S&S ISA question - is this 'normal'?

ExMugPunter

You have bought a well regarded investment so don't worry. In the long run you have a good chance that it will do the job you want it to.

I am also quite new to this investment lark and have a bad habbit of checking the markets and my (small) portfolio too often.

It looks great when things are riding high and you have 'made money'. But I have learnt to not worry about the dips. In fact I am beginning to celebrate the 'dips' and also be positive if the account is 'flatlining'.

As people above have expressed, it can be hard emotionally and mentally, but as I have 30 years before retirement, I want to buy my 'stuff' as cheap as possible.

This is because rather than seeing your investmnet as 'not performing' and negative you need to see it as an opportunity to buy your chosen investment cheap. If they went in a constant upwards direction you would be paying ever increasing prices for your 'units'. If they are stagnating or even getting cheaper., you have the opportunity to buy them at a discount. which will maximise your future profits.

Those of us who need to sell to fund retirement etc need rising markets. Those of of us who don't intend to sell for 10 years plus, should be hoping for stagnating, or even falling markets.

grizzly1911

ExMugPunter wrote: »

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Those of us who need to sell to fund retirement etc need rising markets. Those of of us who don't intend to sell for 10 years plus, should be hoping for stagnating, or even falling markets.

It would unrealistic to expect all your accumulated growth to be made the year before you want to sell though. Held it for ten years and want 80% in year 11.

Whilst there will no doubt be ups and downs I prefer to see more of an upward staircase. Regular incremental growth with flatter periods every so often to make the most of buying opportunities.

Over one year is to short to call but a balanced fund should generally grow overall as time progresses.