2020 has been the year of uncertainty, with millions of workers losing jobs or being furloughed as a result of the pandemic. With newfound free time across the country, we’ve seen hobbies such as baking, interior design and photography all on the rise since lockdown began and also an increase in those discovering a passion for learning to invest in shares and trading.
Although, undoubtedly a challenging time for the majority of us, lockdown has presented the perfect opportunity for many to educate and upskill. Education platforms have taken great pride in helping customers try new things, providing materials to help users’ retrain and upskill to find new opportunities in an affordable and accessible manner. With fears surrounding finances and savings at the heart of the nation’s troubles and job uncertainties presenting a real threat, it would seem Brits have taken an interest in retail investment, using lockdown as an opportunity to learn more about the world of online trading.
A new generation of investors
This year alone, we’ve seen over 20 million new students globally sign up to Shaw Academy courses and over the past year, there’s been a boom in the number of users partaking in our trading and investing courses in particular. The financial courses on offer have consistently remained on our list of top performing courses during the pandemic, with many students looking to level up their knowledge of financial markets and commodities to get into trading.
With the increase in online platforms catering for the needs of these new investors through easy to use mobile apps, learning and starting to trade has never been more accessible. With a vast amount of ready-made investment solutions and content available, these have been designed to help get new investors started.
Small investors, tall risks
However, when it comes to trading there is always risk involved. If you factor in lack of knowledge and training as well, that risk quickly intensifies. Those looking to trade cannot remove all elements of risk from learning how to do so safely, but they can offer themselves a greater deal of protection by taking the time to learn and understand the trade. It has never been more important to make great education accessible and affordable to everyone for this very reason.
~Novel Serialisation: Heavens Fire~
The recession this year has led to huge volatility within the stock markets. While this instability might not fill savers with confidence, it does make for a stock market that excites and tempts those who have been waiting on the side-lines looking for an opportunity to take the plunge into retail trading and investment.
The effects of an uptake in non-institutional trading
Regardless of the reasoning behind the sudden surge of interest in financial education, one thing is certain: the implications of an increased number of retail investors on the wider financial markets are huge. While these smaller traders may not be moving huge volumes on their own, each investor is helping to make waves in the market, whether it is falling in their favour or not.
Prospective traders should ensure they treat their initial entry into trading with caution, ensuring they are prepared for to develop practical skills whilst gaining the necessary expertise and undertaking accredited courses to move forwards with confidence, both professionally and personally in the world of investment trading.
The only real question readers should ask themselves is: do you have any interest in learning to trade?
By James Egan, founder and CEO, Shaw Academy
About the Author:
James Egan is the founder & CEO of Shaw Academy, a leading online global education institution that aims to make great education accessible and affordable to everyone. Since its founding in 2012, Shaw Academy has seen over 6.5million of its students graduate from its 70+ fully accredited courses.
