67 years old....is it too late to get serious about future?

dunstonh

I am happy with some risk so I was thinking of corporate bonds (via funds) gilts (someone said index linked) and a couple of ftse trackers as I believe over the next few years there is growth potential there.

corp bonds range from low risk to medium/high risk. Gilts low risk and FTSE trackers medium/high risk. If you are cautious then picking a few areas out at random is not the ideal way to do it. A wider spread utilising many areas but averaging out to your risk profile is nearly always the best solution over the long term.

I read from Hargreaves Lansdown that they felt bond prices were low (fearing the worse i.e. depression) and there was potential for capital growth. Does this seem reasonable?

Bond prices are low because of fears of non payment. It is estimated that as much as 50% failure rate has been priced into many bonds. If that 50% failure rate fails to happen then the pricing will be cheap and there should be growth.

I realise that I could probably get potentially more in more risky areas

FTSE trackers are more risky areas than your comments suggest. So, if its good for them, why not everything else?

pjala

What if you filter all the money over the next few years into an ISA? Is this then counted in savings?

dboswell

pjala wrote: »

What if you filter all the money over the next few years into an ISA? Is this then counted in savings?

Yes that was one thought; to use my ISA allowance for part of my investments. However, I will have additional funds over my allowance.

The aim is to use my current savings and future earnings (3 years) to "invest" into a pension and get some of the government top up to boost my pot.

I then want to invest most of it in bonds, shares, commodities etc with an 8 to 10 year view. Would this be better via funds, etfs or a combination? The intention is to buy and hold, rather than actively trade. I was reading about etfs and I note there are cost advantages. What are the disadvantages?

If I take out a pension, am I limited to taking 25% in a tax free lump sum and the reminder in an annuity or can I mix it up? For example, if I want to keep the investments I have and get an income.