Understand the different types of investments in the market.
Step 4 explains the options you have, and how they differ. We also look at fees, and the impact they can have on your returns.
Choosing an investment
There are literally thousands of investments to choose from. Here we look at some ways to help you choose an investment.
Investment types
There are quite a few different types of investment out there, making it hard to choose what’s best suited to your needs. We explain the key investment types.
How investing in crypto-currency works?
Crypto currencies like the famed and decried Bitcoin are a relatively new concept.…
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What is multi-asset investing? We find out!
Multi-asset investing is about diversification and risk control. Here, we talk to expert…
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What is an investment trust?
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The price and value of investment trusts
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Commodities super-cycle: why you should invest
As economies recover following contractions and recessions, demand tends to balloon for commodities.…
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Tax structures
Tax may not be the most interesting topic on the planet, but it really matters when it comes investing as it can impact your returns enormously. In this section we explain the key tax shelters, including the all important SIPPs and ISAs.
What is a SIPP?
What is a SIPP and what can they do for you?
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Everything you need to know about ISAs
Since their launch in the 1990s the range of ISAs has expanded and…
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Pension drawdown: 5 ‘bear traps’ to avoid in retirement
Since April 2015, private pension savers in defined contribution (DC) schemes have been…
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Making an investment
One of the questions we get asked a lot is how to actually make an investment, once you’ve chosen which ones are right for you. In this secton we explain the key way to access investments: through digital investment platforms.
Costs and charges
There’s no getting away from the fact that investing comes with fees, with some investments costing more than others. We explain what they are and why there are differences.
Fees and what they include
A concise outline which services you can expect to pay for.
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Can you invest without fees?
The short answer is no! This video explains all the fees you need…
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Fees Calculator
Get an idea of the costs of buying shares in investment trusts through…
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DIY or IFA?
What does a financial adviser actually do? When might it be appropriate to take advice?
Life stories
A range of investors talk about their different investment experiences, including professional fund managers.
Key concepts
The key bits of (unavoidable!) jargon used in this Step, busted!
Indices
Our jargon buster series helps to demystify commonly used financial services terminology, with…
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Passive Investments
Our jargon buster series helps to demystify commonly used financial services terminology, with…
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Active Investments
Our jargon buster series helps to demystify commonly used financial services terminology, with…
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Gearing
Our jargon buster series helps to demystify commonly used financial services terminology, with…
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Yield
Our jargon buster series helps to demystify commonly used financial services terminology, with…
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Learn to invest in 5 easy steps
What's in this Step?
Understand exactly the difference between saving your money and investing it. Step 1 is the very beginning and we will help you understand the pros and cons of saving and investment, ways of doing both, and the key concepts of inflation and interest rates.
What's in this Step?
Understand the key risks with investing and how to manage them. Step 2 will help you with a tricky topic: risk. All investing carries risks, where are essential if you want to make a return. Find out why, and the simple ways to manage them properly.
What's in this Step?
Understand exactly what you want to get from investing. Step 3 is to help you clarify your financial goals: perhaps you want to plan for retirement, save for a house, or build a nest egg for your children.
What's in this Step?
Understand the different types of investments in the market. Step 4 explains the options you have, and how they differ. We also look at fees, and the impact they can have on your returns.
What's in this Step?
Understand how to optimise your investment portfolio, and seek-out fresh investment ideas. Step 5 looks at how to make your investment strategy as good as it can be. When is the right time to sell, for example, or what happens when your financial goals change.
