Investing What are savers' options amid push to buy shares?

This week the chancellor, Rachel Reeves announced that although she had paused plans to cut the sums savers could put into cash Isas each year, she was still keen to encourage investment in stocks and shares.

- Hilary Osborne

Outside of pensions, households typically held 32% of their savings in stocks in 2023, down from 38% in 2010, and the government wants to reverse this trend. It says people are choosing to hold money in cash savings as a default, not as an active choice.

Next year it wants to roll out "targeted support" that will see savers contacted by their bank and given details of investments that might suit them. It also wants to change risk information so it informs, rather than warns, would-be investors.

If you currently only use cash Isas, Reeves has you in her sights.