Goal-based investment strategy

Investing is a lifelong process, and the sooner you start, the better

A lifestyle financial plan has no value unless it is properly implemented through an appropriate goal-based investment strategy. If you’ve got a sufficient amount of money in your cash savings account – enough to cover you for between at least three to six months – and you want to see your money grow over the long term, then you should consider investing some of it.
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Risk for return

Improving your chances of achieving your investment goals

If you want to plan for your financial future, it helps to understand risk. If you understand the risks associated with investing and you know how much risk you are comfortable taking, you can make informed decisions and improve your chances of achieving your goals.
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Navigating the ups and downs of the market

Maintaining a clear purpose for your investment strategy

Without a plan, investors are prone to making knee-jerk reactions when there are swings in the market. A well thought-out investment strategy provides the guidance needed to help you stay on track when inevitable market fluctuation occurs. It can also point you towards the types of investments that best align with your financial goals.
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Asset allocation

Potential returns available from different kinds of investment

Understanding investment risk and determining what level of risk you feel comfortable with before you invest is an important part of the investment decision process. Your potential returns available from different kinds of investment, and the risks involved, change over time as a result of economic, political and regulatory developments, as well as a host of other factors.
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Realistic performance expectations

Managing overall exposure to market volatility

Trying to navigate the ups and downs of market returns, investors seem to naturally want to jump in at the lows and cash out at the highs. But no one can predict when those will occur. Fortunately, there are a number of time-tested strategies that may help you deal with market volatility. Two of the most prevalent are: invest for the long-term, and maintain realistic performance expectations when it comes to returns.
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Pound cost averaging

Smoothing out the ups and downs of the market

Pound cost averaging is a technique that reduces exposure to falling markets from investing a lump sum. Investing at regular intervals can be a good idea to help smooth out the ups and downs of the market. Timing the exact moment to enter or leave the market can be extremely difficult and investors inherently run the risk of investing at the top of a market cycle, or exiting at the bottom.
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Pooling resources

Collective investment schemes

Pooled investment funds are usually large funds built by aggregating relatively small investments from individuals. A professional fund manager (or a team of fund managers) determines which assets to invest in and then purchases accordingly. They are also known as ‘collective investment schemes’.
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