Wealth creation
Some people think of saving and investing as the same thing. But the truth is, each requires a different approach and a different way of thinking.
Saving is simply putting aside some of your disposable income for a short-term goal, such as a holiday or a car. Saving requires a conservative approach, taking very little risk with your money. A bank account or cash management trust is usually sufficient to reach your savings goal.
Investing on the other hand, means putting your savings to a more profitable use. So you need to adopt a longer investment timeframe and a measured degree of risk. While a bank account may be suitable for short-term needs, history shows that the majority of cases have been inadequate for long-term goals such as funding your retirement or putting money aside for your children.
Wealth accumulation
The key to successful wealth accumulation is to set clearly defined and realistic goals and to then design a plan that will help you to achieve those goals.
Your financial adviser can help you design a tax effective plan and an asset allocation strategy (i.e. the proportion of shares, property, bonds and cash) that is tailored to your individual circumstances. This will take into account the length of time you will be investing and your willingness to accept volatility in your investments.
