Women are also increasingly becoming self-taught (16%), and more likely to independently invest in mutual funds and stocks (51%). At the same time, joint decision-making among women has fallen significantly.
Another notable point was 84% of the investors, both men and women, said that they were confident enough to make their own investment decisions. However, only 33% have a financial goal and a plan.
Approximately one-third of the investors either have a goal without a plan or a plan without a defined goal, while 6% have neither. DSP Mutual Fund called this the “confidence-planning gap” — a behavioural challenge that could affect long-term wealth creation.
Live Events
Money now means freedom
The association of money with “freedom” has risen from 27% in 2022 to 35% in 2025. Meanwhile, words like “survival” and “necessity” have declined. Nearly half (48%) of the survey participants said that they invest to achieve financial independence and security.
Aspirations are shifting too. 41% of women now prioritise travel over buying a home, compared to 34% of men. Holiday spending has climbed to 43%, while naming “buying a home” as a top dream has dropped from 36% in 2022 to 28% in 2025.Among unmarried women, 78% prioritise financial independence over marital stability — and 37% say they would not marry someone financially less successful than themselves.
Advisors trusted, yet most investors don’t use one:
Among investors who use financial advisors, satisfaction is exceptionally high at 94%, steady since 2022. Yet most investors still don’t use one. DSP Mutual Fund said that one of the main reasons for this was privacy discomfort. Nearly 39% of non-users say they are uncomfortable sharing financial details with a stranger. Another 35% believe other information sources are sufficient.
According to the survey, 76% of the investors still consult family or friends for investment decisions, though professional sources are rising — especially among women, where professional consultation has grown to 64%.
Interestingly, most investors (80%) say they are gender-neutral about advisors. However, men showing a preference for male advisors has ticked up slightly.
Among women invested in mutual funds or stocks, 51% actively share or comment on stock-related content on social media, compared to 36% of men. Instagram is their top platform (70%).
While men are more likely to say they are self-taught (22%), women most commonly report being introduced to investing by a spouse (23%). Still, self-taught women investors are rising steadily.
Cautious, but calm view:
More than 62% of mutual fund investors say they will continue investing if markets fall. Men, however, are more likely to “top up” investments during downturns (15% vs. 10% women). Women meanwhile show a stronger tilt toward debt mutual funds (46% vs. 39% men), while men lean more toward equity.
Mutual fund adoption overall has surged from 38% to 46% since 2022 — the biggest product growth in the study. Cryptocurrency is the only major asset class to decline.
AI in investing
Data privacy (46%) is the single biggest concern around AI’s in investment management, according to the survey. While 55% agree that robo-advisors may be more unbiased, trust levels have stalled since 2022. On what it would take to build confidence in AI tools, investors ;listed out proven performance (28%), transparent algorithms (26%), regulatory approval (26%) and data privacy assurances (25%).
AI assistants are already used by roughly 27% of investors as information sources — indicating rapid adoption, even amid caution.
A generational shift in financial identity
DSP Mutual Fund said that 85% agree women today have more financial freedom than their mothers did. Women are also slightly more confident than men about leaving a financial legacy (45% vs. 41%).
Yet traditional norms persist. Sixty-three percent of parents still say they would advise sons and daughters differently about investments — though that number is gradually declining.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)