Ask ten people what they’re doing with their spare money this year and you’ll probably get ten different answers. Some are quietly topping up a stocks and shares ISA. Others may be looking at gold. And some have bought Bitcoin, Ethereum or other cryptoassets.
The investment conversation in Britain has broadened. It isn’t just pensions and property anymore. Investment apps have made a much wider range of assets accessible, often within a few taps on a phone.
We’re not here to tell you that crypto is the future, that gold is a safe haven, or that any particular investment is right for everyone. We’re independent, whole-of-market financial advisers, and our job is to help people understand their options, the risks involved and how different investments may – or may not – fit into a wider financial plan.
What’s changed in how people invest?
A decade ago, many savers might have chosen between a savings account, workplace pension and perhaps a stocks and shares ISA. Today, online platforms and investment apps have made it much easier to access shares, funds, precious metals and cryptoassets.
FCA consumer research published in December 2025 estimated that around 8% of UK adults – approximately 4.5 million people – held cryptoassets.
Greater access, however, doesn’t remove investment risk or make every available asset suitable.
The basic principles of investing remain important. Diversification, investment timeframe, objectives, attitude to risk and capacity for loss all need to be considered. What has changed is the range of assets people can access and the speed with which they can make investment decisions.
That makes understanding what you’re buying – and the risks involved – particularly important.
Cryptocurrency: accessible, but high risk
Bitcoin, Ethereum and the thousands of other cryptoassets that have followed represent something quite different from conventional regulated investments.
Some cryptoassets are designed to operate without being issued by a government or backed by the earnings of a company. Their value can be highly volatile and difficult to assess using the methods commonly applied to traditional investments.
Crypto markets trade around the clock and online platforms have made buying cryptoassets relatively easy. But accessibility shouldn’t be confused with suitability or security.
Cryptoasset prices can move dramatically in either direction, and investors should be prepared for the possibility of losing all the money they invest.
There are other risks to consider too. What supports the value of a particular cryptoasset? How is it held? What happens if an exchange or service provider is hacked, fails or becomes insolvent? What protections apply if something goes wrong?
These questions matter because the regulatory protections applying to cryptoassets can be very different from those applying to conventional regulated investments.
Buying and holding cryptoassets directly isn’t a regulated activity in the way a stocks and shares ISA or pension is. The FCA has been clear about what that means in practice: there are no consumer protections for people who buy cryptoassets. There’s no Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) cover if a platform or exchange fails. You’re also unlikely to be able to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), though that can depend on the exact service involved. This isn’t set to change when the FCA’s wider cryptoasset regime takes effect in 2027 either: the FCA has said FSCS protection won’t be extended to cryptoassets even then.
The UK’s regulatory framework for cryptoassets is also developing. Under the FCA’s new cryptoasset regulatory regime, firms can apply for authorisation from 30 September 2026, with the new regime expected to take effect from 25 October 2027.
For anyone considering cryptoassets, understanding both the investment risk and the level of consumer protection available is essential.
Precious metals: another type of diversification
Gold has a long history as an asset held by investors and is sometimes used as part of a diversified portfolio because its performance can differ from shares and bonds in certain market conditions.
That relationship isn’t consistent or guaranteed, however.
Gold can fall substantially in value and can underperform other assets for extended periods. Unlike shares in dividend-paying companies or interest-bearing investments, physical gold doesn’t generate an income simply by being held. Buying physical precious metals can also involve dealing, storage and insurance costs.
Silver, platinum and other precious metals have their own characteristics and risks and can experience significant price volatility.
Whether precious metals have a place in someone’s overall finances – and, if so, in what proportion – depends on their individual circumstances, objectives and attitude to risk.
It’s something to consider as part of a wider financial plan rather than relying on a general rule about gold being a ‘safe’ investment.
Traditional investments still have an important role
For all the attention given to crypto and gold, ISAs, pensions and diversified investment portfolios continue to play an important role in long-term financial planning.
ISAs can provide a tax-efficient environment in which eligible investments can be held, with investment income and capital gains generally sheltered from UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax while held within the ISA. If you’d like to know how much you can pay in this tax year, or whether an ISA is the right home for your money, talk to us and we’ll explain the current rules and allowances.
Pensions can offer tax advantages too. Eligible pension contributions may benefit from tax relief and workplace pensions can also include contributions from an employer. Tax may be payable when pension benefits are eventually taken, depending on the circumstances and rules applying at the time.
Neither the tax advantages nor regulation of these products removes investment risk.
Stocks and shares can fall as well as rise, and investors may get back less than they originally invested. Different funds and investment portfolios can also carry very different levels and types of risk depending on the assets they hold.
Bonds, equities and collective investments such as unit trusts can therefore play different roles within a portfolio. Their suitability depends on what an investor is trying to achieve, their investment timeframe and the amount of investment risk they are both willing and financially able to accept.
Our investment advice service looks at these considerations as part of the wider advice process.
Building a mix that actually fits you
There isn’t a single investment mix that works for everyone. A longer investment timeframe can sometimes provide greater capacity to tolerate short-term market fluctuations, but investment risk shouldn’t be determined by age or timeframe alone. Income, expenditure, existing assets and liabilities, emergency savings, objectives, investment experience, attitude to risk and capacity for loss can all be relevant.
That’s worth remembering when headlines focus on the latest rise or fall in Bitcoin, gold or the stock market. Rather than asking which investment is best, the more useful question is whether a particular investment is suitable for you, and how it fits alongside everything else you already have.
A suitable investment portfolio will normally reflect an individual’s objectives, timeframe, financial circumstances, attitude to risk and capacity for loss, considered properly and reviewed as circumstances change. Where someone already holds, or is considering holding, assets outside conventional regulated investments, such as physical precious metals or cryptoassets, it’s particularly important to understand the risks, tax implications and consumer protections that may or may not apply. Those holdings can also be considered in the context of someone’s wider financial position and long-term objectives.
Putting your investments into context
We’ve spent over 30 years helping clients across Sussex and Surrey make sense of their financial options.
As independent, whole-of-market financial advisers, we can consider a broad range of regulated investment and pension solutions rather than being tied to a single product provider.
If you’re thinking about where your money should go next – whether you’re considering an ISA contribution, reviewing an existing pension or investment portfolio, or simply want to understand how other assets you hold affect your wider financial plan – we can help you look at the bigger picture.
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation initial conversation about your financial plans.
Important information
This article is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any particular investment or cryptoasset. The suitability of an investment will depend on your individual circumstances, objectives, attitude to risk and capacity for loss.
Investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and you may get back less than the amount you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
Direct investment in cryptoassets is not regulated in the same way as conventional regulated investments. It is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and Financial Ombudsman Service protection may not be available either, depending on the service or activity involved. Cryptoassets can be highly volatile and you should be prepared for the possibility of losing all the money you invest.
Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.
True Advice Financial Services is a trading style of TA and SE Hollom Ltd, which is an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd. New Leaf Distribution Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The regulatory information applicable to True Advice Financial Services can be found in the website footer.
Sources and further information
- Financial Conduct Authority – Cryptoassets Consumer Research 2025
- Financial Conduct Authority – New regime for cryptoasset regulation
- Financial Conduct Authority – Cryptoassets: what consumers need to know
- UK – Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)
He holds a CeMAP qualification and has been advising since 2018, continually updating his expertise through ongoing training. Ashley's client-focused approach ensures personalized, effective advice, fostering long-term relationships. Outside of work, he enjoys playing football and exploring new countries. For personalized financial advice, Ashley is dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals.
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