Why women should start investing

Why women should start investing
Why women should start investing
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The financial reality of Austrian women still does not look rosy in 2023. The still large gender pay gap, a high part-time rate and resulting lower pensions are factors in this development. However, women are aware of their financial circumstances and also want to do something about it – as an IMAS study by Erste Bank and Sparkassen on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8 shows. One way for woman to take their financial situation into their own hands is investing through fund savings.

Financial independence more important for women

Austrian women want to change their financial situation. This is clearly reflected in this year’s results of the IMAS study: 84% of Austrian women state that it is “very important” to them to be financially independent from other people. Unfortunately, this goal is not yet a reality for many women: Every fourth woman says she is financially dependent on her family – among men, the figure is only 12%.

Security aspect in focus for women

For women, the focus is primarily on the issue of security when it comes to saving. This is also reflected in the product figures of Erste Bank and the savings banks: Compared to men, women prefer savings books and building savings accounts. The share of women is 52% and 54%, respectively. They are less likely to own securities accounts (47%) or an investment plan (45.3%).

Investments in particular can be helpful for income-oriented retirement planning. For example, long-term investments in funds can fill any income or pension gaps that may arise*. Since investing in mutual funds can also involve risks, it is important to know about them and learn how to deal with them. Our blog post, “Understanding the Risks of Funds – Nothing ventured, nothing gained” provides an overview of the main types of risks to be aware of before investing in funds.

*In the long run, investing in mutual funds has the potential for higher profits. However, it is important to keep in mind that mutual funds carry significantly higher risk than savings accounts.

Information counts: How do women start investing?

As the study also shows, there is often a lack of information when it comes to investing. While almost half of the men surveyed feel very well informed about financial topics, women are much more critical in their self-assessment: only 36% said they were very well informed about financial topics in general.

Especially those who want to take their finances into their own hands should be able to access the most important information quickly and easily so that they can make their own investment decisions. The search for securities and investment opportunities can quickly become overwhelming. Finding an investment fund that matches individual expectations is not always easy. With our fund search, you can filter the diverse range of products according to your own interests.

Fund savings: Step by step to financial independence

If you have decided to invest in securities, the first step is to determine the investment objective. Think about what you want to save for and how much you want to save. You can start investing in investment funds with as little as 50 euros a month. In the next step, select securities according to your risk tolerance. You can also open funds online via George.

In addition, especially newcomers to the subject of finance have many basic questions: How can I buy funds and where do I find them? You can find the answers to these questions about getting started in investing in our blogposts “Decision to invest taken – what happens next?” and “How can I invest my money wisely?“.

For a glossary of technical terms, please visit this link: Fund Glossary | Erste Asset Management

Legal note:

Prognoses are no reliable indicator for future performance.

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Legal disclaimer

This document is an advertisement. Unless indicated otherwise, source: Erste Asset Management GmbH. Our languages of communication are German and English.

The prospectus for UCITS (including any amendments) is published in accordance with the provisions of the InvFG 2011 in the currently amended version. Information for Investors pursuant to § 21 AIFMG is prepared for the alternative investment funds (AIF) administered by Erste Asset Management GmbH pursuant to the provisions of the AIFMG in connection with the InvFG 2011. The fund prospectus, Information for Investors pursuant to § 21 AIFMG, and the Key Information Document can be viewed in their latest versions at the web site www.erste-am.com within the section mandatory publications or obtained in their latest versions free of charge from the domicile of the management company and the domicile of the custodian bank. The exact date of the most recent publication of the fund prospectus, the languages in which the Key Information Document is available, and any additional locations where the documents can be obtained can be viewed on the web site www.erste-am.com. A summary of investor rights is available in German and English on the website www.erste-am.com/investor-rights as well as at the domicile of the management company.

The management company can decide to revoke the arrangements it has made for the distribution of unit certificates abroad, taking into account the regulatory requirements.

Detailed information on the risks potentially associated with the investment can be found in the fund prospectus or Information for investors pursuant to § 21 AIFMG of the respective fund. If the fund currency is a currency other than the investor's home currency, changes in the corresponding exchange rate may have a positive or negative impact on the value of his investment and the amount of the costs incurred in the fund - converted into his home currency.

This document serves as additional information for our investors and is based on the knowledge of the staff responsible for preparing it at the time of preparation. Our analyses and conclusions are general in nature and do not take into account the individual needs of our investors in terms of earnings, taxation, and risk appetite. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of the future performance of a fund.

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