SavvyWoman : Growing Your Money : Investment Basics

Chancellor George Osborne delivered the coalition government's emergency Budget. Will you be better or worse off?

The chancellor promised a Budget that would be ‘tough but fair’. What's your verdict?

What does the agreement by the Conservatives and Lib Dems mean for your finances?

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have already agreed on several key areas, but many other manifesto pledges are still to be decided.

Investing in young businesses is risky, but tax-efficient enterprise investment schemes can cut the risk.

The increase in capital gains tax in the Budget has made many investors look at ways to save tax. Who should consider enterprise investment schemes?

Getting started in shares, understanding the jargon.

Do you know what cyclical stocks are or what market capitalisation means? No? You’re not alone! But share jargon doesn’t have to be scary.

A beginner’s guide to investment trusts; how they work.

Do you know your unit trust from your investment trust? Investment products that may appear similar can be very different under the surface.

Investing in shares; starting your own investment club.

If you don’t want to invest a lot of money in shares and you’d like to combine it with socialising, why not start or join an investment club?

The financial regulator is looking at the way some bonds, sold as 'safe' investments, were marketed

Thousands of people bought structured products backed by the now-defunct Lehman Brothers. The FSA is concerned that investors weren't told how risky they were.

Watch out for charges on your investment plans, you may not realise how much you’re paying

Many of us don’t understand how charges on investment plans add up, but they can make a dent on your return

Maximising your investment returns

With the stock market having risen sharply since its lows in March, have investors missed the boat?

An ethical investor's guide to buying shares - how to get started.

There are very few ‘ethical’ companies (not least because many of us have different ideas about what’s ethical) but some companies are more popular with ethical investors than others.

Many pension funds own BP shares, but should green or ethical funds invest in it as well?

Some ethical funds have been criticised for investing in BP – if you’re thinking of investing in green or ethical funds, it’s vital to look in detail at their approach.

A new report says that long term savings are too complex and should be simplified.

If you've ever thought that savings were complicated, you're not alone. Now a report says that this complexity is putting off savers.

The way we pay for financial advice are due to change in two years' time. What could it mean?

From 2012 no independent financial advisers will receive a commission from products they sell. Is this good or bad news?

Finding an independent financial adviser you can trust.

Deciding that you want professional help with your finances is one thing. Finding someone who’s up to the job is another.

As banks and building societies launch new three, four and five-year bonds, how long should you lock your money away for?

You’ll get a better interest rate on your savings if you take out a fixed rate bond but should you tie your money up for five years?

National Savings & Investments have withdrawn fixed interest and index-linked Savings Certificates from sale.

National Savings & Investments fixed rate and index-linked Savings Certificates were popular with many lower risk investors. What are your options now?

Cash ISA savers should get a better deal after the OFT stepped in, with speedier transfers and more upfront information.

Following a complaint against banks for dropping interest rates on cash ISAs and dragging their heels over transfers, things should start to improve.

Consumers are missing out on £3 billion of interest on cash ISAs according to the watchdog Consumer Focus.

The watchdog Consumer Focus is calling for an investigation of the cash ISA market amid criticism that it’s uncompetitive.

If you have a cash ISA that’s paying a lousy rate of interest, you can switch to a better one.

If you want to switch your cash ISA money to an account paying a better rate of interest, make sure you know the rules.

Where to put your savings to get a great rate.

Interest rates may be low, but you can still get a decent return on your savings. But make sure you look beyond the headline rate.

The basics of cash ISAs

A cash ISA gives you interest tax free - it’s like having your own personal tax haven, without going offshore.

Stocks and shares ISAs; how they work.

It's not the tax-efficient wrapper, but what's inside your stocks and shares ISA that matters.

If you need to invest for income, how should you start your planning?

Working out how to invest your money to produce an income can be a challenge, but you may have more options than you realise.

If you’re thinking of saving or investing money, you need to know how you’re protected if things go wrong.

The rules on who you go to and how you’re protected if you save or invest money aren’t straightforward and some limits have changed.

Tax and investments; what you need to know.

Do you know the difference between tax free, tax efficient and taxable? If not, read on....

How ethical is your pension scheme?

If you want to invest your money in a green or ethical way, what can you do about your pension?

Can you bank on a financial institution’s ethical or sustainable policy?

Many companies have latched onto the appeal of words like ‘ethical’ and ‘green’. But what do ethical or sustainable banks do differently?

Over 30% of people are thinking of investing ethically in the next five years; what does it involve?

Over £7 billion is invested in green or ethical funds, but that still means only 8% of people invest ethically. If you've considered it but don't know where to start, here's a beginner’s guide.

If you’re concerned about what your bank does with your money, you might want to consider an ethical account

Since the credit crunch, providers of ethical savings accounts have seen a sharp increase in customers. But are these accounts competitive?

Choosing an ethical cash ISA

If you're looking for an ethical cash ISA, your choice is limited if you want one that gives you easy access

What's important to you?

The term 'ethical investment' can mean different things to different people. Before you invest, work out what it means to you.

The phrase ‘asset allocation’ won't set your pulse racing, but it's important to spread your risk.

Unless you're happy to see your investments yo-yo, spreading your money between different types of investment is a shrewd move.

Saving versus investing; the key differences

We often talk about saving and investing in the same breath, but they’re not the same and it’s worth understanding why.

Investing for beginners; your investment choices

If you’re new to investing, you may not be aware of the variety of investments you can put your money into.

How financial advisers can be paid.

Financial advice isn’t free - ever. Even if you don’t physically hand over any money, the adviser will get paid.

Navigating your way through the financial adviser qualifications maze

There are dozens of different qualifications that a financial adviser may have, but they’re not all the same.

Keeping your bank and building society savings safe - the rules of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The UK has an independent Financial Services compensation scheme to protect your savings, but the rules aren’t exactly straightforward

A beginner's guide to the different types of financial adviser

Do you know your IFA from your tied agent? If you're thinking of getting financial advice, read on

A beginner’s guide to capital gains tax

You’ve invested your money and made a profit. Hurrah! Now you have to pay tax....