Risk and Reward

What you'll learn

What you'll learn

  • The link between risk and reward 
  • The level of risk you’re comfortable with and how much you can afford to lose.
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The link between risk and reward

Risk is linked to the growth potential of investments. Growth isn't guaranteed and investments might not perform as you'd expect. Generally, the greater the risk you’re prepared to take, the greater the potential for growth. But this could also bring a greater potential for losses particularly over the shorter term. The longer you invest, the longer your investments have to ride out the ups and downs of financial markets, such as the stock market.

If you plan to invest for a shorter time, you may be less willing or able to take a higher risk.

Being too cautious with your investments could mean ending up with less money than you need. While your savings are less likely to fall in value, they're also less likely to grow as much. 

 

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What’s your approach to risk?

It’s good having a view on how much you’d like your investments to grow. It’s even more worthwhile to think about how much you’d be comfortable losing if your investments don’t perform as you expected. 

To help you decide the level of risk that is right for you, here are some questions to consider:

Your Full Financial Picture

Your Full Financial Picture

Consider your full financial situation. What other investments or savings do you have or expect to have in the future? 

Your Future Financial Situation

Your Future Financial Situation

Consider your current and future income position, expenditure and any debts you have. Are you expecting changes to any of these? 

Your Investment Goals

Your Investment Goals

How important is this investment to your future? For instance, for your retirement. Do you have other sources of income or savings that you could fall back on, now or in the future, if the value fell? 

How long can you invest for?

How long can you invest for?

Think about how long you’ll be investing for.

How much risk do you want to take?

How much risk do you want to take?

Think about how comfortable you would be with significant or regular changes in the value of your investment.

Invest for the medium to long term, 5 years or more. The longer you invest, the longer your investments have to ride out the ups and downs of financial markets. While never guaranteed, the stock market has always regained its value historically over the longer term, and tends to outperform money held in savings accounts.

What next?

We hope this information has helped, if you want to understand more go back to learn more about investing.

Are you ready?

If you think you’re ready or are investing with us, go to:

What you can do