Barclays

Why invest?

Investments could offer higher returns than cash savings and, potentially enable you to achieve your financial goals more quickly.

However, there are risks involved with investments. You need to organise your investment portfolio so that it balances how you feel about risk with the desire to achieve your financial aspirations. Barclays iInvest can enable you to do exactly that.

The potential rewards from investing

Potentially higher returns than cash savings
Over time, inflation reduces the value of cash savings. Interest rates on savings are currently very low, so the returns are likely to be less than you might be able to earn from investments.

However, investments come with a higher level of risk and the possibility that you might get back less than you originally invested.

Planning ahead for future life events
Investments give you a range of options to help you protect your wealth, plan your finances and invest for your future goals and aspirations.

So whether you want to create an income for an on-going commitment such as school tuition fees, maximise a capital return for your retirement, or set up a trust fund for your children, investments can be used to help achieve your goals.

Wide choice of investment products
Everyone has different needs in terms of the level of risk with which they are comfortable, and the returns they want to achieve. With expert advice, you can build a portfolio designed to help you achieve your financial aspirations, while also matching your appetite for risk.

Possibility of a tax-efficient return
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to place investments offshore. This can mean that your investments earn a better return for you than they would in your home country. We do not provide tax advice, but we can work with your own advisers to recommend tax efficient products.

Opportunity to place investments in a stable and secure economy
Investments give you the opportunity to place funds in jurisdictions that are both well regulated, and politically and economically stable.

Diversification
The purpose of diversification is to reduce the risk to your overall portfolio while increasing the chances of a good return. Therefore investments should be a component within a portfolio that can include cash savings, bonds and funds.

Invest for the medium- to long-term
The longer you leave an investment, the better chance it has of giving you a good return. If you are looking to get a return on your funds for a period of less than five years, then other products may be more suitable.

Introduction to investments video

In this video Henk Potts, Equity Strategist with Barclays, gives a simple introduction to the reasons why people invest, and some of the different investment options available.

• Watch the introduction to investments video

Investment funds should be viewed as a medium- to long-term commitment, that is five years or more, and our structured products range between three and six years. The value and any income from them can go down as well as up. You might get back less than you originally invested.

You have sole responsibility for the management of your tax and legal affairs, including making any applicable filings and payments and complying with any applicable laws and regulations. We have not provided and will not provide you with tax or legal advice and recommend that you obtain your own independent tax and legal advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

How to apply

Barclays iInvest is available to investors with £50,000 (or currency equivalent) to invest. To find out more choose one of the following options:

Speak to your Relationship Manager

Telephone us on +44 (0)1624 684496^†

Download the Barclays iInvest brochure.