Yes, the stock markets are in turmoil … but it really is a good idea to invest

Aberdeen says while UK consumers hold an average of 15% of their assets in cash, compared with 8% in stocks, their US peers hold 10% and 33% respectively. Photograph: Paul Rapson/Alamy

Recent headlines about stock markets in freefall and graphs with downward arrows are not what you would choose as a backdrop to persuading people to move from cash savings into riskier investments.

But that was what the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, was faced with after announcing that a review of cash and shares Isas was on the way.