New awards insights report:Get the retail investor verdict on the UK's investment platforms and products – segmented by age, experience, and wealth.

Q4 - 2026

Finimize Modern Investor Pulse

We asked thousands of retail investors from our million-strong global community about what they're expecting and how they're planning to invest as 2026 draws to a close.

After a year of tariffs, rate uncertainty, and an AI trade that won't sit still, modern retail investors are doing what they've done all year: staying invested, but choosing more carefully where that money goes.

This quarter's Modern Investor Pulse captures that same measured conviction. Optimism is holding well above its Q1 low, even after its first dip in two quarters, and nearly three-quarters of investors are sitting on at least $10,000 ready to deploy. AI conviction is shifting from the biggest names toward the infrastructure powering the buildout, tempered by the discipline to stay selective on this year's IPOs and buy the dip rather than chase the hype.

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Here’s a preview of the highlights from the Q4 Pulse

  • 67% believe global stock markets will be higher in 12 months
  • 58%of modern investors think bitcoin will be higher in 12 months
  • 73% plan to invest at least $10,000 in the next 12 months
  • 44% believe energy and power generation is the area of AI that will drive the highest returns
The Finimize Index

Retail Investor Sentiment Vs. The S&P 500

The Finimize Index tracks retail investor sentiment across our 1.1 million global community and is updated every quarter.

Q: Do you think global stock markets will be higher 12 months from now?
Finimize Index Chart