Investment & Investing

What kind of investing? Want to trade things or just sensible passive tracker stuff?

I've bought Smarter Investing - Tim Hale but it's a bit dense for bedtime reading so I've not got very far through it

Minority mindset is a great YouTube channel for learning to invest and expand knowledge of finance and markets.

Thanks for the recommendations all.

Sensible passive stuff in the main. I don't mind investing a little-drip style in individual companies which products&services interest me. Would like to sort an ISA and use my allowance this year to start it, from the small amount I have read looks like index tracker style fund might suit, just which one is another matter!

Ideally would like to get some grasp of it as I wish to sort something out for my children in the next year or so, currently they have a Nationwide pass book(s) that pays near 0%.

Nutmeg do drip feedabke funds and junior isas now - might be worth just opening them and getting going whilst learning more advanced stuff on the side so to speak

often you'll find the returns when investing are greater than the % you're saving

On a risk-free basis?

No, and I just said ‘often’ for that reason. You can guarantee poor returns almost risk free (bank interest or mortgage overpayments), or be fairly confident of better returns over a longer timeframe with ETFs. Or gamble on riches with crypto.
I think the accepted wisdom is the middle option, once you’ve got all your debts paid off and you’re in a stable position.

once you’ve got all your debts paid off

in like space year 2046

Hah. I'm not counting things like mortgage as a debt in this instance. Morelike credit cards or student loans.

junior isas

I looked at these but couldn't really see the benefit unless the parents have used up all their ISA allowance or you really, really want to lock the money away until they are 18. Am I missing something?

Am I missing something?

No I don't think so. I thought the same but then Mrs. Howard opened them and I just accepted it.

Turning your kids into future Warren Buffets?

I agree, unless you have lots of spare cash, kids ISAs are a low priority (for me anyway).

guarantee [...] fairly confident

I mean, that's how risk works. Paying off a mortgage is pretty much risk-free. Comparable to other risk-free investments, it's a no-brainer.

Compared to other riskier investments, the yield is likely lower. But other the ~25 year term of the mortgage, less likely to leave you selling a kidney to buy food for your cats.

Or gamble on riches with crypto.

u mean guaranteed gainz, shurely.

I understand that when it comes to overpaying mortgages, the current logic is that your 1.xx % mortgage rate is way lower than a decent LifeStrategy return so its better to invest (from a purely financial point of view).
However most of the calculators seem to assume that my mortgage rate is going to stay at a record low rate past my 5 year fix which is not realistic. Are there any calculators out there that account for this?

u mean guaranteed Lambos

However most of the calculators seem to assume that my mortgage rate is going to stay at a record low rate past my 5 year fix which is not realistic. Are there any calculators out there that account for this?

Dunno, haven't seen one. At the point where your mortgage becomes 5% or greater, you would probably then take money from your investments and start to pay it down again.

You would also have lots of other things to worry about at that point though.

I mean, that's how risk works. Paying off a mortgage is pretty much risk-free. Comparable to other risk-free investments, it's a no-brainer.

I think we're making the same point.
You can guarantee a poor return or gamble on a better one. Same as it ever was.

I don't think I've ever come across one, but if I wanted to know it's a 5 minute excel job?

However isn't it only useful if you can compare it to a realistic expectation of said Lifestrategy fund?

I opened one for my sons to put the money the grandparents gave them at Xmas and birthdays etc. Overwise it was just sitting in a 1% junior cash ISA which they couldn't touch till they were 18 anyway. At least this way, it'll hopefully keep up with inflation...

I thought so. I've just added another pot in my Nutmeg ISA which I'll use. Not putting much in but hoping the magic of compound interest will prove transformative.

Making small monthly payments, plus gifts, plus grandparents paying in, it can add up over the year. Currently in a 3% santander mini account but plan on moving over to a junior ISA. 15 years to go till the oldest is 18 so there's a lot of potential growth there.

I can see the rationale for having junior ISAs to invest regular gifts and the like, fair enough.

My eldest celebrated becoming 18 by spending £150 on a tattoo; you never know what you might get with kids...

My eldest celebrated becoming 18 by spending £150 on a tattoo

this is why I have tapered down contributions to children ISA dramatically, initially I thought before she turns 18 I could move money, turns out you cant, so now 95% of savings go into my ISA and 5% in kids's.

Anyone think the stock market is looking a bit "toppy"?
I'm thinking of shifting pension into cash with plan to rebuy index funds at a better price bit later in year.
Bit risky... but I should have started my pension earlier, and could do with potential boost.

Bit risky

correct

After using up ISA I just whammed up my pension contributions, once that’s maxed out then maybe