STEPS TO BE A PERFECT INVESTOR

Invest for the long term and treat recommendations to keep changing your porfolio with caution, as changes are costly.

Invest in quality. whatever you invest in, buy shares with potential. Past perfomance is not necessarily a guide to how an investment will perform in the future.Seek the advice of a professional.

Don't swap investments unnecessarily. Find out about any charges that apply and penalties that will be incurred if you change an investment.

Go for GROWTH when you are young and INCOME as you get older. Younger people can afford to take risks while older people close to retirement need to be more cautious.

Stick to the basics. Gimmicks emerge from time to time, but are based on greed. Avoid them.

Diversify your investments geographically as well as according to investment type. The better the spread, the less the risk.

Don't let investments and markets rule your life. Enjoy your health, your family and your friends. Time is far more precious than money, so don't let the state of the stock market rule your life.

Check all charges and make sure they are explained. Remember, each time you make a change to your portfolio, charges are incurred.

source BottomLINE newsletter issue No 116 & 117