Everyone needs to have some money put away for emergencies, and for the bigger, more exciting things in life like a child’s education or the deposit on a home. So, for most of us having some cash that we can access quickly to pay for unexpected things like an unforeseen bill, and some that steadily builds up for the future makes good financial sense.
The right savings strategy for you will depend on your personal circumstances. We can advise you on the best home for your short and longer-term savings. We can also explain the tax benefits of government-backed accounts like ISAs and pensions.
With interest rates currently low, being an enthusiastic saver isn’t on its own enough to secure your financial future. If you put all your money into a savings account its longer-term value will be eroded by inflation. In other words, as each year passes your money will buy less.
Investing means introducing risk to your money. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as increased risk can help you grow your cash. But, conversely, there is of course the possibility that you could lose some, or all, of your money. Stock market performance is unpredictable. Investing is all about adopting a longer-term view, diversifying risk by spreading your investments across different sectors and markets, and giving your money time to grow.
Taking the decision to invest money can seem like a major step, but with our help and advice, building up a portfolio of good-quality investments is an achievable ambition.
So, whether you’re a novice, or a seasoned stock market investor, want to put away regular amounts or have a lump sum to invest, we can devise an appropriate strategy for you. We’ll explain the important features of different types of investments like ISAs, pensions, unit trusts, investment trusts, open-ended investment companies and bonds, and the part they can play in successful investing.
Basically, platforms are on-line services that act like sophisticated computerised filing cabinets and are used by advisers to view and manage investment portfolios. We use platforms as a cost-effective way to help our investors buy and sell investments and hold them in a secure on-line environment they can access and view 24/7.
Platforms help us remove time-consuming tasks and reduce the administrative burden of managing a portfolio, meaning we have more time to concentrate on the implementation, evaluation and development of your investment plans. With investments centralised in this way, valuations are constantly up to date and reviews are quicker and easier to carry out. Decisions regarding your investments can be analysed and implemented quickly and easily.
