Beginners’ Guides

This guide …

We work very hard for our money so it’s important that it works hard for us too. Anything we manage to save, after paying all the day-to-day bills and other calls on our money, needs to earn as much return for us as possible.

We all have different reasons for saving – for a holiday, a wedding or a new home. But the common theme is that we need to find a place where our savings have the potential to grow at a rate we are comfortable with. As a rule of thumb the more growth potential, the riskier the investment will be. (See our Beginners guide to risk and investment goals for more information).

It's generally recommended to divide your savings into two categories – short term savings and long-term savings. Financial experts recommend we have the equivalent of three to six months’ salary in an easy access savings account, should we need it in emergencies to meet mortgage payments and other bills. Where you invest your long term savings depends on the amount of time until you need them, what they’re for and how much you’re saving. Some investment products have a fixed investment period or term so you’ll also need to see which products fit your investment time frame.

Whatever you want to do, a better understanding of investments will help you build a better future. This guide is designed to explain the different types of investments.

After you’ve read the Guide, you may wish to consult a financial adviser. We can help you find someone local to you.