A quick guide – how to start investing
- Set clear goals: Define what you’re investing for (retirement, children’s education, major purchase) and match your timeframe
- Start early and stay consistent: It’s never too early or too late – many investors benefit from staying invested over time, with regular investing and a diversified portfolio
- Consider ready-made options: Beginner-friendly funds, such as cautious, balanced or adventurous portfolios, are managed by experts to suit different risk levels
- Stay informed and diversify: Keep up with market trends, spread investments across asset classes, regions and sectors, and always keep an emergency cash fund
- Use tax-efficient tools: Make the most of ISAs (individual savings accounts) and SIPPs (self-invested personal pensions) to grow your money tax-efficiently, while accessing live data, insights and expert research
In these uncertain times, everyone wants their money to work harder. From opening a first bank account for your children, to regularly topping up your savings and making sure you use all of your annual ISA allowance, there are practical ways to help your money grow.
But if you’re looking for greater returns – and are prepared to take on greater risk – then investing can be an ideal way to make your hard-earned money work even harder.
Manuel Pardavila-Gonzalez, managing director of customer pensions and investments at Lloyds
Lloyds
Experienced investors keep a careful eye on the markets, know when to spot an opportunity and then move their money. That is one key to their success. But there are strategies that any investor – whether starting out on their journey or an experienced trader – should be mindful of in order to unlock their financial potential.
“People are working very hard to save money, but then they are not allowing those savings to work as hard as they should,” says Manuel Pardavila-Gonzalez, managing director of customer pensions and investments at Lloyds, pictured above.
“There are some people who think ‘because I didn’t start when I was 18 now it’s too late, because I’m 40’ and that is not true. But the opposite is also true, which is it is never too early to start investing. This is not about timing the market, this is about time in the market, with a well-diversified portfolio.”
How confidence shapes investing decisions
- Confident investors have clear goals and adopt long-term investments
- They balance control with pragmatism knowing when to change their approach
- They increase their knowledge by studying the markets and know to manage their risk
- “The important thing is time in the market, regular investing and a diversified portfolio,” says Manuel Pardavila-Gonzalez, managing director of customer pensions and investments at Lloyds
Why investors should set realistic goals
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All investors should have a clear goal in mind: are you planning to purchase a new car, save for your children’s education or investing for your retirement? By setting a realistic timeframe this can help remove any emotional decisions around buying and selling.
It’s also important to remember that everyone’s financial situation fluctuates, so regularly review your investment portfolio to ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance and then adjust your investments as required.
If you’re looking for an easy investment choice, consider Ready-Made Investments, created and managed by financial services experts and some banks. Lloyds launched its Ready-Made Investments* two years ago, and 70,000 customers have already signed up**.
“Our Ready-Made Investments* are a range of three funds of different risk, all professionally managed by our experts at Scottish Widows – Cautious, Balanced and Adventurous,” says Pardavila-Gonzalez. “Adventurous will mostly be invested in shares, while Cautious will be more invested in bonds and gilts. They are good for beginners, or for people who don’t have that much time to research, because we are doing the work for them.”
Whatever type of investor you are, it’s important to keep up with what’s happening in the industry and how this can impact the markets.
“Knowledge is power. So make sure that you understand where you are going to be invested, make sure that you are using the tax wrappers that are in front of you,” says Pardavila-Gonzalez.
“Be patient. If you look at any markets over a long period of time, they will trend up, but it’s not linear. There are bumps in the road.”
To reduce risk and help increase your potential returns look at spreading your portfolio across different asset classes, industries and geographical regions.
“And make sure that you have some rainy-day funds outside your investments, because the last thing you want is to have to draw investments when there is a down market. It’s really important that you are not putting all your eggs in the same basket,” Pardavila-Gonzalez adds.
The investment market: looking to the future
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The investment market is no longer the sole preserve of dedicated traders: instead, banks and financial institutions are helping demystify and simplify the process, attracting younger, more savvy investors**.
“Exchange-traded funds [ETFs] are becoming more and more popular, especially [with] those new to investing and the younger generation** who have bought into the simplicity of ETFs,” explains Pardavila-Gonzalez. “The beauty of Lloyds ETF Quicklist is that it summarises what BlackRock, the biggest fund manager in the world, can see in the market.”
As well as share dealing accounts, ISAs and SIPPs, Lloyds offers live market data, headline news, research articles and insight on the economy and markets at your fingertips.
“We are trying to make as much information as possible available on the web and on the app. So anyone, even if you are not a customer, can access that information,” says Pardavila-Gonzalez.
Investing doesn’t need to be complex. With the right habits, strategies and trusted tools behind you, confident investing can become second nature.
Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change.
*Ready-Made Investments is provided by Embark Investment Services Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales (company number 09955930) with its registered office at 33 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HZ. Embark Investment Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register number 737356).
The Lloyds Bank Direct Investments Service is operated by Halifax Share Dealing Limited. Registered Office: Trinity Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 2RG. Registered in England and Wales no. 3195646. Halifax Share Dealing Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 183332. A Member of the London Stock Exchange and an HM Revenue & Customs Approved ISA Manager.
