Page 1 of Investing

Anyone out there able to direct me towards / recommend a safe way to invest in order to get a reasonably good return?

I sold my flat earlier in the year and after paying off debts, going on holiday, treating myself and setting Christmas aside I still have a big chunk (£25k) left. I`m renting now and probably won`t be buying for a few years yet so I just wondered how best to use it.

Never been in a position where I`ve even had to think about it before and I`d like to make the most of it rather than leaving it to do next to nothing in the bank!

I already have Premium Bonds and I`ve maxed my cash ISA, so any other suggestions or pointers would be appreciated.

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I love deadlines - I love the whooshing noise they make as they fly past...

- Douglas Adams

This item was edited on Tuesday, 13th November 2007, 15:47

rodney marsh to win I`m a sleb....

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*why we clap..?
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Daz - you should definitely put £4k of that in a stock/shares ISA.
Assuming you`ve put £3k in a cash ISA that is.

Once done I think you would then have exhausted your tax free saving incentives (unless you put it into a pension scheme of course, but given what you`ve said I doubt you`d want to do that).

Check out www.moneyextra.com for some good advice on investments.

A mate of mine is a financial advisor.
It`s very simple, according to him.
Nothing you can get on the high street or internet is worth bothering with.
You need to go see a (free) financial advisor who will give you a portfolio of proper investments, based on your `attitude to risk`.
We have about £25K in a `balanced` portfolio, so that some is in high risk, some in medium risk etc.etc.
Even the low risk stuff will get us more than any high street pish.

This item was edited on Tuesday, 13th November 2007, 16:11

Can I just say premium bonds suck as an investment form. Check out moneysavingexpert they have a little calculater doohicky thing to tell you about the rate of return you are getting.

Like bowfer said it depends on your risk attitude, safe options like government yield bonds will offer you lower interest but are virtually guaranteed to pay you back, stocks and shares in emerging economies can earn you loads more or lose it all.
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Go and see a specialist, your bank will have one that does it for free dont take what he offers but it will give you an idea then look around other institutions or proper investment managers to place your money.

Thanks for the advice folks! Will go see a financial advisor and check out the sites mentioned.

May put a few bob on Rodney Marsh as well, you never know :)

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I love deadlines - I love the whooshing noise they make as they fly past...

- Douglas Adams

Further to the above, an unexpected avenue has presented itself.

I have to admit that the idea of investing in something I`m interested in appeals more than something that I don`t know the first thing about, but a suggested option has been autographs and memorabilia.

Now obviously, this one is way open to abuse by fakes, forgeries and the like but in the case of reputable dealers (can anyone suggest any? I was looking at the Stanley Gibbons website at potential portfolios) then it does strike me as a good way to invest.

Not to sound ghoulish, but people like Kirk Douglas, Paul Newman, Michael Caine, Clint Eastwood, Bob Dylan might be worth grabbing while they`re still around... and any Beatles would provide a worthy investment. I have a piece of artwork signed by John Entwistle at home that I would be keen to have valued as well.

Thoughts? I`m seeing a financial advisor this week but never hurts to get opinions.

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I love deadlines - I love the whooshing noise they make as they fly past...

- Douglas Adams

Anthony Daniels (C3PO) was on Radio 1 a while ago when they were talking about Star Wars films, and he said ppl should generally only trust autographs if they see the celebrity sign them in person, as he said he had seen hundreds of autographs claiming to be signed by him and r2d2 together, but he said they only did a handful together. That`s always made me skeptical.

Al

Yeah, that`s why I was looking for reputable dealers!

Having said that, they could have both signed it, but at separate times. I`ve known a couple of Doctor Who collectors who compiled a mighty stack of signatures on one book. Very impressive.

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I love deadlines - I love the whooshing noise they make as they fly past...

- Douglas Adams

This item was edited on Monday, 19th November 2007, 15:31

Is that really a feasible "investment policy" though?

Sure its maybe a good "hobby" but I dont see how you;d expect to generate a decent return on your money

For one, say you get hold of "Celeb A" autograph for £50, how long before you can seel that and get a decent rate of return?? Infact how do you know you;ll be able to sell it on for more than you pay now??

I think you`re far better seeing the IFA, discussing how risk averse you are and investing it in a proper financial market which suits your needs and desires

As said elsewhere, try and see more than one advisor to get a rounded idea of what is open to you - some will be likely to have commission on certain investment vehicles which unfortunately does sway the advice of some




Chris

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