Keeping their FTSE’s warm by the fire: Investors keep managing portfolios on Christmas day

• One fifth of ‘DIY investors’ (19%) – those who actively chose their own investments – will use their investment returns to fund Christmas dinner – and the same again (20%) will use their investment returns to buy gifts for family and friends. This rises to 24% and 28% respectively for Gen Z (aged 18-28)
• The Christmas period doesn’t mean all investors will down their tools – 18% plan to manage their portfolio on Christmas day (including 29% of Londoners) and 20% will speak with a financial adviser over Christmas
• However, some are taking the opportunity to have a well deserved break – 20% of investors are planning to pause on managing their portfolio for the length of Christmas, and 19% will disengage from market news for the length of Christmas
• As we move into 2026, more than a quarter (26%) of investors will set a New Year’s Resolution which relates to investment – including 35% of those with a financial adviser 
• This research is from Charles Stanley Direct, part of Raymond James Wealth Management

Rob Morgan, Chief Investment Analyst at Charles Stanley, comments: “British investors are taking ‘stocking up for Christmas’ literally, reaping the rewards of their investment decisions to fund Christmas cheer. With the cost of living biting, many people will decide that important life moments like big holidays are worth dipping into their profits for. So long as that decision is balanced with a broader long-term outlook and diversified portfolio, there’s not necessarily any harm in this – though the sensible investor would have a chat with their adviser beforehand.

“Whether you’re pausing your investment management and singing ‘let it snow’, or trading on Christmas Day and singing ‘let it grow’, I hope everyone has many happy returns in 2026.” 

Methodology:The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 1,000 DIY Investors in the UK (’Self-Directed’), defined as; investors who actively choose their own investments (stocks, shares, crypto etc), making their own asset allocation decisions, excluding; ‘passive investors’ who just invest in managed ‘index funds’/ETFs who don’t select their own individual stock and instead invest a diversified portfolio that is managed by someone else, aged 18+.

The data was collected in December 2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.