ShareSoc Blog

The ShareSoc blog provides news and informal commentary from directors, members and other contributors. Entries reflect the personal views of the authors, which do not necessarily reflect ShareSoc’s formal position. Contributors may hold shares in the companies mentioned. Nothing in this blog should be viewed as financial advice. You may submit comments on blog posts, but ShareSoc reserves the right to remove or edit inappropriate or defamatory submissions.

There is more news given in the News page of our web site and more analysis of news is provided in our monthly newsletter for members – see the Newsletters page.

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Helping Europeans Invest Smarter: Why Passive Investing Matters

Post Date: July 22, 2026

Better Finance makes a clear case that Europe's issue is not a lack of saving, but how those savings are used. A significant proportion remains in cash deposits, where...

The Geared Traps of Crypto Investing

Post Date: July 14, 2026

The Geared Traps of Crypto Investing Cash flow. Structural security. Transparency. These are the things ShareSoc members instinctively check for before they part with money, and the checks tend to...

SIGnet Launches New Beginners’ Group

Post Date: July 8, 2026

SIGnet, the national network of individual investor groups, is excited to announce the launch of a new virtual Beginners' Group. The group will meet online, with sessions held via Zoom, in the evening. The group is structured as a course aimed at those who are new to investing, running for up to 10 months, starting in October 2025. SIGnet groups typically meet monthly, to give individual investors the opportunity to socialise, discuss investments, and learn from each other. The primary goal is ...

House of Commons debate – Financial inclusion for young people

Post Date: July 8, 2026

On 30th June, Westminster Hall debated financial inclusion for young people, with Economic Secretary to the Treasury Rachel Blake responding on behalf of the Government. The debate revealed a significant gap between parliamentary concern and ministerial engagement, particularly on financial education. Josh Dean (Labour, Hertford & Stortford) set out the scale of the problem: 2 million young adults in financially vulnerable circumstances, facing thin credit files, unaffordable insurance, inadequate savings, and mental health impacts from financial anxiety. Subsequent speakers — spanning Labour, Conservative ...

Nationwide’s AGM: use your vote, and make it your own

Post Date: July 7, 2026

Mobilising Pension Capital

Post Date: July 1, 2026

Lots of Debt, Not Much Equity Two reform programmes are quietly reshaping where the capital behind British pensions sits and what it does. Both fly under the same political banner...

ShareSoc Director Spotlight – Mark Northway

Post Date: June 22, 2026

Why did I join the ShareSoc board? My professional background is investment banking. In 2016, I was working part-time for a fledgling asset manager and looking to build a portfolio of non-executive directorships. I saw an advertisement for the chair role at ShareSoc and realised I knew one of the existing directors. The role sounded intriguing and offered an opportunity to contribute towards improving the UK’s investment framework. I chaired the organisation for five years, stepping down to a director role in 2021; I now focus primarily on ShareSoc’s policy and campaigns activities. I ...

SIGnet Launches New Virtual ETF Investing Group

Post Date: June 15, 2026

SIGnet, the national network of individual investor groups, is excited to announce the launch of a new virtual group focused on Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) investing. The group will meet online, with sessions held via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, most likely in the evening. Investors of all levels of experience are welcome to join. SIGnet groups typically meet monthly, to give individual investors the opportunity to socialise, discuss investments, and learn from each other. The primary goal is to improve members' knowledge and investment decision-making processes through open discussion and ...

Press Release: Thera Prins joins ShareSoc’s board of directors

Post Date: June 1, 2026

ShareSoc, the UK’s premier membership organisation for individual investors, is delighted to announce the appointment of Thera Prins as Non-Executive Director. Thera Prins has worked in retail financial services for more than 30 years, including the last decade as a UK CEO delivering products and services to individual investors. Her experience spans supporting frequent traders, executives, commercial nominee holders, employee shareholders, and investors with certificated holdings. Throughout her career, she has developed a strong passion for making personal finance, share ownership, and investing easier for individuals to understand, ...

Representing you at the FCA Consumer Network

Post Date: May 14, 2026

On Wednesday, 29th April 2026, Cliff Weight (member of the ShareSoc Policy & Education committees) represented ShareSoc at the FCA Consumer Network meeting. This forum is an informal touchpoint where we can ensure that the voice of the individual shareholder is heard by senior FCA leadership, including on this occasion Director Sheldon Mills. The agenda covered the future of retail financial services, specifically focusing on Consumer Duty and the role of Artificial Intelligence in investor education. Our three key interventions for individual investors During the session, ...

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