society, and it’s often overlooked when it comes to financial investing. As a result, women are often underrepresented in the financial industry, which can lead to a lack of confidence in investing. However, there are many ways that women can take control of their financial future and become empowered investors.
In this article, we will explore the benefits of investing for women, how women can get more confident in the investing world and how we are here to help.
Why Women Should Be Investing
Investing is important in financial planning and setting yourself up for a secure future. It allows you to save for the future, whether for your pension, emergencies or leaving some money behind for your children. Investing is a crucial step if you’re looking to reach your financial goals and build a secure financial future.
Investing can reduce worry or anxiety as it helps women feel in control of their finances and supports them in meeting their financial goals. However, a study by Fidelity found that almost half of men (47%) hold investment products, and only just over a quarter of UK women (28%) do. Therefore their pensions, savings and assets tend to be less than their male counterparts.
Unfortunately, due to the gender pay gap, there is also a pension gap which means the average woman’s pension pot is likely to be 11% smaller (by retirement age) than one held by a man (Unbiased, 2022). Therefore starting investing as early as possible can help close that gap and means you can reach your retirement goals.
Read 'Empowering Women to Make Their Own Financial Decisions' here.
Being Financially Independent in 2023
Feeling financially independent might be challenging, considering we’re in a cost-of-living crisis, and the continuously rising inflation rate is making life so much more expensive than we would like.
Just over half of UK women (51%) feel financially independent, and over a third (34%) call themselves financially confident (Fidelity, 2023). However, even though over half of women feel financially independent, these statistics are worrying. Having your own money or access to money, should you need it, without having to go to someone else, is essential for financial stability in the future.
How to Become More Confident In Investing
Investing can be daunting, especially if you’re new to the game. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and uncertain when it comes to investing, but with the proper knowledge and confidence, you can become a successful investor. Here are some tips to help you become more confident in investing:
1. Educate yourself
One of the most important steps for women to take when it comes to investing is to educate themselves. We have lots of materials on the ‘News’ section of our website that you can read, as well as monthly free webinars where we cover certain topics and answer any questions about investing.
Understanding the different types of investments, their associated risks, and the strategies used to maximise returns will help you make informed decisions.
2. Set Goals
Once you’ve educated yourself, it’s essential to set goals. What do you want to achieve with your investments? Are you looking for short–term gains or long–term growth? Setting goals will help you stay focused and motivated.
3. Start Small
Don’t be afraid to start small. Investing doesn’t have to be an all–or–nothing endeavour. Start with small investments and gradually increase your portfolio as you gain more confidence.
4. Diversify
Diversifying your investments is key to reducing risk and maximising returns. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Invest in different types of assets, such as bullion, stocks, and real estate.
5. Monitor Your Investments
Once you’ve invested, it’s important to monitor your investments. Keep track of your portfolio and make adjustments as needed. This will help you stay on top of your investments and ensure you get the most out of them.
6. Take Risks
Investing is all about taking calculated risks. Don’t be afraid to take risks if you’re comfortable with the potential losses. Taking risks can lead to greater rewards, so don’t be scared to take them.
Read '6 Tips For First-Time Precious Metal Investor' here.
How To Invest Easily With Bullion
It’s easy to think about just stocks and shares when investing. However, there are easier ways to invest that don’t take up a lot of time management, and one way is bullion.
Precious metals like gold and silver have been used as a currency for centuries. They have proven to be reliable investments that can provide financial stability in times of economic uncertainty.
There are multiple advantages of investing in precious metals. For starters, gold and silver are relatively easy to buy and store, meaning you don’t have to worry about having a secure place to keep your investments.
Both metals are incredibly durable, meaning they can protect your wealth for a long time.
Finally, gold and silver are often seen as a safe haven during times of economic uncertainty and inflation, meaning your wealth can be protected. When inflation rises, the purchasing power of your money decreases. Investing in precious metals can help you keep up with inflation by allowing your money to grow at a rate that outpaces inflation.
Investing in gold and silver is an excellent option for women who want to take control of their finances. Not only is it a reliable and long-term investment, but it is also relatively easy to purchase and store.
We Are Here To Help
At Bleyer, our mission is to make investing accessible to everyone, regardless of gender. We aim to provide a safe and secure environment for all our customers, and we are passionate about helping women to become more confident in their investment decisions.
One of the main barriers for women and investing is the field itself. The financial industry tends to be male–orientated, failing to cater for female audiences and, therefore, can be very intimidating for women. Here at Bleyer, we are the only female-owned Bullion Dealer in the UK, and our sales team is predominantly female.
We are committed to challenging the male-dominated financial industry and creating an environment that is welcoming and accessible to all.
A Word From Caroline
Caroline is the managing director and founder of Bleyer Bullion. Here she talks about the struggles she faced within the industry.
“Most of us grew up in an education system that taught us to obey rules and not ask too many questions as someone else, always knew best. My parents were business people and I met several of their advisors, accountants, bank managers and financial advisors – they were all men. During my career as a systems analyst the top positions in the banks and financial institutions I worked within were held by men. I have relatives and clients who honestly are frightened of managing their own money. When I dig deeper it is simply because nobody ever empowered them to do so.
Many of the essentials, like learning to manage our own money or take better care of our health was and is still missing from the school curriculum. Instead we are taught to talk to a doctor when we get sick and see a financial advisor to help us manage our money.
I would say that most people start off without the confidence they need, but women tend to be affected more. Having someone to chat with or different role models in our lives can make a huge difference.
At Bleyer we believe in empowering individuals to take responsibility for their finances, even if it is simply to ask more questions of their financial advisors. When it comes to picking the right product for your own situation, we are here to help and guide you. Nobody needs to worry about looking stupid because they don’t know where to start. We’ve all been there before and we would be really honoured to be able to help you on your journey.
Whether you are a newbie or looking for a different approach, we’d love to hear from you.”
Contact us
We are to help people, regardless of gender, race, ability or disability, take back control of their finances. So, if you have any questions about investing, now is the time to get in touch with us. We will offer you our insight and answer any questions you have so that you can make the right decisions for you and your money.
