Gen X is building strong cash reserves but missing growth opportunities by avoiding investing. A better balance of savings and investments could help protect long-term wealth from inflation and support a more resilient financial future.

• Gen X savers are cautious, with over £34k on average held in cash savings
• Less than a third also invest, risking long-term value erosion from inflation
• Balancing cash investments can offer better growth without excessive risk

Nearly two in three Brits born between 1965 and 1980 hold ‘significant’ savings in cash, new research* shows, while their attitudes to investing remain more cautious. Despite the greater returns available with stocks and shares, almost half of Generation X view investing as ‘too risky.’

Cash to the left of me…

Gen X are saving hard, the figures reveal, with an average of £34,114 stashed away in cash savings accounts. Having accumulated savings throughout their career, many of those in their late 40s and 50s are building solid foundations for their retirement.

However, only holding savings in cash means missing out on the potential upsides of investing. Fewer than one in three Gen X cash savers also invest in stocks, shares or mutual funds, which means their hard-earned cash continues to fall ever further behind the pace of inflation.

Longer-term plan

Having a cash buffer for emergencies is very sensible; however, an over-reliance on cash leads to the value of your wealth being eroded. Longer-term returns have historically been more advantageous for investors (though future returns are not guaranteed), so keeping all your money in cash means foregoing these potential rewards.

On the other hand, achieving a better balance of cash and stocks can maximise your returns without taking undue risk. We can help you find the right mix of cash savings and investments, at a risk exposure that feels right for you.

*Just Group, 2025

The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. The past is not a guide to future performance and past performance may not necessarily be repeated.