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Wacky things people invest in

ended 30. April 2026

Hey financial advisers, can you tell us some of the wackiest things you have seen your clients invest in (perhaps when you first started working with them), or just crazy stuff that you have seen people invest in over the years, perhaps alongside their core portfolio. Anything interesting and colourful, or dead quirky, tell us all about it. It may even be that the people in question are not that fussed about the returns but like collecting something, knowing they could sell it at a future date if need be. To that end, it could be more about people investing in stuff that's a hobby that they can enjoy now, e.g. train sets, Dr Who magazines, Beano albums, 80s 2-stroke motorbikes - anything and everything. 

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Nouran Moustafa
Practice Principal & IFA at Roxton Wealth
I always say people do not just invest with spreadsheets; they invest with emotion, identity and sometimes beautiful madness. I have seen people treat classic cars, watches, rare football shirts, whisky bottles, art, coins and niche collectibles almost like a second portfolio. The interesting thing is many of these assets are not bought purely for return. They are bought because the person enjoys them, understands the story, and likes the idea that their money is sitting in something tangible rather than just a fund statement. That said, the danger is when a hobby starts being dressed up as a guaranteed investment. These markets can be illiquid, valuation can be subjective, storage and insurance matter, and selling quickly is not always easy. I do not think quirky assets are automatically wrong, but they should sit around the edges, not replace pensions, ISAs and diversified planning. Enjoy the Beano albums or the motorbike, but do not build your retirement plan on nostalgia alone OK?