Archive for the ‘Investment Funds’ Category

Financial Planning and Investment

Friday, November 27th, 2009

The ramifications of the past couple of years with regards to economic stability should have highlighted to financial observers that there is no such thing as an efficient market.

Markets are sometimes prone to ‘overshooting’, and when they do the consequences of any fall out affect us all. For example, take into account the spectacular collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 and financial entanglement that followed.

As a result of the economic collapse, people’s attitudes to financial planning have changed and now seem slightly more reluctant to invest money for fear of losing their life savings should a crash happen again. If they follow sound investment advice however, their fears can be put aside and replaced by a healthy financial plan and investment security to be optimistic about. Here’s how…..

Managing Risk

A major shortcoming that can cause investors to stumble and not reap the potential rewards is narrow mindedness. The world’s biggest and most successful investors have a long term plan and don’t panic when the short term outlook isn’t favourable.

Instead they maintain sight of their long term goals and continue to look at the big picture.

Campbell Harrison has a dedicated and talented team of advisors who help people maintain focus on the medium and long term and not panic about, what can be major short term fluctuations.

Consider your financial planning situation and give us a call to find out which investments are right for your long term aims

CAMPBELL HARRISON COLUMN FOR GRAPEVINE: AUGUST 2009

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

RISKS AND REWARDS
Did you know that the majority of investors plump for ‘managed’ funds because they offer average risk, without really knowing what ‘risk’ means?

Taking a risk is what makes life interesting and investing in the financial markets is no different – the higher the risk, the higher the potential reward.

To plan successfully for your future, you have to understand what ‘risk’ is in the context of investments. In our world, it means how your money will be affected by market volatility.

A high-risk fund might make 30% one year and lose 15% the next, but given time it is likely to generate a larger than average return. If you don’t need the money for at least 10 years, you have time to ride out the peaks and troughs making high-risk funds the ones for you.

Depending on your age, planning a pension is the ideal place to take advantage of high-risk funds, as you can’t touch the money until you are 55 anyway. If you are setting up the fund when you are 30, why choose an average risk portfolio when you have so long for it to come right?

The older you get, the less time you have to take such a risk, which is why a good independent adviser will draw up an investment portfolio that benefits from a mix of funds. By establishing the kind of lifestyle you expect in retirement, we can work out how much risk you will have to take to make it happen.

As a general rule of thumb, you need £100,000 invested for every £5,000 of income you require (a return of 5%). For example, if you hope to achieve an income of £25,000 a year in retirement, you will need to invest £500,000.

Ultimately, investments are governed by a culture of fear and greed. Only when the fear of losing what you have made overrides the desire to make much more should you consider lower risk funds.

Can you afford not to take a risk? As always seek professional advice.

If you would like advice on financial affairs please contact:
CAMPBELL HARRISON
Retirement and Investment Planning
19 Paradise Square, Sheffield S1 2DE
Tel: 0114 272 3994 Fax: 0114 272 3775
www.campbellharrison.co.uk

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
*This article is not intended to address your particular requirement and should not be relied upon in making any decision.

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