TD Direct investing, along with its sister arms across the pond, TD Ameritrade and TD Waterhouse in Canada, have compiled results from its TD Women Investor Poll to reveal the way female investors choose to play the market. 

The poll revealed the attitudes and habits of female investors in the U.K., Canada and U.S.; and found similarities over the border and across the pond.

The majority of women who manage their investments online feel they’ve been successful at closely matching or outperforming the markets.

Despite the women surveyed saying that they are generally risk-averse, the majority of women in all three countries said that they will take a small chance to receive a better return, U.K.: 60%, Canada: 58%, U.S.: 66%.

Although, very few women describe themselves as having a high-risk tolerance (U.K. 5%, Canada: 4% and U.S. 8%). 

The majority of these investors also stated that they have not changed their investment strategy in reaction to market volatility, as they are confident that they can weather the volatility with a long-term investment outlook.

The poll highlighted the top three pieces of advice from women investors across all three countries for those thinking of becoming do-it-yourself investors are: 

1) Do your research – understand the economy and the markets (U.K. 64%, Canada: 68% and U.S.: 73%)

2) Start small and work your way up once you are comfortable (U.K. 64%, Canada: 67% and U.S.: 61%)

3) Don’t be afraid to ask for help, you don’t have to do it alone (U.K. 48%, Canada: 58% and U.S.: 59%)