Many people have regrets about how they could have managed their money differently, one of which includes wishing they'd started investing sooner.

In fact, around three-fifths (59%) of people wish they'd started investing at earlier age, according to a survey of 1,000 UK adults from investment trust Alliance Witan (ALW.L).

The research, published on Tuesday, found three-quarters of 18-34 year olds wish they'd begun investing earlier compared to two-thirds (66%) of 35-54 year olds and 45% of those aged 55+.

More than three-quarters (76%) of 18-34 year olds wished they'd invested more frequently, along with 63% of 35-54 year olds and 30% of those aged 55+.

Around half (49%) of respondents said that it took them a long time to get comfortable with the idea of investing. In addition, 72% believed that wider efforts are needed to make investing feel more comfortable to the public.

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More than a fifth (22%) of respondents said they planned to make the same regular payments into their savings and investing accounts rather than contributing more to the latter. Meanwhile, 22% said they are looking to increase how much they save in cash, with those aged 35-54 years old most likely to do this (28%).

Mark Atkinson, senior director at WTW, which manages the trust, said: "As with much in life, experience is absolutely key to success, and newer, more hesitant investors can lean on those who have been in the game for years to learn valuable skills. With experience comes confidence, and ultimately, comfort."

"Much is rightly being made of the need to change the culture around investing in the UK," he said. "Earlier and better education will help build people’s confidence and understanding, empowering UK households to reap the benefits of long-term investing. Those considering starting investing should fully understand the risks, and ensure investment decisions are proportionate to their immediate financial commitments and long-term goals."

The UK government have been seeking to encourage more people to invest their savings, with chancellor Rachel Reeves launching an industry-backed ad campaign on the subject.

Do you wish you'd started investing earlier? Vote in the poll below.

Yahoo UK's poll of the week lets you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week's hot topics. After the poll closes, we'll publish and analyse the results each Friday, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers.

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