IG calls for urgent clarity on Investment Account as study shows one in four investors’ biggest regret is not starting sooner

• Lower costs (36%) and better tax treatment (33%) are the measures most likely to boost investing participation
• Introduction of investment tax wrapper could lead to 1.4million more people investing
• IG is urging Government to provide urgent clarity on the design of the proposed Personal Investment Accounts

Dublin, 25 June 2026 - More than one in four Irish investors (27%) say their biggest financial regret is not starting to invest sooner, according to new research commissioned by IG, the FTSE 100 trading and investing platform.

With the research also highlighting poor tax treatment as a major barrier to investing, IG is calling on the Government to provide greater clarity on its plans for a new Investment Account.

While many investors wish they had started sooner, significant barriers continue to prevent others from taking the first step. Among those who do not currently invest, 30% say they lack sufficient knowledge about investing, while almost one in five (19%) say they simply do not know where to begin - an issue the Government's recently published National Financial Literacy Strategy Action Plan aims to address.

Respondents also identified lower fees and costs (36%) and more favourable tax treatment (33%) as the measures most likely to encourage participation - two areas the proposed Investment Account could help address if implemented effectively.

Despite these barriers, the research suggests there is significant untapped appetite for investing among Irish consumers. While one-third (33%) of adults currently invest outside of their pension, a further 35% of non-investors say they would start investing if Ireland introduced a tax-free investment account.

Based on Ireland's adult population, this would equate to approximately 1.4 million additional investors entering the market, increasing the total number of adults investing from around 1.3 million today to almost 2.8 million. As a result, overall participation could rise from around one-third of adults to more than two-thirds (68%).

IG is calling on the Government to accelerate its timetable and provide early clarity on the design of the tax wrapper. The company warns that investment platforms require significant lead time to build the infrastructure needed to offer the new accounts and that, without timely decisions on the final rules, a 2027 launch date cannot be guaranteed.

Michael Healy, UK & Ireland Managing Director at IG, said: "When it comes to investing, the most common regret is waiting too long to start. Yet Government policy is keeping hundreds of thousands of potential investors on the sidelines. The Tánaiste has said Ireland is a laggard on retail investing and he is absolutely right. And every month of delay means lost opportunities for people to put their money to work and benefit from long-term compounding.

"We are ready to build the systems required to offer these accounts, but we need certainty on the final rules. Ireland does not need another forum or consultation. The blueprint already exists - a straightforward ISA-style model that is simple to use and easy for consumers to understand. The sooner it is implemented, the sooner more than a million people can start investing and building stronger financial futures."

IG calls for urgent clarity on Investment Account as study shows one in four investors’ biggest regret is not starting sooner

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

For any press enquiries, please contact:

Sodali & Co: igireland@client.sodali.com

IG PR: jack.crone@ig.com or press@ig.com

About the research

IG commissioned accredited research agency Norstat to survey over 1,000 adults in Ireland. The survey was carried out between 8-12 May 2026, with an average interview length of 3 minutes. The target audience comprised Irish adults aged 18 and over, resident across all four provinces. Quotas and profiling were applied to ensure a balanced and nationally representative sample across the following key demographic variables: age, gender, social grade, and region.

About IG Group

IG Group (LSEG:IGG) provides online trading platforms and educational resources to empower ambitious clients around the globe. Headquartered in the UK, IG Group is a FTSE 100 company that offers clients access to c.19,000 financial markets worldwide.     

Methodology for population extrapolation

The estimate that approximately 1.4 million additional Irish adults could start investing is based on the survey finding that 35% of Irish adults said they do not currently invest but would start investing if Ireland introduced a tax-free investment account.

This percentage was applied to Ireland’s adult population aged 18 and over. Based on an estimated adult population of approximately 4.1 million, 35% equates to around 1.4 million people.