Is investing right for me?
None of us can predict the future but we do know that our needs and circumstances will change over time, and that external factors like inflation and interest rates can change too.
We know we should prepare and plan for our future, but investing can seem daunting, particularly if you’ve never invested before.
The good news is, you don’t need to be an expert to make sense of investments – we’re here to show you how.
Getting the right advice
The golden rule for any investor - big or small – is to understand what you want from your investment and the risk you’re prepared to take to get it.
You can seek professional advice from a Financial Adviser, do your own research through the internet, family and friends or investment publications.
Why do I need to invest?
Savings accounts are great for the short term, we should all have some cash which we can easily get our hands on. But the fact is you may struggle with some of your future plans, like retirement or your children’s education , if you don’t consider longer-term options to help your money grow.
Investing does come with some degree of risk, but the potential gains can be much higher. The important thing, as you can see in the chart below, is getting the balance right.
How the UK stock market, bonds, property and cash have performed over the long term:
Source: Lipper data from 30.06.91 to 30.06.11. Net income and interest is reinvested.
Key: 1 FTSE All-Share Index. 2IPD UK All Property Monthly Index. 3IMA UK Corporate Bond Index. 4Average cash management instant access account (min £2,500).
