Some things are hard to start. Old cars, or a bonfire with damp matches, for example. But it might not be as hard to start investing as you'd think. And you might not need as much money as you'd think either.
If you've got your finances in shape and your head around the basics of investing, this simple guide shows you how to get started.
How much do you need to start investing?
Can you access your money if you need to?
How do you choose what to invest in?
You can start investing with as little as £50 per month.
You may want to invest more than that if you have it - the more you contribute to your investment fund, the higher your potential earnings in the long run.
The key thing is to make sure you've got some money saved up in reserve before you start investing. We recommend having an emergency fund, held in a separate, easy-access account, to cover 6 months of expenses.
Remember, when you invest money, you're putting it at risk. Which means you could get back less than you invest. Your money could potentially grow too of course - that's why people do it - but there is that risk you could lose money.
So an emergency fund can give you peace of mind that you'd have money available, without needing to dip into your investment fund, if you needed to cover an unexpected cost.
Big things in life can, and do, happen out of the blue. We understand that. With any HSBC investment, you have peace of mind knowing that you can access your money quickly if you need to - usually within 5 days of selling your funds or shares. However, this will impact the overall performance of your investment.
That's why we say that investing is for the long term - 5 years, at least. When you've time on your side, there's no need to panic if your investment falls in value at times. That's all part and parcel of investing. The longer you leave your money invested, the more time it has to grow and recover from setbacks.
As we've covered in investing for beginners, there's no shortage of options. But there's also no need to be overwhelmed. If you don't feel equipped to choose your own shares - and let's face it, most of us don't - there are lots of ready-made alternatives.
For example, based on how long you can afford to leave your money invested and how much risk you're prepared to take, you may want to choose ready-made portfolio of investments.
If you choose this option, your money is invested in funds made up of a wide range of investments, including shares and government bonds. Your investment is be managed on your behalf.
And if you're not sure how much risk is right for you, we can recommend a portfolio for you, through our online advice service.
Whichever way you decide to invest, there will be costs.
Here are some of the more common types you'll come across:
Costs will be clearly signposted by the investment provider in the relevant product documents before you apply. It's important to read these carefully before you invest - and to factor the fees in, as they will impact your overall returns.
It's simple to start investing with HSBC. You just need to be a current account customer, a Channel Islands or Isle of Man resident and over 18 years old.
You can start investing with as little as £50 per month, if you want to invest without any advice.
If you're not sure where to start, we can give you personalised advice. Have a financial review with one of our Wealth Managers who will advise whether investing is right for you and make recommendations customised to your needs. We can offer advice if you decide to invest a minimum lump sum of £25,000 or £250 per month of regular contributions.
Please remember that the value of investments, and any income received from them, can fall as well as rise, is not guaranteed and you may not get back the amount you invested. This could also happen as a result of changes in currency exchange rates, particularly where overseas securities are held or where investments are converted from one currency to another. We always recommend that any Investments held should be viewed as a medium to long-term investment, at least five years.
HSBC Bank plc, acting through its registered branches in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man and the HSBC Group are not responsible for any loss, damage, liabilities or other consequences of any kind that you may incur or suffer as a result of, arising from or relating to your use of or reliance on this article. The contents of this article are subject to change without notice. HSBC Bank plc, acting through its above mentioned branches, and the HSBC Group give no guarantee, representation or warranty as to the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of this article.
This article is not investment advice or a recommendation nor is it intended to sell investments or services or solicit purchases or subscriptions for them. This article does not constitute an invitation, or a solicitation, to make an investment in any way to any person to whom it is unlawful. This article should not be used as the basis for any decision on taxation, estate, trusts or legacy planning. You should not use or rely on this article in making any investment decision. HSBC Bank plc, Jersey Branch, Guernsey branch, Isle of Man branch and the HSBC Group are not responsible for such use or reliance by you.
HSBC Bank plc, Jersey Branch has prepared this article based on publicly available information at the time of preparation from sources it believes to be reliable but it has not independently verified such information. Any opinions expressed are given in good faith but no liability is accepted for any direct or consequential loss arising from the use of this information. The opinion quoted is for information only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to any reader to buy or sell investments.
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