Two-thirds of UK savers recognise the long-term limits of cash, yet more than half feel anxious about investment decisions, Capital.com study finds

Capital.com's Beyond Access study finds UK respondents place above-average value on expert support at the point of decision, with 68% saying the ability to speak with an expert at moments of uncertainty would help.

By Capital.com13 hours ago

With the Chancellor confirming in the 28 October Budget that under-65s will keep the full £20,000 Cash ISA allowance, Capital.com's Beyond Access study finds UK respondents place above-average value on expert support at the point of decision, with 68% saying the ability to speak with an expert at moments of uncertainty would help

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, 2 November 2026 — Capital.com, the online trading platform, today published a new study showing that 66% of UK prospective investors recognise that keeping most of their savings in low-risk cash accounts may mean missing out on long-term returns, above the European average of 60%. Yet 55% say they feel anxious when making investment decisions (vs 47% European average).

The findings come after the Chancellor confirmed in the Budget on 28 October that the annual Cash ISA limit will stay at £20,000 for savers of all ages, reversing the ISA reforms planned for April 2027, including the cut to £12,000 for under-65s. The Government will also work with industry to explore a new ISA incentive for people investing in a Stocks and Shares ISA for the first time. In the 2024-25 tax year, savers paid £95.6 billion into Cash ISAs and £37.2 billion into Stocks and Shares ISAs, according to HMRC’s annual savings statistics.

Capital.com's Beyond Access study, based on a survey of 3,613 prospective investors in six European countries and a wider EU sample, suggests that UK respondents see the long-term considerations around their savings clearly, and that the gap opens at the moment of decision, in how information is presented and where people can turn when they are unsure.

Commenting on the Budget's ISA announcements, Rupert Osborne, UK CEO, Capital.com, said:

"Keeping the Cash ISA allowance at £20,000 leaves the choice between cash and investing with savers, and the proposed ISA incentive puts the focus on people investing for the first time. The question our study asks is what helps people once they reach the point of decision. UK savers already understand what cash can cost them over time. What they tell us is that they want help they can trust when they are unsure, and the time to decide at their own pace. Supporting people beyond access means getting that moment right, including when the right decision is to wait."

Aware of the limits of cash, uneasy at the point of decision

UK respondents report comparatively high levels of anxiety when they decide. 55% say they feel anxious when making investment decisions (vs 47%), and 61% worry about making a decision they will later regret (vs 54%). 55% feel overwhelmed by the amount of investment information available and 55% say the tax implications of investing are unclear, against European averages of 50% and 49%.

They are also more likely than average to say a short cooling-off pause before completing a transaction would help (56% vs 50%), and 66% say a clear risk explanation shown before confirming a decision would be extremely or very helpful (vs 64%).

UK respondents place above-average value on guidance at the moment of decision. 68% say the ability to speak with an expert at moments of uncertainty would help (vs 60%), 65% value a simple summary explaining why an investment option may or may not be suitable for them (vs 59%) and 60% value a reminder of long-term goals (vs 54%).

Reflecting on the wider findings, Osborne added:

"A considered decision includes knowing when to act, when to wait and when to seek guidance. Plain explanations, access to expert support at moments of uncertainty and a clear view of the goals behind an investment can help people decide on their own terms. At Capital.com, our role, within the regulatory framework we operate under, is to support that through clearer communication and platform design that avoids unnecessary urgency."

Key findings among UK respondents include:

66% recognise that keeping most of their savings in low-risk cash accounts may mean missing out on long-term returns (vs 60% European average)
56% say a short cooling-off pause before completing a transaction would help (vs 50%)
55% feel anxious when making investment decisions (vs 47%)
61% worry about making an investment decision they will later regret (vs 54%)
55% feel overwhelmed by the amount of investment information available (vs 50%)
55% say the tax implications of investing are unclear (vs 49%)
60% value a reminder of long-term goals (vs 54%)
68% say the ability to speak with an expert at moments of uncertainty would help (vs 60%)
66% say a clear risk explanation shown before confirming a decision would be extremely or very helpful (vs 64%)

The Beyond Access study combined an online survey with analysis of open-ended responses to examine decision environment factors, including emotional context and risk framing, across all markets surveyed.

Capital.com commissioned the study to better understand the decision-making barriers facing retail investors as it continues to develop its platform around better decisions.

The full Beyond Access report, including cross-market comparisons and country-level data, is available to download at: https://capital.com/report-uk-beyond-access-oct-2026