In the wake of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic crisis and related economic changes, an increased influx of new individual investors into the Polish stock market has been observed. This raises the need for in-depth research into the behavioral characteristics of this "new generation" to better understand the needs of novice market participants. This article is based on the author's primary research conducted on a relatively large sample of Polish investors (N = 1,067) in April 2021. The paper aims to outline demographic and behavioral profiles, as well as to determine the needs of investors in terms of access to selected methods of market analysis. The results indicate a growing interest in foreign investments, as well as a strong influence of intuition, global events, and stock market liquidity on investment decisions. The results can provide useful signposts for brokerage houses and investment firms to better tailor their offerings to this new audience.

Zarys profili polskich inwestorów i traderów giełdowych

Individual participants on financial markets do not constitute a homogeneous group. Hence, defining the whole community as "investors" may be too simplistic. This article is of a research nature and poses an attempt to identify rough characteristics and differences between Polish retail investors and stock traders. The results of the pilotage research confirm a distinction of a class of stock traders proposed in the literature, due to their idiosyncratic business model. Furthermore, minor differences in declared risk propensity, frequency of the ovetrading and motivation to undertake activity on the markets were identified. The results described in this article can be used by brokers and brokerage houses to better understand their client and tailor an offer to his diverse needs.