[Stock Investment Learning Survey 2026] 'Family' is the Top Discussion Partner, But 'Friends' Lead for Men; Younger Investors Show More Diverse Communication Trends

Survey Overview Online investment school 'Kabu no Gakko Dot Com' (operated by Treasure Promote Inc., Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) conducted its annual 'Survey on Stock Investment Learning' among 800 individual investors nationwide.

When asked 'Who do you talk to about stock investment?', 'Family' was the most frequent answer overall, but for men, 'Friends' was a more common discussion partner. The survey revealed that investment discussion partners vary significantly by experience and age, with veteran investors consulting brokerage representatives and younger investors seeking broader communication.

Key Findings - 'Family' is the #1 discussion partner, followed by 'Friends' and 'Brokerage/Bank representatives.' - About 60% of women discuss investments with family, while men are more likely to discuss them with friends. - Beginners primarily discuss with family, whereas younger investors engage with friends, coworkers, social media, and AI.

'Family' Remains the Top Discussion Partner In the survey of 800 individual investors, when asked 'Who do you usually talk to about stock investment (e.g., exchanging information)?' (multiple answers allowed), 'Family' was the most common response at 45.1%.

'Friends/Acquaintances' followed at 29.4%, and 'Brokerage or bank sales representatives' at 21.2%. As money is a sensitive topic, many tend to consult people close to them or those in professional positions.

Gender Differences: Women Prefer Family, Men Prefer Friends The gender gap was most evident regarding 'Family.' 58.1% of women discuss stock investment with family, compared to only 32.1% of men—a 26.0 point difference. Men cited 'Friends/Acquaintances' as their top partner (33.3%), surpassing family. They also showed higher engagement with 'Coworkers' (20.8%) and 'AI' (15.0%) compared to women.

Beginners Consult Family; Younger Investors Gather Opinions Broadly Regarding years of investment experience, 'Family' (50.3%) was the overwhelming choice for beginners with less than 3 years of experience. In contrast, among veterans with over 10 years of experience, reliance on 'Brokerage or bank sales representatives' rose to 28.7%.

By age group, only 32.5% of investors in their 20s and 30s discussed investments with family—lower than other groups—showing a higher reliance on 'Social media contacts' (24.6%) and 'AI' (20.6%).