Complete Novice wanting to invest

dinono10

Hi guys and girls,

At the moment, I am in a position where I can invest £100-£150 per month. Not looking for any major returns just want to start investing for the long-term future. I know it is not an awful lot and I could invest more however bills/mortgage etc kind of limits this.

I've done quite a bit of reading/watching videos on you-tube and I'm none the wiser. Alot of people on here recommend Vanguard. As a beginner and someone who doesn't want to be checking stocks daily,what is the best option? Is vanguard life strategy conservative growth fund a go option?

I would appreciate any help or advice that you can give.:money:

Dean

Eco_Miser

Have you read the Monevator blog?
Vanguard life strategy is certainly an option, as are other global multi-asset funds.

dinono10

Thank you. More reading for this evening. I'm 35 so I don't want to leave it too late to invest.I guess we all started somewhere. Any other novices started recently?

justme111

I started a few years ago , chosen a few of HSBC trackers plus Aberdeen EM on Cavendish online website (in an ISA)

AlanP_2

What do you mean by "long term" as that can mean many different things?

Are you talking retirement planning as in 30+ year long term?

Make sure you have an "emergency fund" available to you in cash before you start to invest.

Think about the underlying investments, as you are, but also think about the "wrapper" you might hold them in - Pension, S&S LISA, S&S ISA.

Each have advantages and disadvantages so no One Rule Fits All answer.

Continue to research and read around the subject and ask for help if something is unclear, lots of knowledgeable posters here (not me BTW).

bostonerimus

Your first place to invest should be in your workplace pension so you can get the tax deferred growth and the employer contribution. Then I'd look at an ISA. I like buying directly from Vanguard as they are inexpensive, simple and have a good range of funds that will satisfy your investment needs.

AlanP_2

bostonerimus wrote: »

Your first place to invest should be in your workplace pension so you can get the tax deferred growth and the employer contribution. Then I'd look at an ISA. I live buying directly from Vanguard as they are inexpensive, simple and have a good range of funds that will satisfy your investment needs.

Not if your "needs" are for something Vanguard does not offer they won't - bricks & mortar commercial property for instance, or commodities.

These may not be the OP's "needs" at the moment but they might be one day, Vanguard aren't the answer to every question in every situation.

bostonerimus

AlanP wrote: »

Not if your "needs" are for something Vanguard does not offer they won't - bricks & mortar commercial property for instance, or commodities.

These may not be the OP's "needs" at the moment but they might be one day, Vanguard aren't the answer to every question in every situation.

As a beginner it's probably best that the OP avoid commodities and I wouldn't worry about not having commercial property in a portfolio. There are certainly other good solutions and platforms for the OP to use, but Vanguard will work well enough.

dinono10

Hi,

I've been paying my pension since I was 23 and started working in a secondary school. I' m now 35 , have 2 jobs and my flat is doing fairly well on Airbnb. When I mean for the future , I mean 60+, I just want to buy some assets and buying stocks/shares seems the way to go.

Just something basic, I can afford up £150 every month, I just get confused the more I read and videos I watch.

With Vanguard, is that good for a beginner like myself?

enthusiasticsaver

I started investing about 2 or 3 years ago and read up articles on monevator and morning star/trust net about risk and the importance of diversifying. I did not have the confidence to select funds so just went with the Vanguard lifestrategy 60 as it is low cost, an invest and leave it alone fund as well diversified and balanced. I have just added an active income fund too but am only concentrating on global multi asset funds.

I too like you started with monthly payments and used the first six months to a year to just read up about it. The main thing is though you have to look to the medium to long term and don't invest if you are going to panic with the price going down and up as it can for time to time. The first year mine hardly moved at all and I used to check every couple of days on the price. Now I look at it every 6 months or so and it has done really well over the last two years.

justme111

Yes
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