• Guide to Investing
• Current Investments
• Bond Builder
• Children’s Education Savings Plan

Current Investment Opportunities

Guide to Investing.

How do I choose an investment that is right for me?

Before you can select a product to invest in, you must first determine the following:

• What are your financial goals and how long to you plan to invest for?
• What is your attitude to risk?

As an investor, you want to achieve the highest possible return at a level of risk that suits you. The key is finding a balance between the amount of risk you are willing to take and the potential returns you want to achieve.

There are different types of risk involved in investing which are:

• The risk to your original investment
• The risk to the return on your investment
• The risk of inflation eroding the value of your investment.

Understanding your risk profile will contribute to whether you invest in the following as each asset class has historically had its own risk and return characteristics:

Equities

These are stocks and shares in companies. Historically, equities have produced higher returns than other asset classes, and have the best chance of beating inflation over the long term. However they also carry greater risk. Over the shorter term, the value can go up or down significantly, making them more volatile. This is why equities are normally viewed as a long-term investment, giving you time to ride out the short-term ups and downs.

Property

Historically, property has provided lower returns than equities but higher returns than bonds or cash. Property investment is not without risk and has had high volatility over recent years compared to equities. It provides good and reasonably stable returns over the longer term. It also provides a good diversification from equities but is a long-term investment.

Fixed Interest Securities (Bonds)

Governments and companies issue bonds as a type of loan in order to borrow money. In return they promise to repay the loan at a future date with interest. Historically, bonds have produced better returns than cash, but in general have yielded lower returns than property or equities and are considered to be less volatile.

Cash

Investing in cash means putting your money on deposit (for example, in a bank account) where it earns interest. Cash bank deposits offer more security than equities, property or bonds as the basic capital is protected. However returns are likely to be more modest than equity, property or bonds based investments and your investment is at the risk of currency volatility and of being eroded by inflation over the longer term.

• Always be sure to get independent financial advice from a reputable source. 

You can confirm if your adviser holders the accreditation of Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA) by checking the registry on www.qfaboard.ie.  Alternatively visit www.piba.ie (Professional Insurance Brokers Association).

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Bond Builder

As the investment market and indeed our clients have progressed, we have recently seen the need to provide a facility where we can manufacture a specific Bond for our clients.  In conjunction with Wealth Options, we can now provide bespoke investment bonds.  This new, unique service where typically the investment provides a Capital Guarantee at maturity and a return based on the performance of a chosen asset.  They are normally available with terms of three years or more.

It is also worth remembering that these plans can also be structured within Self Administered Pension funds and Self Directed ARFs, so the scope for them is considerable.

Please contact us to talk you through this new concept for investments.

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Children’s Education Savings Plan

We all want to ensure that our children have the best start possible when beginning adult life but this doesn’t come cheap, especially with the proposed re-introduction of college fees!  For those going to college there is also the expense of books, food, accommodation and transport that must be taken into account. 

Of course, while a good education is a top priority, there are many other expenses that a young adult may be faced with.  You may want to give them a head-start with buying their first home or buying their first car. 

One solution to providing for a child’s future is to start saving for the child now.  We offer a wide range of savings options that include regular premiums of as little as €50 per month and also lump sum options.

Please contact us to find out more about the product that is right for you.

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