🟣🟢 When's the right time to invest?

👋 Happy Sunday!

There’s something about the coast that always pulls me in. I don’t mind what the weather’s doing, whether it’s wild winds or bright sunshine, I just love walking along the shore and breathing in that wonderful sea air.

Last weekend it was the Norfolk coast, a new area to explore, and for the first time (after a bit of resistance on my part)… in a campervan.

I’ll admit, I was sceptical about the camping part. But I had the best time!

It helped that the weather was glorious, which meant we lived outside most of the weekend. (I’m still not convinced it would be quite so enjoyable in pouring rain.)

But it got me thinking about how important it is to keep an open mind and try new experiences.

Sometimes what we expect to be uncomfortable or risky turns out to be rewarding if we give it enough time and don’t judge too quickly.

And funnily enough, the same applies to investing.

Right now, markets are hitting highs that make some people uneasy. Commentators are warning about bubbles, and it’s tempting to think, “maybe I should wait a bit longer.”

But just like my campervan weekend, what looks risky at first can turn out well if you approach it with the right mindset.

I’ve noticed more and more articles suggesting the stock market feels “too good to be true.” Some compare today’s optimism to the dot-com boom or the run-up to 2008, both of which ended painfully.

And yes, valuations are high, tech stocks in particular have surged, and risks like tariffs and government debt haven’t gone away.

So what do you do if you’ve got money sitting in cash, or investments scattered across old pensions and ISAs you haven’t looked at in years?

I know from years of experience that lots of people don’t really know where or how their money is invested.

Many are in provider “default funds” they never chose. And it’s not always easy to get proper information to make an informed decision. Especially if it’s an old plan.

Add in today’s headlines about markets being “too high” and it can feel easier just to do nothing.

But we all know that doing nothing is rarely the answer.

Cash loses value quietly to inflation, and investments left on autopilot may not suit your goals, timescale or appetite for risk.

The starting point isn’t trying to outguess the market. It’s much simpler:

• Get clarity on what you’ve got and where it is.

• Decide what you want it to do for you.

• Structure it properly so you’re not relying on default choices or waiting endlessly for the “perfect” moment.

Because markets will always look too high or too low depending on when you glance at them. The real question is whether your money is working in a way that supports your future.

Take a look at the chart below. It shows the performance of a balanced portfolio (50% growth funds, 50% defensive funds) since 2010. Source: Transact.

You can see the bumps, eurozone worries, Brexit, the Covid crash but also the steady recoveries. Over 15 years, despite all the noise, the trend is clear: patience and discipline are rewarded.

And yes, political headlines can throw markets around in the short term. Earlier this year, President Trump’s tariff announcements sent the S&P 500 down 12% in a week, only for it to rebound just as quickly when new trade deals were floated. Short-term drama, long-term noise.

The lesson is the same whether markets look worryingly high or hopelessly low: over time, patience, planning and diversification win out.

If you’ve been sitting on cash or aren’t sure where your money is invested, it might be time for a sense-check.

Sometimes just pulling everything together and seeing the full picture can be the first step towards feeling more confident about the future.

👉 Book a call with me here (or if you prefer, call one of my team on 0117 9629696) and I’ll help you make sense of what you’ve got and what it could be doing for you.

😎 THAT’S IT FOR THIS WEEK!

If you have any questions at all, do ping me a reply.

Hilary 😎

📞 Ready to take a step toward financial independence?
Book a Discovery call and find out if we can help you. No pressure, just a chat about where you are now and where you’d like to be. Maybe I can help.

🚀 If you know someone who would appreciate this newsletter, send them this link» https://financial-stuff-by-hilary.beehiiv.com/subscribe

👋 Say hello on Instagram

📽️ Check out my Youtube channel for short videos that you might enjoy and find useful!