Investment

Investing in Property A guide to starting as a buy-to-let investor. Investing in property is usually about as close as it comes to a safe bet. The value of your asset tends to increase the longer you hold onto it, while the short and medium-term yields from rental income can cover the mortgage. For years,

Fixed-interest investments Alternative options for investing with less risk. When you look for an investment opportunity, you want something that will earn the best possible returns with the lowest possible amount of risk. The no-risk investment is a pipe dream – no such product can ever exist, and the value of any investment can rise

Preparing to invest What to think about before you start investing. After a decade of low interest rates, many savers have been looking beyond their bank accounts to make their money go a little further. As appealing as higher returns may seem, investing requires more involvement than putting your money safely away and waiting for

Collective investment schemes Unit trusts and OEICs in focus. Collective investment schemes, such as unit trusts and open-ended investment companies (OEICs), are shared funds in which a fund manager pools capital and invests into assets including stocks, bonds and property. Both OEICs and unit trusts are also known as open-ended funds as there is no

Investing in ethical funds Earning returns on ethical investments. Go back a few decades and there were few options for investors who wanted to earn returns on socially-responsible investments. Even after the ethical investment market began to gain traction, these funds were not commonly thought of as being particularly profitable for investors. These days, however,

Active and passive investment Understanding the differences between active and passive investment funds. If you’re thinking of incorporating unit trusts or open-ended investment companies (OEICs) into your investment strategy, a key decision you will need to make is whether you opt for active management funds, passive management funds or both. These two funds both carry

Getting ready to invest Information you need to know before making your first investment. It’s hard to underestimate the importance of preparation for newcomers to investing. Even the most experienced investors will spend a great deal of time defining their goals, exploring their options and developing an investment strategy best suited to their needs. While

Investing in Small Companies The different strategies and tax treatments for investing in small companies. The Companies Act 2006 defines a small company as a business where the turnover is less than £6.5 million, the balance sheet is less than £3.26 million and there are no more than 50 employees. However, different groups vary from

Investing in bonds The essential guide for newcomers to the bond market. It is not unusual for a first-time investor to feel intimidated by the bond market. The many different types of bonds on offer, as well as the complex terminology, can deter newcomers from making their first investment. However, bonds are an essential component