Great Hunt: Are you interested in investing your money?

MrsAverage

I've just done a really useful free online course with ww.Futurelearn.com all about investing, if, where, when and how. run by the OU, it was only a few hours for a few weeks but taught me so much. would highly recommend it
Its called Managing My Investments and next start date is late August
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/managing-my-investments#section-dates

PathMan

MrsAverage wrote: »

I've just done a really useful free online course with ww.Futurelearn.com all about investing, if, where, when and how. run by the OU, it was only a few hours for a few weeks but taught me so much. would highly recommend it
Its called Managing My Investments and next start date is late August

Thanks MrsAverage! I have signed up for that free course!

aajax42

Rosie1980 wrote: »

I was forced into getting my head around investments 6 years ago when my Dad passed away and my Mum and Grandmother were left with money in investments none of us had any understanding of. My Dad used to keep an eye on teletext and move money around so I didn't think just leaving it sitting where was the safest bet. In the first instance we called on the services of a Financial Adviser, who cost a lot and hasn't done anything more than I could now that I understand more. With everything I have read I can honestly say that to get started you simply need two things.

The first is https://www.monevator.com, this site is amazing for investing knowledge, it's the MSE of the investing world in my opinion.

The second is Vanguard, they offer low cost passive funds and even better they also offer all in one low cost portfolio funds, eg their lifestrategy funds. You can even do all this through their own platform for a low cost!

So many of the articles were written 5 or more years ago. Returns on cash deposits were very different then, before the billionaires sucked the world dry.

colsten

aajax42 wrote: »

So many of the articles were written 5 or more years ago. Returns on cash deposits were very different then, before the billionaires sucked the world dry.

The principles of investing are the same as 5 years ago. Returns on cash deposits are generally connected to savings rather than investments.

bigadaj

colsten wrote: »

The principles of investing are the same as 5 years ago. Returns on cash deposits are generally connected to savings rather than investments.

Now ten years ago, things were quite different!

jimjames

bigadaj wrote: »

Now ten years ago, things were quite different!

Yep, you got lower income on investments than savings and had to forgo immediate income with the aim of long term growth. Now you get much higher income immediately and long term growth. Yet many people still shun investments. Bizarre!

bigadaj

jimjames wrote: »

Yep, you got lower income on investments than savings and had to forgo immediate income with the aim of long term growth. Now you get much higher income immediately and long term growth. Yet many people still shun investments. Bizarre!

It's a bit like Dracula, many are afraid of the CAPE!

I'll get me coat.

Prince_Peter

There best investment on the market is your own education about investing. You should take time off your favourite Soap Opera, or TV programme and invest an hour or two learning about the Financial Markets such as Stocks, Shares, Bonds, Savings Accounts, EIS, Managed Funds, Derivatives.

After about two or even three years, the information you will have gained would set you up for life. Many people talk about diversify and the like, this is not necessary the best strategy if one wishes to seek capital growth. It's a mantra, made by IFA's and Stockbrokers the first dont's delve into basic investments of Bonds or Shares the the later simply gain more commissions through a diversified portfolio.

Invest in yourself first, understand the power of compounding and the effects of inflation and taxation.

AndyT678

Prince_Peter wrote: »

understand the power of compounding.

Malthusian

AndyT678 wrote: »

https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/investing.png

If your investment timescale is ten years and you only get 2% per annum then you get exactly what you deserve.

If on the other hand Ms Stick Figure invested in a diversified portfolio of stocks and shares and made say a conservative 7% per annum after fees, she'd have $1,967 (albeit before inflation). Magic isn't the word I'd use but it's not rocket science either.