Online investing: how to get started

When it comes to navigating the stock market and buying shares, many people are understandably daunted by the whole proposition. Certainly, reading endless market reports, swimming in figures and following the fortunes of hundreds of companies is not a walk in the park. But with financial experts on hand to do the hard work for you, whether you want to know how to invest 1000 pounds or your life savings, investing doesn’t have to give you a headache.

In fact, go online and you’ll find a host of internet-based investment management services offering help and advice. Not only that, but they’ll even build you a professional investment portfolio based on your attitude to risk. The digital world has made investing your hard-earned cash both quicker and simpler. With this in mind here’s a quick guide to online investing for beginners.

Decide how hands-on you want to be

First and foremost, decide how hands-on you want to be. If you enjoy rolling up your sleeves and burying your head in finance books then you might want to take control of your investments. There are many things you can do from picking individual stocks to buying a fund, but whichever option you take make sure you know what you’re getting yourself and remember that long-term investments are often considered less risky as you’re more likely to recoup money lost early on.

If you’re new to the investment world and going it alone is not for you, however, making the most of discretionary investment services might be more appropriate. Many companies will assess your financial situation and goals before developing a portfolio that suits your attitude to risk. This is a great option for anyone who wants to invest but simply doesn’t have the time or desire to do any hard graft. If this sounds much more ‘you’ then take a look at the following companies that could help you achieve your financial goals.

Nutmeg

You’re intelligent, switched on, have money to invest, but have never bought a stock or share in your life! Nutmeg is worth considering. According to the Independent, It’s a new low-cost online service that builds a portfolio of investments for you based on the level of risk you are willing to take and how long you want to invest for.  Fees are between 0.3 and 1% depending on the level of investment.

You can set up a stocks and shares ISA with Nutmeg in just 10 minutes and with as little as £1,000 and they also offer a personal pension service.

7IM

Whether you want all investment decisions made for you or decide at the last minute you want to retain some element of control, 7IM could be the right company for you. They’ll assist you in whatever decision you make but if you take advantage of their discretionary service, your portfolio will be constructed around the type of investor you are – whether you can tolerate high levels or risk and versatility or would prefer something more reliable. It needs to be said that you will need to have considerably more funds available to invest with 7IM than with Nutmeg. Along with that there is a higher degree of personal services.

The world of investment is changing and becoming more accessible to ordinary investors. As those examples show, whether you have just a small amount of savings to get started with, or a more substantial investment available, new technology means that you can have direct control over much more of the investment process than just a few years ago.

 

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