Second-Pillar Pension Funds Flow Into the Market – Several Trends Came as a Surprise

As part of the population withdrew funds accumulated in the second-pillar pension system, banks and retailers recorded increased consumer spending in April. While financial experts warned that some residents might simply “spend away” their long-term savings, data from the crowdfunding platform “Profitus” revealed another trend – a surge in investor activity that exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts. Increased investment activity among young people has also become noticeable.

In April, “Profitus” recorded the largest invested amount in the platform’s history – more than EUR 16 million was invested within a single month.
However, according to the company’s Head of Marketing, Miglė Grybinienė, the most important signal today is not only the growth in invested funds, but also the rapidly increasing activity of new investors.

In April alone, 1,245 new users registered on the “Profitus” platform – 2.5 times more than the monthly average in 2025, when the figure stood at around 495. Another important signal for the market is the growing average investment size – in April it reached EUR 1,247, which was 53% higher than the 2025 average.

“Following the changes in the pension system, public discussion was dominated by the topic of increased consumption. However, current data also reveals another process – a growing focus among residents on independent capital management. The rapid increase in new investors reflects not only short-term interest in investing, but also a broader shift in financial behavior, where investing is becoming a consistent part of personal financial planning and wealth accumulation strategies,” says M. Grybinienė.

According to her, investor behavior today is increasingly driven not by the pursuit of maximum returns, but by predictability, clearly defined investment terms, and the ability to maintain investment liquidity.

“We see that investors are increasingly choosing solutions that are easy to understand, allow them to plan cash flows, and provide greater flexibility in managing their investments. Another trend is also becoming apparent – even as the financial sector rapidly digitalizes, people still value direct contact and the opportunity to consult specialists when making financial decisions,” says M. Grybinienė.

According to her, investments on the platform are most commonly made for a period of around 12 months. Investors can manage their funds quite flexibly – once the term ends, they can either withdraw or reinvest them.

More Young People Are Starting to Invest

“Swedbank” has also noticed that Lithuanian residents, especially young people, are investing more actively.

A survey of Lithuanian residents aged 18–29, commissioned by “Swedbank,” revealed that one in three young adults invests part of their income. Meanwhile, data from “Swedbank” clients shows significant growth in the number of young investors: in the first quarter of 2026, an average of 18,000 residents aged 18–29 invested, compared to an average of just 1,500 five years ago.

“As residents’ financial literacy grows, the amount of information about investing increases, and the number of investment tools expands, the number of investors is also rising. A major growth catalyst has undoubtedly been the increasing ability to choose from different investment funds and invest small amounts, while last year an even bigger boost came from Mini Investments – a way to invest rounded-up amounts from card payments,” comments Justina Bagdanavičiūtė, Head of Financial Literacy at “Swedbank.”

The study also revealed that the ranks of investors may continue to grow in the near future. As many as 44% of young adults say they plan to start investing in order to put their spare funds to work.

The survey shows that the amounts invested by young adults are increasing. Nearly one-third – 30% – state that they invest more than EUR 100 per month. In 2023, the share of such young investors stood at 18%.

Meanwhile, 29% say they invest EUR 50–100 per month, and 16% report investing between EUR 30 and 50 monthly. Only 13% of investing respondents say they invest less than EUR 30 per month.

The Lion’s Share Goes to Investment Funds

According to the study, young investors typically hold stocks in their portfolios (33%), invest in second- or third-pillar pension funds (30%), and investment fund units (26%). At the same time, “Swedbank” data paints a more detailed picture of investing youth, showing that the lion’s share of invested funds most often goes into investment funds, according to the bank’s statement.

“Although many young investors hold stocks in their portfolios, they usually do not make up the majority of the investment portfolio – that role is occupied by investment fund units. The reason is simple: investment funds allow people to invest small amounts while ensuring high diversification. Achieving the same effect by investing mainly in stocks would require purchasing securities from many different companies,” explains J. Bagdanavičiūtė.

“The investment habits of young adults show a clear direction – investing is becoming not an exceptional activity, but an increasingly normal part of financial life. People start with small amounts, but as experience and confidence grow, so do the invested sums. An early start provides a major advantage – time, which is one of the most important factors in investing.

Therefore, consistent and thoughtful investing at a young age can become a solid foundation for long-term financial health and well-being. Of course, before starting to invest, it is important to ensure short-term financial security and build up a financial reserve, and only then pursue long-term goals that investing can help achieve,” says the Head of Financial Literacy at “Swedbank.”

Article link: https://www.delfi.lt/verslas/rinka/antros-pakopos-pinigai-liejasi-i-rinka-nustebino-kelios-tendencijos-120251724