Investments

Do you know how much risk you are prepared to tolerate when you invest? This is the question that lies at the heart of investment planning – and very often the discussions about risk take the longest.

The basic investment choice is between the following asset classes:

Cash deposits in banks and building societies
Fixed interest securities – effectively loans to the government or businesses
Property – commercial or residential
Equities – shares in companies listed on stock exchanges

These are the building blocks of investment portfolios. Your risk profile – how much risk you can and should be prepared to take on – will help determine the appropriate mix of these basic components in your portfolio.

There are several other important factors to consider such as how investments are taxed, the choice of investment managers and how accessible the funds. All of these can make a substantial difference to your returns.