Before you begin your investment journey, there are several things you must first understand and define. Failing to do so may prove to be costly in the long-term.
Introduction
What to think about before you start investing
As appealing as higher returns may seem, investing requires more involvement than putting your money safely away and waiting for the interest to grow.
This could mean putting more research into where you put your money, as well as reviewing your progress frequently and adjusting your strategy as needed.
Investing also comes with a significant amount of risk, and you will need to define how much risk you are comfortable with, while also taking precautions to lessen its impact.
Whether you are a seasoned investor or just starting out, careful planning is essential.
Setting goals
The first thing to be clear about when investing is why you are doing it. It is not enough to simply aim to make more money – successful investing should have a specific, achievable goal.
For example, you may be aiming to pay off your mortgage, cover your child’s school fees, or save enough for a comfortable lifestyle in retirement.
Whatever your priorities are, having a clear goal in mind will help you form a plan and measure your progress towards it. This also makes it easier to evaluate the level of risk you can manage.
Assessing your attitude to risk
It bears repeating – investing always comes with risk. There is never a complete guarantee that the value of your investments will grow, and in the worst-case scenario, you could lose them altogether.
As greater returns usually come with a higher level of risk, you will need to weigh up your priorities and figure out how much risk you are realistically willing to take.
This includes your personal feelings about it. Would you be able to stomach rapidly rising and falling investments, or would this be a source of too much stress?
Perhaps more importantly, it is also about assessing your capacity for risk, or the level of risk you can take on without it jeopardising your financial goals.
To figure this out, give some thought to your financial circumstances more generally.
If you have any outstanding debts, it is usually better to focus on clearing those before making any investments. On the other hand, if you have got enough savings to play with, you should be able to absorb the impact of losses or low returns.
Your goal-setting will also play a part in determining your capacity for risk, as you will need to consider how soon you want to achieve your desired return on your investments.
In general, it is better to stick to low-risk investments for shorter-term goals. If you are saving for the long term, you may have the capacity for higher risk, as you will have more time to ride out any short-term fluctuations.
Types of risk
There are various types of risk that could impact on your situation, so considering these different factors should form a part of your investment planning.
Inflation risk
Over time, inflation will erode the buying power of your money. This creates the risk that a low return on your investment might not be enough to counteract it.
Market risk
Changes in local and global markets may affect your investments.
Market risk, or systemic risk, refers to these wider changes. It is caused by various economic factors and can affect any type of investment.
Specific risk
In contrast with the broader factors involved in market risk, specific risk relates to individual assets or groups of assets.
This can be caused by disruptions and problems within the company you have invested in.
Shortfall risk
While it is helpful to set goals, there is always a chance you will not reach them.
For example, your retirement income will be lower than you anticipated if you have set a goal of building up a pension pot and you do not meet your target.
This risk of a shortfall means it is important to give serious consideration to your capacity for risk and have fall back options in case you do not reach your goal.
Creating a strategy
Once you have a good idea of your investment goals, your timeframe for reaching them and your attitude to risk, you can start to refine your strategy.
One decision to make is whether you would prefer to invest in a lump sum payment or make regular investments over time.
While lump sum investing could provide a larger return sooner, it could also result in more significant losses. Regular payments allow for more flexibility to diversify and tailor your investments.
Diversifying is also important because it reduces the level of risk you are taking. It means spreading your investments across different types of asset classes, to minimise your chances of making a large loss.
Types of investment
From property and cars to artwork and collectables, there are few limits to what you can invest in.
There are also several different ways you could go about investing. Here are a few of the most common types.
Shares
When you buy a share in a company, you become an owner of a small fraction of its value. This can come with voting rights and other shareholder benefits.
Shares can provide a return through capital growth, if you sell them for a higher price than you bought them for.
Whether your share rises or falls in value can depend on the company’s growth and performance, as well as sentiment among other investors and the wider economy.
You can also gain returns on shares in the form of dividends, which are a percentage of company profits.
Funds
Alternatively, you could invest in a fund. This way, your cash is pooled with money from other investors and used by a specialist fund manager to buy a selection of shares.
It does not require the same level of time and expertise as buying shares individually, as the fund manager can handle these decisions for you.
Any returns you receive are proportionate to your investment into the fund.
Bonds
Companies or governments that require extra capital may sell bonds to investors.
When you buy a bond, you are effectively lending money to that company or government, and they will pay you a fixed rate of interest as long as you hold the bond. If you hold the bond until it matures, you will be paid back the original amount you put in.
These are generally regarded as being lower risk than other investments such as shares, although they can fall in value if you do not hold them until they mature.
Bonds from the UK government, also known as gilts, are a particularly secure option. However, this means they tend to come with low returns.
Conversely, purchasing a bond from a struggling company carries more risk but will usually pay higher interest.
Stocks and shares ISAs
Stocks and shares ISAs allow you to invest up to £20,000 a year free of tax. This could take the form of various types of investments, including shares, funds and bonds.
This could mean a significant tax saving, especially if you are investing in large amounts, so it can be efficient to use up your allowance each year if your circumstances allow.
How can we help you?
If you would like to discuss your investment options, or if you wish to arrange an initial no cost, no obligation, consultation, then please fill out the contact form below. Alternatively, you can call 01603 706 820 or email info@lffp.co.uk.
Important information
The contents of this fact sheet do not constitute financial advice. The impact of taxation (and any tax relief) depends on individual circumstances. This has been prepared based on our current understanding of UK Law, Taxation and HMRC practice, all of which could be subject to change in future. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and it may not always be possible to receive back the sum initially invested. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future investment returns.
While considerable care has been taken to ensure this information is accurate and up-to-date, no warranty is given as to its accuracy. This article constitutes a financial promotion.
