Scottish investors consider Brexit and low interest rates to be the biggest threats to their wealth

–         Only 3% of Scottish investors say their finances are in better shape than 12 months ago

–         Brexit and low interest rates cause most concern for Scottish investors

–         Just a third (34%) of these investors see inflation as a major threat

Investors in Scotland view Brexit and low interest rates as the biggest threats to their wealth, according to a new survey of over 1,000 UK savers and investors, and 500 High Net Worth Individuals commissioned by Rathbone Investment Management.

50% of investors surveyed saw Brexit as a major threat to their wealth and the same amount considered perpetually low interest rates as a key concern. By comparison, just 35% saw inflation as an obstacles to building and maintaining wealth.

Numerous economic bodies have predicted recently that Brexit will have a negative effect on the UK economy and consumer finances, and this survey shows that so far the majority of Scottish investors feel ill prepared for the UK’s upcoming exit from the EU.

Indeed, only a minority (3%) of the investors surveyed said they felt more positive about their finances than the previous year, with 13% feeling actively less confident than a year ago.

By contrast, Scottish investors seem unfazed by the spectre of mounting inflation that has concerned many investors south of the border.  The rate of inflation has increased substantially over recent months, rising by 3.1% in the last month to the highest point in five years. However of those surveyed in Scotland, almost half (45%) believed their finances hadn’t been affected at all by the rise in inflation and fewer than one in five (18%) said they had been negatively impacted by this change.

David Macaulay, Regional Director of Rathbones’ Edinburgh office, said: “Brexit has dominated the political and economic agenda for the last year, and with negotiations starting to heat up, that’s unlikely to change any time soon. 

“So long as investors are vigilant and prepared to adapt and make sure their investment portfolio is diversified, they should be able to make positive investment choices which mitigate both the risks of Brexit and low interest rates. Speaking to an adviser will help ensure that investment choices are made with all eventualities taken into account.”