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November 02 newsletter

Welcome to the Shape of Money's step-by-step programme to discovering the secrets to wealth.

This month the Consumers’ Institute tested investment advisers and “were not overly impressed with the result”. So this month we look at another secret to wealth: looking out, before you invest.

We regularly hear of investors caught by scams and making mistakes, such as investing the house deposit in a share tip.

the Shape of Money recommends a common-sense approach to investment. You can hardly go wrong investing in a diversified, long-term, pool of investments. Unfortunately, common-sense can quickly be replaced by good old-fashioned greed and impatience.Only the most experienced and coolest doesn’t get caught up in the hype of a quickly rising (or falling) share market.

the Shape of Money has developed a series of features and guides to help you consider each investment rationally. The topics are comprehensive:

• Getting the right advice - seeking professional assistance can be a wise investment. This page helps you maximise your investment and ensure you ask the right questions.
• Portfolio investing - having a diversified portfolio will ensure that all your eggs are not in a single basket.
• Important documentation and information - by law, specified information must be provided for certain investments to prospective investors. We'd be silly not to take advantage of it.
• Some rules for a safe and successful investment - ignore these common-sense but useful rules at your peril.

Before you hand over your hard-earned savings, consider the above information. Being prepared will help ensure that you don't become another case study in the investment school of hard knocks.