Forgotten the questions? Click here to refresh your memory.
1. Answer b) The biggest risk of investing in shares is that of short-term movements in prices. On occasions, these short-term fluctuations can be dramatic and unnerving to investors (e.g. “Black Monday” in October 1987 and post 9/11 in 2001). These short-term ups and downs (it does go both ways--we only tend to remember the falls) are known as volatility. Over time, returns tend to smooth out the effect of short-term volatility.
2. Answer b) Nobody can predict future performance. However, “chasing” investments that have performed especially well over recent short periods can be a dangerous game. Remember that when you see the banner advert for XYZ fund with “35% growth over 12 months!” that’s of no value to you as a buyer--it's somebody else’s 35% and will never be yours.
3. Answer d) As an investment, cash offers the lowest risk of losing money but also the lowest long-term growth potential. This is because, in essence, cash is not a “real” investment; it has value only as a means of exchange for goods and services whereas “real” investments such as company shares and property have an intrinsic value and in theory will grow in value over time as they benefit from economic growth.
4. Answer a) In investment terms, there is a relationship between risk and return. Therefore, as a quid pro quo for the higher (mostly short-term) risks of investing in shares, it is reasonable to expect higher returns in turn. Historically, shares have provided a higher return than other asset classes, including property, over longer investment periods (say, in excess of five years).
5. Answer b) The FTSE 100 simply reflects the movements of the combined share prices of the largest (by market cap) 100 UK-listed publicly owned companies. The companies that comprise the index are not chosen because of performance, nor are they selected by the Financial Times.
Click here to return to Morningstar's Financial Planning Week homepage, which contains links to all related content and features.