The top five mistakes people make when investing and how to avoid them

Investing can be a fantastic way to grow your wealth, but it always comes with associated risks and making mistakes can increase that significantly.

Here are some common errors that investors, both new and experienced, should avoid:

1. Chasing trends

It is tempting to jump on the latest hot stock or investment trend, but this approach often leads to buying high and selling low.

Instead, focus on a diversified portfolio tailored to your goals, rather than what is making headlines.

Remember that low-risk investments (like ETFs and index funds) are often a much safer way of growing your wealth. Slow, but steady (usually) wins the race.

2. Lack of a clear strategy

Before you start investing you should always ask yourself: What are my goals?

How long can I leave my money invested and how much risk am I willing to take?

Setting a clear strategy helps you stay on track when markets fluctuate.

3. Emotional decision-making

Market dips can be nerve-wracking, but reacting emotionally – whether it is panic-selling or over-buying – often leads to poor decisions.

Stay calm, review your long-term plan, and remember that short-term volatility is a normal part of investing.

4. Ignoring fees

Investing fees and management charges can eat away at your returns over time.

Be mindful of costs for funds, platforms, and advisers, and weigh them against the value they provide.

Lower-cost options like index funds – which often have no buy-in fee – can be a great place to start.

5. Forgetting about diversification

Putting all your eggs in one basket – be it a single stock, sector, or asset class – can leave you vulnerable to significant losses.

It is usually best to diversify across assets, industries, and even geographic regions to reduce risk.

If you are unsure where to start or how to improve your strategy, speak to our team who can guide you toward making smarter, more confident decisions.