£300k to invest

bostonerimus

I think the OP should make sure they have a couple of years of spending in cash (maybe in laddered accounts) to augment any sources of income they have like state and DB pensions etc. Then just put the rest into some simple equity index funds or maybe a stock heavy multi-asset fund. The reasoning is that with solid income and a good cash buffer they can play the long game with the equities and not worry about short term volatility.

lagransiete

Albermarle said:

lagransiete said:

Albermarle said:

No of course not but if we think a current event is causing an economic crisis affecting share values and pushing inflation upwards then surely we can assume that when that event ceases, may well be a good time to make a lump sum investment.

The issue is that the market is always looking ahead, and the prices of shares etc are as much based on what the market thinks the economy will look like in one two years time, rather than so much on what is happening now.

Stock markets will usually drop when a recession is forecast, but will often rise when the actual recession takes place, as they can see the end of the tunnel.

If you are thinking about the Ukraine war in particular, probably the most likely scenario is that it will rumble on for years, and the global economy will adjust around that.

The caveat is of course that unexpected good or bad news stories can cause short term market turbulence, but nothing new about that !

Fair comment. I tended to think people panic sold their stock through fear or sought short term gains when sufficiently emboldened 

Some do that for sure, especially in the active markets. For your average long term investor though, the usual recommendation is to do nothing different, regardless of the latest news/crisis. Just keep calm and carry on !

Another thing that is concerning me is the elephant in the room ie Brexit and its effects on our economy, but then again my multifunds are global so should be less cause for concern. In any case I have now contacted my IFA, and he will advise me so I will take things from there and hope I don't lose my shirt   

lagransiete

bostonerimus said:

I think the OP should make sure they have a couple of years of spending in cash (maybe in laddered accounts) to augment any sources of income they have like state and DB pensions etc. Then just put the rest into some simple equity index funds or maybe a stock heavy multi-asset fund. The reasoning is that with solid income and a good cash buffer they can play the long game with the equities and not worry about short term volatility.

i will bear that in mind , thanks

Albermarle

lagransiete said:

Albermarle said:

lagransiete said:

Albermarle said:

No of course not but if we think a current event is causing an economic crisis affecting share values and pushing inflation upwards then surely we can assume that when that event ceases, may well be a good time to make a lump sum investment.

The issue is that the market is always looking ahead, and the prices of shares etc are as much based on what the market thinks the economy will look like in one two years time, rather than so much on what is happening now.

Stock markets will usually drop when a recession is forecast, but will often rise when the actual recession takes place, as they can see the end of the tunnel.

If you are thinking about the Ukraine war in particular, probably the most likely scenario is that it will rumble on for years, and the global economy will adjust around that.

The caveat is of course that unexpected good or bad news stories can cause short term market turbulence, but nothing new about that !

Fair comment. I tended to think people panic sold their stock through fear or sought short term gains when sufficiently emboldened 

Some do that for sure, especially in the active markets. For your average long term investor though, the usual recommendation is to do nothing different, regardless of the latest news/crisis. Just keep calm and carry on !

Another thing that is concerning me is the elephant in the room ie Brexit and its effects on our economy, but then again my multifunds are global so should be less cause for concern. In any case I have now contacted my IFA, and he will advise me so I will take things from there and hope I don't lose my shirt   

The UK financial markets represent only approx 4% of the global market. In global terms Brexit is a non event.

bostonerimus

Albermarle said:

lagransiete said:

Albermarle said:

lagransiete said:

Albermarle said:

No of course not but if we think a current event is causing an economic crisis affecting share values and pushing inflation upwards then surely we can assume that when that event ceases, may well be a good time to make a lump sum investment.

The issue is that the market is always looking ahead, and the prices of shares etc are as much based on what the market thinks the economy will look like in one two years time, rather than so much on what is happening now.

Stock markets will usually drop when a recession is forecast, but will often rise when the actual recession takes place, as they can see the end of the tunnel.

If you are thinking about the Ukraine war in particular, probably the most likely scenario is that it will rumble on for years, and the global economy will adjust around that.

The caveat is of course that unexpected good or bad news stories can cause short term market turbulence, but nothing new about that !

Fair comment. I tended to think people panic sold their stock through fear or sought short term gains when sufficiently emboldened 

Some do that for sure, especially in the active markets. For your average long term investor though, the usual recommendation is to do nothing different, regardless of the latest news/crisis. Just keep calm and carry on !

Another thing that is concerning me is the elephant in the room ie Brexit and its effects on our economy, but then again my multifunds are global so should be less cause for concern. In any case I have now contacted my IFA, and he will advise me so I will take things from there and hope I don't lose my shirt   

The UK financial markets represent only approx 4% of the global market. In global terms Brexit is a non event.

Brexit was a large global political event, but not economically that important for the rest of the world. However, it was, is and will be important economically for the UK...there will be different interpretations of that fact.