Investing Guide for Beginners – FAQs Answered

It is easy and simple to invest your money. You just need some money and a computer with an internet connection. If you have extra money, you can begin investing today. 

Investing Guide for Beginners – FAQs Answered
Investing Guide for Beginners – FAQs Answered

What is Investing?

It is simple to understand investing. Investing is essentially buying something and selling it for more money in the future. 

It is the goal of almost everyone to make more money or increase their income. If you have saved some money, you would probably want to save more money.

You can use investing to achieve your financial goals. Do not just focus on saving money. The returns from investing can help you achieve your financial goals quickly.

It is, however, risky to invest your money. You can even lose your money.

What Are the Types of Investments?

You can invest in different things. You can invest in land, properties, gold, vintage cars, paintings, and even wine. Here are the most common types of investments:

Bonds: Governments and companies use bonds to raise money. They borrow money from investors and back the loan with interest. 

Shares: They are the units of ownership of a company. 

Funds: Investors pool together to invest in selected holdings, like bonds and shares. 

Find out more about these types of investments in the Bankers Investment Trust Update

How Do Investors Earn Money?

Investors can earn money through appreciation, dividends, and interest payments. Here are some of the ways investors earn money: 

Appreciation 

The value of an investment appreciates and depreciates over time. Investors buy an investment with the aim of selling the investment for a profit in the future. If the investment appreciates, the investor pockets a capital gain.

Dividends

Companies usually issue dividend payments to their investors. Companies usually pay dividends twice a year. If you invest in a company, you will get dividends from the company.

Interest Payments

If you borrow a loan from a bank, you will pay the loan back and interest. Investors can, therefore, lend money and earn interest. If you are an investor, you can become a lender to businesses and your government. How? You can buy bonds from businesses and the government. You will receive regular interest payments until you receive your initial outlay.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Investing?

If you can save some money every month or have savings, you can begin investing your money. Do not just rely on saving accounts to grow your money. Inflation can outpace the returns on your saving account. If you have saved some money, the money can lose value due to inflation. It is best to invest the money, especially if you do not plan to use the money. Here are some steps to investing

You can use investing to grow your money faster

For example, if you invest $5000 over 10 years and your investment generates an average return of 5% every year, then you will have $8,144.47 in 10 years. However, if your friend saves $5,000 in their saving account with an annual interest rate of 1%, then your friend will have $5,525.62 in 10 years. 

Inflation can further reduce the value of savings. Bank of England reports that the costs of services and goods rose every year by 3.1% from 2009 to 2019. You will, therefore, need £6,757.41 in 2019 to match the buying power of £5,000 in 2009. Even though your friend does not lose any money, the spending power of your friend’s savings will reduce. You, on the other hand, might not lose the value of your money. 

It is risky to invest your money 

It is risky to invest your money. If your building society or bank goes bust, you can still recover up to £85,000 of your money. This is because the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) cover them. It is, however, not possible to recover your investment. You will probably not get these guarantees with most investments. 

Once you decide to invest your money, you will put your money at risk. If your investment depreciates, you might not even get back your original investment. 

You will, therefore, need to pick the right investment strategy and the best types of investments to reduce your risk. Do not invest all your money in one investment. Do not chase huge returns. Do not even listen to the advice of people with no experience in investment. Do not let fear stop you from investing. 

If you can do your research, diversify your investment, and wait long enough, you will reduce your risk and increases your chances of increasing your returns. You have to be patient if you want to make money in the long term. 

How to Start Investing? 

If you have been doing your research for some time, you may have probably heard of bitcoin millionaires or someone may have approached you to invest in their “get rich quick” scheme. It is common to find investment scams. Do not rush to invest your money. If an investment promises unreasonable returns, do not trust them. 

It is best to sit down and do your own research. Firstly, you need to know the amount of money you are willing to invest. You may not need to touch the money for the next 5 or even 10 years. Once you come up with an amount, you can now pick an investment strategy. The strategy should match your expectations and the amount of money you want to risk. You have to be realistic. If you want higher returns, you will increase your chances of losing your money. 

It is even better to consult financial advisors before investing your hard-earned money. The financial advisor can help you pick the best investment. If you, however, prefer to invest on your own, you can select a stock and shares ISA platforms. You can use these tax-free online shops to buy and manage your investments. 

How Beginners Can Begin Investing? 

Beginners can invest in bonds or one or two companies. It is even better for beginners to invest in a fund. It is easy and simple for beginners to invest in a fund. This is because they do not have to spend more time and money looking for the best investment opportunities. Funds can reduce the risk for beginners. 

Unfortunately, investing is not for everyone. You can lose your money. You have to choose the best investment and be patient to avoid losing your money.