In the run-up to the EU referendum later this month, Investment Week will be publishing the results from a series of polls involving a panel of UK private investors.
They will also show how their views are changing as voting day approaches on 23 June.
The results of the polls, run by independent investment research specialist The Wisdom Council, will be analysed using different factors, including gender, age and investor net worth.
This week's poll examines how men and women anticipate a UK exit from the European Union could impact their investments.
Increasing uncertainty
With less than a month to go until the referendum, the debate as to whether the UK should remain a member of the EU is in full swing. However, it appears both sides are not communicating their messages clearly to voters.
Among male respondents of the poll, uncertainty about how a potential Brexit will affect their investment portfolio has actually increased in recent months - from 20% to almost 40% - according to The Wisdom Council.
Meanwhile, the number of male respondents who believe a Brexit will have a positive impact on their investments has fallen from over 5% in February to just 2.8% in May (see charts, top), after rising to a high of 15% in April.
However, the percentage of male respondents who believe a Brexit will have a negative effect has also dropped from 50% in February to just over 30% this month.
In contrast, more female investors now think they fully understand how a Brexit will affect their investments.
About 30% of women interviewed are still unsure how a Brexit will impact them, but this is a significant drop from almost 50% in February.
Overall, there has been an increase in the number who believe a Brexit will negatively affect their investments, with nearly 45% of female respondents stating it would have a negative impact, versus just 9% believing it will have a positive effect.
These views echo the most recent general public surveys which show the 'remain' camp has edged out ahead and is now on a 55% lead, with the 'leave' campaign trailing at 42%.
UK exit
Meanwhile, among the male respondents of the survey, there has been a shift in the consensus as to whether the UK will be better off out of the EU, although nearly a quarter of men are still undecided on the subject (see charts, bottom).
The survey results show there is a slight majority of men who are pro-Brexit, and this has increased since February from 32% to 38%.
Among the female respondents, the majority - more than a third - are anti-Brexit, although this lead has decreased over the course of the debate, and there has been a slow rise in the number of women who are pro-Brexit or undecided on the debate.
Among female investors, 34% believe the UK would be better off outside of Europe; a slight increase from 30% of respondents in February.
