Understanding how investing works, the risks involved, and how your advisor will support you through every step.
Investing isn't just about growing your money. It's about building freedom, security and the life you want to live.
Investing is just one part of making the most of your money. When you work with a financial advisor, they'll help you organise your finances so you're in the best possible position for the future. That could mean paying down expensive debts or putting money aside for emergencies. Only once the basics are in place will they explore whether investing is right for you.
If it is, investing can offer powerful benefits. Over time, it can help your money grow faster than saving alone, giving you more freedom and security later in life. It can also help protect your wealth against the rising cost of living, which can quietly erode the value of cash savings over time.
Investing isn't about getting rich quickly. It's a long-term process - typically five years or more - designed to give your money the opportunity to grow while managing risks carefully along the way.
Doing nothing with your money could be the biggest risk of all.
Your money appears to grow - but in real terms it has lost spending power. Investing aims to grow your money at a rate that can help you stay ahead of inflation, although it involves taking some risk along the way.
Investing can feel complicated, especially when markets rise and fall. Working with a professional advisor can make all the difference.
Your advisor will take the time to understand you - your goals, your personal and financial situation, and your comfort with risk - and design a plan that fits you.
They'll help you make smart decisions about using tax-efficient wrappers, how much risk to take, and how to invest your money across different areas to maximise your returns.
It's easy to react emotionally when markets fall. Your advisor is there to keep you focused on your long-term plan, helping you avoid common and costly mistakes.
Investing is not about taking chances - it's about making choices that fit you.
Your advisor will find out what you want to achieve - whether it's growing your wealth, generating income or building a legacy for your family.
Your advisor will understand how long you plan to keep your money invested before you'll need it. Longer time horizons generally allow for more growth potential.
Your advisor will explore how you feel about the ups and downs of investing and how much risk you are comfortable taking on your journey.
Beyond how you feel, it's important to consider how much you can financially afford to lose without it affecting your financial security or life plans.
Your advisor will recommend an approach that fits you and explain the details so you can move forward with confidence.
Your advisor will agree with you to check in regularly to make sure your plan still matches your life goals and circumstances as they change over time.
Taking some risk is necessary if you want your money to grow. Investments that offer the potential for higher returns, like company shares, tend to rise and fall more in value. Lower-risk investments, like government bonds, are usually more stable but offer lower returns.
The key is finding the right balance for you - enough risk to give your money room to grow, but not so much that you feel uncomfortable or endanger your future plans.
When people hear the word 'risk', they often think about losing money. But when investing, risk simply means the chance that your investment's value will go up and down over time.
"Rather than putting all your money into shares in one company or one country, a well-diversified portfolio might invest in hundreds of companies around the world, government bonds, commercial property and more - helping protect you if any one area has a bad year."
A diversified approachDifferent investments tend to perform well at different times. When shares are struggling, bonds might do better. When one region of the world is having a tough year, another might be growing strongly. Diversification aims to smooth out the ups and downs and give you a better chance of steady, long-term growth.
Before making any recommendations, your advisor will talk to you about your objectives, experience and how comfortable you are with risk. There are six broad types of investor.
Capital preservation is the most important factor. You are likely to restrict your savings to cash deposits, cash ISAs and similar products offering ready access and depositor protection. You understand how inflation can reduce the real value of your savings over time.
You want a minimal chance of a fall in value, though you accept some loss of capital is possible. You recognise that inflation is likely to reduce the real value of your money over the long term, so you're willing to consider other types of investment.
You want returns better than a deposit account and accept that the value of your investment can fall as well as rise. You prefer outcomes that have a degree of certainty and may be more familiar with bank and building society accounts than other types of investment.
You want higher returns than deposit accounts and accept fluctuation in value as markets change. You understand that taking investment risk is necessary to meet long-term goals and are willing to take risk with part of your investments.
You are an experienced investor who understands investment volatility and accepts a higher level of risk to obtain higher long-term returns. You are comfortable taking investment risk and willing to take risk with most of your investments.
You have extensive investment experience and very strong knowledge of financial matters. You are looking for the highest possible return on your capital and are willing to take considerable amounts of risk to achieve this. Investment volatility is unlikely to concern you.
People invest for different reasons, and your needs may change over time. The right investment plan evolves as your life evolves.
Aiming to increase your money's value over the long term, often by investing more heavily in shares and other assets with higher potential returns. You accept that values may rise and fall along the way.
Using your investments to provide regular payments once you retire or reduce your working hours. Income-focused investments might include dividend-paying shares, bonds or a portfolio of funds that deliver a steady cash flow.
Saving regularly is a great habit - but even cash savings come with risks that can quietly erode their value over time.
If prices rise faster than your savings grow, your money can lose spending power over time - meaning it won't stretch as far in the future.
Savings rates can go up or down and may not always keep pace with inflation. If your money is sitting in a low-interest account, its real value could be falling.
Holding cash gives you flexibility and peace of mind. But keeping too much in cash can limit its long-term growth, especially if you're saving for something years away.
Richard started investing to build a deposit for his first home - and achieved that goal. Working with his advisor, they agreed how he could save flexibly but take more risk with his investments as his next goal, retirement, was 20 years away. By reviewing this goal regularly and understanding what the increase in risk meant to him, he could potentially achieve a 2% higher return on his investment long term.
There's no one-size-fits-all approach. Different solutions suit different people, depending on your goals, attitude to risk, and how you want to use your money.
Aiming to increase your money's value over the long term, often by investing more heavily in shares and other assets with higher potential returns.
Designed to provide regular payments through dividends, interest or other income sources - ideal once you're drawing from your investments.
Aiming to reduce the ups and downs of markets, these investments try to deliver steadier returns over time. Note that smoothing isn't guaranteed and charges may be higher.
Combining different types of investments - like shares, bonds and property - into one carefully balanced portfolio. Multi-asset portfolios aim to spread risk while seeking steady returns.
Low-cost funds that aim to track the performance of a market index, rather than trying to beat it. A cost-effective way to diversify your investments.
Some products, such as annuities, offer a secure income for life. These can suit people who want certainty over flexibility once they reach retirement.
Diversification across different investments helps reduce the impact of any single market event and provides a more stable path towards your goals.
Speak to an AdvisorHowever your journey looks, it's important to think about how your investments will support you. Retirement isn't always a clear-cut event - you might cut back gradually, do some part-time work, or retire fully.
As you get closer to retiring, the focus often shifts towards protecting what you have built while still growing your savings and protecting against inflation.
Once you begin drawing an income, it's important to do it carefully. Taking too much too soon could put your long-term plans at risk. Your advisor will help you manage withdrawal risk and consider reducing investment risk.
In later years, you might focus more on stability, care needs or passing wealth on to your family. Your investments should continue to support these changing goals.
Taking out money during a market downturn can lock in losses and hurt your long-term income.
Rising living costs can quietly eat away at the spending power of your retirement income over time.
Living longer than expected means your money needs to last longer too - careful planning is essential.
Flo wanted to know if she could afford to retire at 65, but she was worried about running out of money in later life. Working with her advisor, they agreed how to best invest her pension fund to ensure she had an inflation-proof secured income to cover her day-to-day living costs for life - while still retaining a lump sum to dip into for her travel passion. Flo now feels free to enjoy her retirement years without the stress of financial uncertainty.
Successful investing is about patience, not prediction. Human emotions can be powerful - but reacting to short-term events can seriously harm your long-term investment success.
These reactions are understandable but often damaging. Making emotional decisions at the wrong time can turn temporary market falls into permanent losses. By focusing on your long-term plan rather than short-term movements, you give your investments the best chance to grow - and to provide a sustainable income in retirement.
Samir invested £20,000 in an equities ISA a few years ago, which had grown to £24,000 in value. The market fell sharply and Samir's investment fell to £21,000. He stayed calm - and over the next 6 months his investment recovered to £25,000 and continued to grow.
If Samir had panicked and withdrawn the £21,000 into his bank account, he would still have £21,000 with little potential for growth.
Richard had achieved his goal of saving for a house deposit and was wondering what his next financial goal would be. With retirement 20 years away, his advisor helped him invest more flexibly and take more risk to potentially achieve a 2% higher return long term.
Flo wanted to retire at 65 but worried about running out of money in later life. Her advisor structured her pension fund to provide an inflation-proof income for life alongside a flexible lump sum for her travel passion.
Emily was keen to invest but had no investment experience or preferences. Her advisor recommended a diversified portfolio covering a mix of investment types - giving her the peace of mind that all her eggs weren't in one basket, with access to her money if needed.
Investing is a journey, not a one-off event. Working with a financial advisor gives you the support, expertise and reassurance to stay on track - no matter what life throws your way.
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You don't need to make any decisions straight away. This guide is designed to help you understand what's involved in investing and how working with an advisor can help you make smart, confident choices.
If you have any questions, your advisor is here to help - giving you the support and guidance you need to build a secure and rewarding future.
Past performance is no guide to future performance and may not be repeated.
The value of your investment, and any income derived from it, may go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount invested.
Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change.
This guide is for information purposes only. Nothing in it constitutes financial advice. Please speak to a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.