Active or passive fund management

Researching the market to give a good profit

Most collective investment schemes are actively managed. The fund manager is paid to research the market, so they can buy the assets that they think might give a good profit. Depending on the fund’s objectives, the fund manager will aim to give you either better-than-average growth for your investment (beat the market) or to get steadier returns than would be achieved simply by tracking the markets.

With-profits funds

Allocating investor’s money into different sectors of the market

Investing in with-profits funds means investing in a combination of shares, bonds, property and money market investments. Growth can come in the form of regular and final bonuses from the profits the fund might make.

Investment trusts

Different aims and different mixes of investments

An investment trust is a public company that raises money by selling shares to investors, and then pools that money to buy and sell a wide range of shares and assets. Different investment trusts will have different aims and different mixes of investments.

Individual Savings Accounts

Minimise the amount of tax you pay on your hard-earned money

From July 2014, Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) can now be used to hold stocks and shares or cash, or any combination of these, up to the current annual limit. An ISA is a ‘wrapper’ that can be used to help save you tax.

Investment bonds

Investing a lump sum in a variety of available funds

Investment bonds are life insurance policies where you invest a lump sum in a variety of available funds. Some investment bonds run for a fixed term, while others have no set investment term. When you cash investment bonds in, how much you get back depends on how well – or how badly – the investment has done.

Pandemic triggers shift to saving

People thinking more about their spending and financial priorities

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has lead to more people re-thinking how they spend and manage their money, with more than half (51%) now prioritising saving for an unexpected event or loss of income, research published suggests[1].

Change to the state pension triple lock

Pensioners ‘deeply disappointed’, particularly women and self-employed

The earnings benchmark of the State Pension triple lock will be temporarily set aside for next year. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed on 7 September that the State Pension triple lock rule will not be applied for the 2022/23 financial year over concerns of the potential costs involved.

How can I protect my money from inflation?

Five questions to ask before inflation really takes off

‘How can I protect my money from inflation?’ is a question that many people may be asking themselves right now. In the current economic climate, rising inflation is becoming a concern for people with savings and investments.

UK pensioners underpaid

More than £1 billion in State Pensions impacted due to ‘repeated human errors’

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) underpaid 134,000 pensioners in State Pension to the tune of £1 billion, according to the National Audit Office (NAO)[1].

Festive gifts that teach children the value of money

Why parents should look to Christmas investment gifts instead of toys

With the festive season approaching, have you thought about gifting your children or grandchildren something different this year? Giving them a good start in life by making investments into their future can make all the difference in today’s more complex world.