Medium Risk

SVts

I currently have my savings in a low/no risk 30 day notice account paying approx 5% interest.

My question is if I decide to take a little more risk what options are there? I'm presuming stocks and shares but I have no idea where to start and I'm just hoping for a little advice on what investment opportunities may be out there.

Thanks

LHW99

Can help to know hat the savings are for / when you might want to use them,

Do you have a sufficient emergency pot (instant access)? It's generally thought you need to be sure you won't need the money for 5-10 years if you decide to invest.

dunstonh

My question is if I decide to take a little more risk what options are there?

Thousands, tens of thousands really.

I'm presuming stocks and shares but I have no idea where to start and I'm just hoping for a little advice on what investment opportunities may be out there.

Dont go looking on the internet for investment opportunities.  You will just get scammed out of your money.

Mainstream and boring is how investing should be.   Before you look for solutions, you need to understand your objectives.   Then you match the solutions to your objectives.   So, think about those and let us know what they are.  Then solutions can be discussed.

Sam_666

Invest in your pension first.

Eyeful

                                                 Notes for Newbies

1. Any money needed within 5 years should be in a Bank/Building Society account covered by the FSCS up to £85K.

2. Use tax shelters where possible (a) Pensions (b) ISA's

3. INVESTING means putting your money at risk. You hope to get more out than you put in, but this this not guaranteed

4. Think of investing in the stock markets as a game.

    Long term (say at least 10 years) its called "investing" odds of winning = HIGH.

    Short term (say few days/weeks) its called "speculating" or "trading" odds of winning = small

5. You can make investing as simple or as complicated as you like.

   The Simple method of investing boils down to this:

(a) Low Cost Global Multi Asset Funds (for Cautious types & those that want more Control)

     A ready made portfolio, where you pick the share/bond split, you are most comfortable with.

Example:  https://www.hsbc.co.uk/investments/products/hsbc-global-strategy-portfolios/#balanced

(b) Passive Low Cost Global Index Tracking Funds or ETF's (for the Adventurous with a very long time frame) 

     Here its shares = 100%. It may produce the highest return but is the most risky.

Example: https://www.trustnet.com/factsheets/o/kldq/hsbc-ftse-all-world-index

6.  Academic research repeatly shows that most "active fund managers" after charges are applied,

    do not beat a MAJOR  GLOBAL WORLD INDEX. 

7. Before investing:

(a) Clear all expensive debt first (except for mortgage)

(b) Have a "Rainy Day" account for emergencies (6 months of house hold bills, is often quoted).

 8. SIMPLE INVESTING IN DETAIL (advantages, easy to understand  & implement).

(a) First watch this: https://www.kroijer.com/

(b) Then read these

     https://monevator.com/passive-fund-of-funds-the-rivals/

     https://monevator.com/best-global-tracker-funds/

9.  I suggest staying away from individual shares & crypto. 

Eyeful

(a) Ignore investments that come via:
1.Cold calls
2. Emails
3. Social media (Facebook etc)
4. Friends at the pub/club/work
Don't jump ship just because the market falls or crashes (classic newbie response)

(b) The FSCS PROTECTION CHECKER, for Savings, Investments, Pension ( third heading along).
 Bookmark:    https://www.fscs.org.uk/check/

(c) The FSCS protection for Savings & Investments is different.

1. Will FSCS protect my savings?      .   Ans=Yes

2. Will FSCS protect my Investments?   Ans=May be.  
This is because not all investments are protected.
https://monevator.com/maximising-fscs-protection-for-your-investment-portfolio/

SVts

Think I'll stick to banks.

I was thinking 50k over a six month term but I guess over that time period banks are the safest bet.

AlanP_2

SVts said:

Think I'll stick to banks.

I was thinking 50k over a six month term but I guess over that time period banks are the safest bet.

Investing for 6 months would be very high risk so good decision.

Investing is what you do in pensions over decades which smooths the ups and downs of stock markets. Over time you get better returns form investing compared to saving but over 6 months it would be like a coin toss.

DasTechniker

AlanP_2 said:

SVts said:

Think I'll stick to banks.

I was thinking 50k over a six month term but I guess over that time period banks are the safest bet.

Investing for 6 months would be very high risk so good decision.

Investing is what you do in pensions over decades which smooths the ups and downs of stock markets. Over time you get better returns form investing compared to saving but over 6 months it would be like a coin toss.

Good decision! I’m moving into fixed and regular savings accounts after 35 years in the stock market. But there again, I’m an old goat and time horizon is getting shorter!! 🫣