From Novice to Millionaire: How a 40-Year Investment Journey Built a £2m ISA Fortune
In the mid-1980s, Jane Perry, then in her thirties and working in market research, made a decision that would define her financial future. With no family history in the markets and admitting she knew "nothing" about investing, she took a leap of faith. Four decades later, that leap has resulted in an Individual Savings Account (ISA) portfolio valued at £2 million.
Perry's journey began amidst the Thatcher-era privatisations, which saw giants like BT and British Gas offered to the public. "I came from a family that had absolutely no experience of the stock market at all," she recalls. A conversation with a more experienced colleague demystified the process, leading her to drain her cash savings to buy "an awful lot of BT shares."
She was an early adopter of the Personal Equity Plan (PEP), the tax-free precursor to the ISA, investing £2,400 in 1987. Her first major holding was in Unilever. The 1987 Black Monday crash was an immediate test, prompting her to move her PEP from NatWest to what is now Interactive Investor to avoid high fees—a lesson in cost-consciousness that would serve her well.
Her strategy evolved into a model of simplicity and resilience: regular investments into large, established investment trusts like Foreign & Colonial (now F&C Investment Trust), reinvesting dividends, and maintaining a long-term horizon. "The magic of compounding ensured that the total value went up relentlessly," she notes.
Her approach wasn't without a misstep. An investment in the ill-fated Woodford Patient Capital Trust lost 90% of its value. Yet, this single significant loss was absorbed by the overall growth of her diversified, long-held portfolio. Over 40 years, she has only made one withdrawal.
Now retired and a volunteer at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Perry is focused on legacy planning. However, she retains a strong emotional tie to her ISA. "I've had it for a very long time, it's done me very well. I don't want to break it up," she says.
Bridging the Investment Gap
Perry's success highlights a persistent issue: the gender investment gap. HMRC data shows women in their thirties have 46% less invested in stocks and shares ISAs than men. "There are very few women that I meet on the investment trust AGM circuit," Perry observes, noting the rooms are "almost all men."
She attributes this largely to a confidence gap. "Women sometimes lack the confidence to start investing, and too often think that it's better suited to men," she says. Her advice is to start small and simple: "Pick a large global investment trust... their dividend is as secure as almost anything can be."
Her core message, forged through Black Monday, the dot-com bust, and the 2008 crisis, is one of steadfastness: "You have to keep your nerve when things go bad, and buy!"
David Chen, Financial Advisor, London: "Perry's story is a classic case study in 'time in the market' beating 'timing the market.' Her systematic approach, focusing on costs and reinvestment, is exactly what we advise, though modern investors have far greater access to information and low-cost platforms."
Maya Robertson, Founder of 'InvestHER' Community: "This is incredibly inspiring and exactly the narrative we need more of. Jane didn't wait for permission or a 'perfect' knowledge level. She started, learned, and stayed consistent. We need to amplify these stories to show women that building significant wealth is accessible."
Graham Finch, Commentator on 'The Money Watch' podcast: "Let's not romanticize this. For every Jane Perry, there are thousands who lost savings by picking the wrong stock or trust. Her success relied heavily on a historic, multi-decade bull market and getting into privatisations at the ground floor—opportunities that don't exist today. This is a nice story, not a realistic blueprint for the average 30-year-old facing stagnant wages and a cost-of-living crisis."
Professor Eleanor Shaw, Finance Department, University of Edinburgh: "The sociological aspect is key. Perry actively sought education through trade bodies and AGMs, creating her own financial literacy network. Today's challenge is not access to information, but curating it and overcoming the behavioral biases that deter people, especially women, from starting."