Clearer language must be used when discussing investments to help make it more accessible to retail investors, Atomos’ Eleanor Ingilby has said.
Ingilby, head of high net worth at Atomos, said the industry needs to work on demystifying investments and use less jargon to help more people feel confident enough to invest.
Sitting down with FT Adviser’s Amy Austin for a fireside chat, Ingilby said: “What we need to do is work on demystifying our industry [ . . . ] but also being aware there’s a lot of predatory aspects still to the industry.
“We’re seeing that on social media. People on TikTok and Instagram saying, ‘Follow me, and I’ll give you the secrets of how to never work again by just investing’. That kind of thing scares me.”
She believes the basics of investing can, and should, be taught in schools.
“The most important thing is financial independence. Women work almost as much as men do, if not more, and it’s really important they take control of their finances and invest it as well.”
Ingilby said it is important to explain to people how investments work, for example they will go down as well as up – especially in volatile times.
“Talking to investors about the normalcy of volatility in markets – that they are cyclical, that they will move, but if you look at some simple charts showing markets statistically go up more than they go down, is an important thing to discuss.
She added: “Talking to them about time in the market, not timing the market is incredibly important.”
This forms part of the exclusive 51 for 51 series FT Adviser is doing with women working in financial services, which will take place each week in the lead-up to International Women’s Day 2026.
The aim of 51 for 51 is to encourage more women to consider financial services as a professional career, and to raise awareness of the varying needs that women have when it comes to wealth.
To hear more about how to encourage women to get involved in investing and dealing with volatile markets, click the image above.
amy.austin@ft.com
