If your savings goal is more than five years away, putting some of your cash into investments might make your money go further and help you keep up with rising prices.
What’s in this guide
What are investments?
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If you’re considering an investment offer, seek regulated financial advice
Investments are something you buy or put your money into to get a profitable return.
Most people choose from four main types of investment, which are grouped according to characteristics they have in common. These are known as ‘asset classes’:
- shares - you buy a stake in a company
- cash – the savings you put in a bank or building society account
- property – you invest in a physical building, whether commercial or residential
- fixed interest securities (also called bonds) - IOUs given in return for loaning money to a company or government.
Do you need help making smart investment choices?
Are you unsure about whether to invest your money, or don’t know where to start?
For help making smart investment choices, understanding risk, diversification and where to find regulated investments, find out more on the Financial Conduct Authority’s InvestSmart website
The various assets owned by an investor are called a portfolio.
As a general rule, spreading your money between the different types of asset classes helps lower the risk of your overall portfolio underperforming – more on this later.
There are lots of different ways of investing. Many people invest through collective or ‘pooled’ funds such as unit trusts, OEICs, or Investment Trusts.
Find out more about stocks and shares in our guide
Returns
Returns are the profit you earn from your investments.
Depending on where you put your money it could be paid in a number of different ways:
- dividends (from shares)
- rent (from properties)
- interest (from cash deposits and fixed interest securities)
- the difference between the price you pay and the price you sell for – capital gains or losses.
With an instant access cash account you can withdraw money whenever you like and it’s generally considered a secure investment. The same money put into fixed interest securities, shares or property is likely to go up and down in value but should grow more over the longer term, although each is likely to grow by different amounts.
Find out more in our guide What’s the difference between saving and investing my money?
Budget Planner
To help you manage your money, use our free and easy-to-use Budget Planner
How fees reduce investment returns
Managing investments takes time and money and service providers (such as fund management companies) will charge a fee.
This cost can eat into the returns you’ll receive and it’s something you can ask about before you invest.
When choosing a financial adviser, look at both the upfront and ongoing fees they charge. Also, consider the fees related to the investment itself, including the published annual management charge and Ongoing Charges Figure (OCF), which covers additional costs. Understanding these fees helps you know the true cost of your investments and advice you receive.
Risks
None of us likes to gamble with our savings, but the truth is that there’s no such thing as a ‘no-risk’ investment.
At the heart of investing there is a simple trade-off: the more risk you take, the more you can get back or lose (and the lower the risk you take, the less you’re likely to get back or lose).
But while you’re always taking on some risk when you invest, the amount varies between different types of investment.
Money you place in secure deposits such as savings accounts risks losing value in real terms (buying power) over time.
This is because the interest rate paid won’t always keep up with rising prices (inflation).
On the other hand, fixed interest investments are likely to suffer if interest rates increase. The fixed returns become less appealing to buyers and the value of your existing investments may fall.
Stock market investments are generally expected to beat inflation and interest rates over time, but you run the risk that prices might be low at the time you need to sell.
This could result in a poor return or, if prices are lower than when you bought, losing money.
It’s important to consider how comfortable you are with your investments going up and down in value and how much you can afford to lose while still meeting your goals. Combining these factors helps you decide where to invest and how much risk to take.
Good investing is finding the right mix of different types of investments that match your comfort with risk. This is called ‘asset allocation’, and it’s something you might want to get advice on from a regulated financial adviser.
Help with the cost of living
Worrying about money because of rising rents, high energy bills or debt? If so, we're here to help.
Take the first steps to find your way forward with our guides to help you with the cost of living.
When should you start investing?
If you’ve got plenty of money in your cash savings account – enough to cover you for at least three to six months – and you want to see your money grow over the long term, then you should consider investing some of it.
The right savings or investments for you’ll depend on a range of different factors, such as your financial situation, life circumstances, risk appetite and your future goals.
