Beginner's guide to investing

Investing offers a way to potentially grow your money. Whether you’re looking to pay off your mortgage quicker, boost retirement funds or provide financial security for your family’s future, investing could help you get there quicker.

When it comes to investing and managing your investments, you have two main options. You can choose to invest yourself by buying individual assets, or you can leave it to an experienced fund manager by investing in managed funds.

You can invest in lots of different ways, but most investments will have exposure to different 'asset classes'. Each asset class has different risk and return characteristics. As a rule, the level of risk matches the potential reward, meaning high-risk asset classes hold the potential for a greater return but also the risk of the greatest loss.

If you don’t feel confident selecting your own investments, a managed fund takes this responsibility out of your hands. A fund manager will have experience of investing in markets and is there to make informed decisions on your behalf.

Want to learn more about the world of investments? Read Wesleyan’s beginners guide to investing here: Beginner’s guide to investing | Wesleyan

Please remember that investments can go down as well as up, meaning you may get back less than you invest.