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Investment guide

Should I save or invest?

The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may not get back the full amount you invest. Eligibility criteria, fees and charges apply.

Thinking longer term

Moving home? Starting a business? A bucket-list holiday? How will you get there?

If you're looking to grow some of your money over the longer term, typically five years or more, investing could deliver a better return and it could help protect the value of your cash from the effects of inflation.

Where do you want to be in five years time?

If you can’t think that far ahead right now, then savings might be a better bet for you. It’ll give you a pot of cash to dip into now and then for unexpected expenses and to treat yourself and loved ones. 

Either way, feeling in control of your cash by putting it somewhere it has a chance of growing can bring a sense of calm and happiness. We could all do with a bit of that.

A good rule of thumb is to consider investing when you have a long-term goal in mind and at least four months’ worth of outgoings in a savings account that you can access immediately if needed. And it’s important to remember that investments carry a higher risk and their value can go down as well as up.

Saving

  • Savings have the advantage of being dependable, predictable and easy to access.
  • If you know you'll need a set amount of money in the next 12 months, for example, then regularly depositing in a savings account may be the best solution.
  • Savings will grow over time as more money is put away and interest accrues on your balance. 
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Investing

  • If you are saving for a longer-term goal, typically five years or more, investing your money has the potential to deliver a better return, and help protect your buying power from the effects of inflation.
  • The value of investments can go down as well as up.

 

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Lessons from history: how markets have recovered from previous crises

If recent history has taught us anything it's that equity markets have recovered from previous world events. The chart below shows the returns on equities (shares), cash and bonds over a 20-year period. 

Past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future performance. The value of investments, and the income from them, can go down as well as up, and you may not receive the amount of your original investment.

Chart source: Refinitiv (31 Dec 2003 – 31 Dec 2023)

Know your savings from your investments

Find out what some of our customers think of Royal Bank Invest

Coutts, investment managers for Royal Bank Invest, look after £43bn (Q1, 2024) and have over 300 years of experience.

Get started with Royal Bank Invest

You’ll need to be a Royal Bank customer with Digital Banking, aged 18 – 84 and a UK resident for tax purposes. 

Click “Continue” to log into the Royal Bank Invest portal.

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When is a good time to invest?

 

Is now a good time to invest? Learn how to get started and how to plan your next steps.

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