Investment for beginners


business, investing, trading, forex

Stock chart with a magnifying glass

Many savers fed up with risible rates of return on their cash are being tempted to invest in stock markets instead. Our beginners’ guide explains what taking a punt on shares really means for your money, what and where to buy, and how much risk to take.

Investing for beginners:

What is an investment?

general invest

  • Shares
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Government bonds (gilts)
  • UK property market
  • Farmland
  • Vintage cars
  • Wine
  • Fledgling technology firms
  • Art, eg, paintings, sculptures

For most, investing means putting money in the stock market

A young couple: Pensions aren't just for old people

How do stock markets work?

A tax rocket

Why does a company share price rise and fall?

What kind of growth can I expect from investing?

Sector investing in…

Over one year

Over five years

Over 10 years

UK income shares




UK company bonds




US stock markets








European countries (but not the UK)




Asia (incl Japan)




A mix of global stock markets




ALWAYS remember the five golden rules of investing:

Is investing right for me?

How much should I set aside to put in?

A pile of money

How do I invest?

Automatic enrolment into a pension scheme

What is a share?

What is a fund?

share certificate

Investing in an ISA should ALWAYS be your first port of call

How do I research what to invest in?

search investment

  • Hargreaves Lansdown*

    hargreaves and lansdown
    It has a helpful and easy-to-navigate website jam-packed with free information about funds – and you can make the most of this whether you sign up to buy funds or not.

  • Interactive Investor

    Interactive Investor
    Interactive Investor has a wide range of information, including

    beginners’ guides

    on a range of investments and a glossary of terms you might come across while you’re researching investments.

  • Bestinvest

    Bestinvest’s research team looks at more than 85,000 funds and compiles research on a monthly basis.

  • Charles Stanley Direct*

    The market data section of this website breaks down lists of FTSE companies and allows you to check performance for any time period from one day to three years.


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