Savings & Investments
Our approach to investment advice is based on clearly understanding your financial situation, your goals, and how much risk you are prepared to take with your money.
Savings & Investments
Our approach to investment advice is based on clearly understanding your financial situation, your goals, and how much risk you are prepared to take with your money.
The value of investments and the income they produce can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested.
Why is risk important?
We are all concerned about financial risk, in other words the risk
associated with investing in certain investment types and the
potential returns from those investments.
Each of us is different and we all have a level of risk we would be uncomfortable taking. Typically we think of investment risk in terms of a fall in the value of our investment but your adviser will also consider other types of risk.
Investment returns are not usually guaranteed and any investment strategy brings with it the potential for loss. Each type of investment carries a different level of risk. Your first option will usually be to consider saving money in a bank because it’s perceived as risk-free and your money remains easily accessible.
However, the reason you may not want to keep all your money in the bank is because historically the rates of interest received have been low and not kept pace with the cost of living (inflation).
To get a higher return than inflation you need to take some risk. Generally the amount of risk you take is linked to the reward. In other words the more risk you take, the greater the potential for higher returns.
Each of us is different and we all have a level of risk we would be uncomfortable taking. Typically we think of investment risk in terms of a fall in the value of our investment but your adviser will also consider other types of risk.
Investment returns are not usually guaranteed and any investment strategy brings with it the potential for loss. Each type of investment carries a different level of risk. Your first option will usually be to consider saving money in a bank because it’s perceived as risk-free and your money remains easily accessible.
However, the reason you may not want to keep all your money in the bank is because historically the rates of interest received have been low and not kept pace with the cost of living (inflation).
To get a higher return than inflation you need to take some risk. Generally the amount of risk you take is linked to the reward. In other words the more risk you take, the greater the potential for higher returns.
How to I know what level of risk I am willing to take?
To understand your attitude to risk, we will take you through
our independent risk profiling tool. We will ask you to respond
to a series of 12 statements which help to understand your
overall willingness to take risk.
The profiler will place you in a risk category based on your answers. This risk category is the starting point for you and your financial adviser to discuss and agree the correct risk category for your investment.
The profiler will place you in a risk category based on your answers. This risk category is the starting point for you and your financial adviser to discuss and agree the correct risk category for your investment.
What does 'capacity
to take risk' mean?
Your attitude to risk is only one factor
in determining your risk profile and a
suitable investment strategy. Potential
loss must also be considered in
relation to your financial objectives.
Your financial adviser will help you to understand what level of potential loss you could afford and feel comfortable with. This is known as capacity for loss. It is important that you understand the potential risk of any investment and the financial impact this may have on you.
Your attitude to risk and your capacity to take risk may differ. For example, you would like to invest in an adventurous way with your savings to maximise the potential growth, but your savings are your emergency fund and you cannot afford to lose any of their value.
On the other hand, you may be young and saving for your pension and can afford to take more risk as your investment has a longer time to recover from any downturn in the market.
Your financial adviser will help you to understand what level of potential loss you could afford and feel comfortable with. This is known as capacity for loss. It is important that you understand the potential risk of any investment and the financial impact this may have on you.
Your attitude to risk and your capacity to take risk may differ. For example, you would like to invest in an adventurous way with your savings to maximise the potential growth, but your savings are your emergency fund and you cannot afford to lose any of their value.
On the other hand, you may be young and saving for your pension and can afford to take more risk as your investment has a longer time to recover from any downturn in the market.
What does my 'need to take risk' mean
You may not be comfortable with
taking any risk with your investment,
but there may be a need to take some
risk to meet your objectives. Your
financial adviser will discuss and
explain the implications.
Once we have established your attitude to risk, your capacity to take risk and need to take risk and how that fits with your investment objectives, we will be able to agree your overall risk profile.
Once we have established your attitude to risk, your capacity to take risk and need to take risk and how that fits with your investment objectives, we will be able to agree your overall risk profile.
