your Journey
starts here

first steps

based on annual return of 10.26%
(average s&p 500 return from 1957 to 2024)

think carefully before opening accounts & buying products - investopedia.com has some* excellent articles & moneysavingexpert.com in the uk is a safe and serious resource
*it also contains some dubious articles on various ways to predict & beat markets - this has been proven many times to be false
well-established institutions are much safer than recent start-ups & trading apps. some examples of firms to consider are vanguard, hargreaves lansdown, high-street banks & building societies
many new companies & apps offer products that either reduce investing to gambling, or should only be used by experts with high-risk tolerance
it’s best to avoid trading apps, cash-for-difference (cfd), leverage (borrowing) and cryptocurrency all together
once you have an account setup, you need to build the habit. start small & choose a realistic amount you can put away every month - then setup a direct-debit to take the procrastination out the equation
imagine it as a life-tax for a brighter future!
successful investment is a long-term project of normally 5+ years - there is no quick trading for fast money
in finance, patience pays dividends

low risk

regular saver

receive moderate interest on monthly deposits over a fixed term length. offered by high street banks & building societies, it’s an easy & safe way to start saving & investing
where to find? - many banks & building societies
cash lifetime isa (lisa)

perfect for first-time house buyers!
receive a 25% bonus from the government on all deposits up to £4k a year. then enjoy a small interest rate on the total
where to find? - some banks, building societies, & investment platforms

medium risk

stocks & shares isa

aka ‘investment isa’ - a tax-free savings account which you can invest deposits in various stocks, shares & funds. the interest amount is dependent on the performance of the investments you make
for a long-term, sensible & risk-minimising strategy, look for ‘ready-made portfolio’ products that have a good track record
where to find? - some banks & building societies, & many investment platforms
stocks & shares lifetime isa (lisa)

perfect for first-time house buyers!
a mix of a stocks & shares isa with a lisa - receive the same 25% bonus on deposits, but now you can invest the full amount in stocks, shares & funds
for a long-term, sensible & risk-minimising strategy, look for ‘ready-made portfolio’ products that have a good track record
where to find? - some banks & building societies, & many investment platforms