Investing – 10 Key principles that every investor needs to know

Welcome to our Guide to Investing.

Investing is one of the most important things you can do to secure your financial future. It allows you to build wealth over time, while taking advantage of compounding returns. And, by understanding some key principles, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you’re doing everything you can do to invest with confidence.

But it’s not surprising that the world of investing can seem complex, especially in the current global economic climate. Investors face an endless supply of market news, many investment choices and often-changing market conditions.  However, there are a number of key principles that every investor should follow with the aim of building an effective long-term strategy designed to achieve their financial goals.

Here’s our rundown of the 10 key principles that every investor needs to know:

  1. Set investment goals

It’s important that you set yourself investment goals – this will help you   stay focused and on track to achieving  your financial objectives. With a well-structured plan in place, you can  confidently stay committed to it.

There are a number of factors to consider  when setting your goals, such as your age,  investment timeframe and risk tolerance.

  1. Plan on living a long time, and saving more for it

People aged 65 years in the UK in 2020  can expect to live on average a further 19.7 years for males and 22.0 years for females,  projected to rise to 21.9 years for males  and 24.1 years for females aged 65 years in  2045.

Investors should start early, invest with discipline and have a plan for their future.

  1. Cash is rarely king, and inflation eats away at your purchasing power

Cash is a popular asset class, but it’s    important to remember that it is not   always king – inflation can erode the   purchasing power of your cash, making it  a less attractive option in the long run.

When inflation is taken into account, cash  typically lags behind other asset classes  such as stocks and bonds, which can mean that over time, cash will generally be   worth less in terms of purchasing power.

  1. Start early and re-invest income – compounding works miracles

Compounding is often called the eighth  wonder of the world – by starting to invest  early and reinvesting your income, you can  take advantage of compounding to build  your wealth over time.

The power of compounding is so great that  delaying investing by even just a few years,  or choosing not to reinvest income, can  make an enormous difference to your  eventual returns.

5. Returns and risks generally go hand in hand, so be realistic about your objectives and what you can achieve

Of course, you always want to aim for the  highest possible return while taking on the  least amount of risk. But in reality, there is  usually a trade-off involved – the higher the  potential return, the higher the risk. And  vice versa.

Therefore, if you want to target a higher level of return, you have to be willing, and  able, to tolerate larger swings in the value  of your investments along the way.

  1. Volatility is normal, so keep your head when all about you are losing theirs

Volatility is a normal part of the market,  so don’t let it rattle you – keep your head  when all about you are losing theirs, and  remember that the best time to invest is  often when others are panicking.

So don’t panic when the markets are down. Instead, stay calm and focused on your  long-term goals.

  1. Timing the market is difficult, staying invested matters

It’s no secret that timing the stock market  is difficult. In fact, it’s often said that   trying to time the market is a fool’s errand. By staying invested you ensure that you’re participating in the long-term growth  of the market, which helps to mitigate the  effects of volatility.
Staying invested in the market allows  you to take advantage of opportunities as  they arise. By staying invested, you’ll be in  a position to buy when prices are low and  sell when prices are high.

  1. Diversification works: don’t put all your eggs in one basket

By spreading your money across different  investments, you can minimise your risk  and maximise your chances of success.• Over time, different investments will tend to even out, so the aim is to grow your money even if some investments  underperform due to market movements.

  1. Review your portfolio

Reviewing your investment portfolio   allows you to monitor your progress and ensure that your investments are  performing as expected, giving you     the opportunity to make changes to your  portfolio if necessary.

It helps you stay disciplined and focused  on your long-term goals.

  1. If it seems too good to be true, it usually will be

Promises of high returns with little or  no risk are almost always too good to be  true – there are a lot of scams out there, and many people looking to take  advantage of unsuspecting investors.

Before investing, consult with a financial  professional to help you understand the  risks involved.

“INVESTING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SECURE YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE. IT ALLOWS YOU TO BUILD WEALTH OVER TIME, WHILE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF COMPOUNDING RETURNS.”

WHAT ARE YOUR LONG-TERM WEALTH PRIORITIES?

Whatever your long-term wealth priorities, our first investment will always be in understanding your priorities and building a personal relationship with you. To discuss your plans or for further information, please contact us.

THE VALUE OF INVESTMENTS AND INCOME FROM THEM MAY GO DOWN. YOU MAY NOT GET BACK THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT INVESTED. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT A RELIABLE INDICATOR OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE

Source data:[1] The Office for National Statistics (ONS) – Past and projected period and cohort life tables: 2020-based, UK, 1981 to 2070
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