Four tips to preserve your wealth during tough times

Stock markets can become alarmed by any number of things and at any time of the year – but most of all they don’t like uncertainty.

During 2022, markets around the world have been hit as global events – and those closer to home – have created difficult conditions.

With tough market conditions and inflation figures setting record highs, investors might be feeling concerned about how to grow their wealth in such a challenging environment.

Here are four basics to remember if you’re feeling worried for the safety of your wealth for you and your family.

1. Have a diversified portfolio

In the face of stock market turbulence, investors with a balanced portfolio should have peace of mind that they have taken steps to spread their money across assets to spread risk. Investing across a wide range of assets such as shares, bonds, cash, and property means that if one or more of your investments falls in value in response to higher rates others might rise and vice versa, evening out fluctuations.

2. Stick with your goals

Remind yourself why you invested in the first place. Investing is for the long-term, or at least it should be, and even though things may appear uncertain today, and there might be further turbulence in the stock markets, the long-term reasons to invest remain as valid as ever.

3. Be patient

By holding your nerve and staying invested, over time the markets should rebound and the value of your investments will hopefully recover. Although no-one can be sure what stock markets will do next after any kind of fall, there is the chance you’d miss out from any future gains by selling up investments as a knee-jerk reaction to a dip.

4. Review your portfolio

Now may feel like a good time to take stock and make sure you’re comfortable with your existing investment choices. If the selection or mix of investments is worrying you, then consider our Ready-made Investments - a range of funds which are run by a Barclays team of investment experts.

They are designed to give you a well-diversified portfolio and are monitored by the team.

You can choose from one of five funds based on the level of risk you feel comfortable with.

Each invests in shares, bonds and cash to help spread risk but are all slightly different. You just need to read about the characteristics of each fund and choose the one that sounds most suitable.