Actively managed funds and ETFs: only for men?

When it comes to investing, there are clear differences between the sexes. According to a representative study by the online comparison service moneyland.ch, only half as many women as men invest their money in actively managed funds and ETFs.

The study shows that, compared to men, women prefer less risky investments. This is also confirmed by UBS’s own data, which shows that women generally concern themselves with immediate finances, leaving long-term financial decisions to their partner. This in turn is because 81% of women believe that their partner knows more about investing.

Yet it is precisely their risk aversion and caution that can make women very successful investors, because they avoid non-transparent financial products and trade much less often. This is confirmed by various studies, e.g., by Accenture or Fidelity. As a result, women achieve higher long-term returns, partly because their returns are not as impacted by costs, e.g., due to trades.

So it’s high time to address the topic of investing and investment instruments such as funds or ETFs – for example, here at the UBS Women’s Wealth Academy.