They buy what they know. Those big names are not only more stable and less risky companies, but their stocks have also done quite well in recent years. So, women s intuition has some pecuniary benefits after all. It s probably also women s fear of losing money or lack of confidence about their financial knowledge or prowess that leads them to avoid newer or riskier mutual funds. More men, for instance, own aggressive growth and growth mutual funds, as well as specialty funds like those that invest solely in gold, technology or finance companies, according to the Stanford Research Institute.
Men also invest in more real estate investment funds, or REITs.
Schwab found that while 10 percent of men have investments in REITs, only 4 percent of women have stakes in REITs. Regardless of whether you or your husband is investing the family s nest egg, here are some sage investment tips that apply equally to men and women. Diversify your portfolio. Don t over-concentrate your investments in any one economic sector or any one type of investment vehicle. Don t put all your assets into just technology or banking stocks.