From speculation to balance: how the approach of young Russians to investments is changing

      June 26, 2026 14:18 Economy Young people in Russia are increasingly mastering the stock market, and over the past three years, the investment strategy of this age group has noticeably changed—from risky experiments to balanced and long-term decisions. As noted by Andrey Yatskov, head of the brokerage services department at VTB, young investors are entering the stock exchange with a conscious financial strategy. They are forming a stable base of bonds and money market funds, investing one-fifth of their portfolio in riskier but actively growing stocks, and managing their portfolio with the help of an AI service. According to VTB My Investments, the average portfolio size of young investors under 30 in mid-2026 was about 279,000 rubles. Its structure reflects a balanced approach: 46% of funds are allocated to bonds, 30% to fund shares, 18% to stocks, and 6% to cash and precious metals. The desire to ensure liquidity is indicated by the popularity of the money market fund LQDT, which accounts for about 22% of investments from this age group. The share of clients using the AI-based investment consulting service at VTB My Investments has exceeded 7% of the total number of clients, and it continues to grow among the group under 30. Among young users of the AI consultant, 52% choose the "Eternal Portfolio" strategy, which focuses on stability and minimal manual management. Similar trends are visible among other brokers. In "Finam," young people in 2025 preferred "blue chip" stocks (the top 5 included shares of Sberbank, VTB, Gazprom, Rosneft, and LUKOIL). In "T-Investments," the share of the youngest investors (18-19 years old) doubled over the year, reaching 3.7%. "Sber" also notes a growing interest among young people in investments in general and defensive instruments in particular. Experts believe that in the next 5-10 years, investors under 30 will become one of the main driving forces of the Russian stock market. The model of this audience—a combination of conservatism, technological savvy, and long-term thinking—is already influencing the development of investment services: brokers are actively implementing automation, simplifying interfaces, and enhancing the educational component. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999-2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When republishing, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is required. This resource may contain materials for 18+.