Collective investments

All investments take time to grow. If you’re prepared to play the long game, 5 years or more, you may find that the stock market can generate higher returns in the long run than bonds or cash savings accounts, although this is not guaranteed.

That said, you may not have the time or inclination to decide which shares to buy and which to avoid. By far the best way for most people to get exposure to the stock market, rather than buying individual shares is via collective funds.

These can reduce the risk associated with buying a handful of shares, because your risk is more widely spread across dozens of companies (money is pooled together with other investors in order to buy shares collectively). More importantly though, collective funds are managed by professional fund managers, who have the backing of a team of analysts to help them decide which companies to invest in.

It sounds enticing, but before investing in equities you should make sure you have enough money in cash for emergencies, everyday needs, or to pay any debts. If you don’t, you could be forced to sell your funds when their prices are low as the value of your investments can fall as well as rise.

Your Barclays Financial planning Manager can talk you through the different options available and explain the potential risks and rewards and recommend a solution that's right for your personal circumstances.

• Equity investments
• Multi manager products

• Important Information

  Typically, most investments unless otherwise specified, are intended to be held for the medium to long term (5 years and longer) and you should be aware that the value of investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise. Returns are not guaranteed and you may not get back what you originally invested. Not all types of investments are appropriate for everyone and we recommend that you always seek guidance from your own tax adviser about the tax implications that could arise based on your personal circumstances.

With Barclays Financial planning you get:

• Access to investments sourced by our dedicated in house research team who select according to our strict assessment criteria.
• A panel of investments that is regularly reviewed and updated.
• Each product assessed against, provider strength, value for money and benefits.