Am I ready to invest?

The world of investing can seem daunting, and it's true that there’s a lot to learn if you want to become a successful investor.

But there are simple ways to start investing without needing to be an expert. Let's go through through the basics.

Anyone. It's a common misconception that only very wealthy people can invest. In fact, that's one of many myths about investing that put people off. In reality, you can make an investment with a relatively small amount of money.

If you have extra cash left once you've paid off any debts and paid all of your outgoings, you have 2 options: save or invest. One could be better suited to you than the other – it all depends on your circumstances.

If you think you’ll need to access your money at short notice, or you’re thinking of using it to buy something like a car or holiday, saving your money is probably best. This is because savings are easier to access and much lower in risk. The downside is that you’ll probably only make a small amount of interest on the money you save.

If your goal is longer-term such as saving for retirement, it's possible to generate a greater return on your money by investing it – although the value can also go down and it's possible to lose some or all of the money. This is why people who invest tend to make sure they have some cash saved before they invest, just in case.

Want to learn more about what you should think about before investing? We recommend that you speak to a financial adviser beforehand. They’ll be able to consider your circumstances and give you personalised advice. You can find a financial adviser in your area at www.unbiased.co.uk. Please consider that an adviser will charge for their advice.

Some investment products need quite a lot of money to start investing in. But with others, you can get started with less than you might think. You can start investing with Aviva from as little as £25 a month, or a one-off payment of £500.

If you want to start investing in stocks and shares, it’s probably easier than you think to get up and running.

If you're sure it's right for you, you can apply for an account online. You can either choose your funds now or later, so if you want to get set up, but take more time to consider your investments, you can.

If you don’t select your funds now your money will be held in the cash account. Charges will be applied to money held in the cash account and if they are greater than the interest, then your fund value will decrease.