Firstly, trying to work out when is a good time to "buy" and "sell" is the Holy Grail of investing. It cannot be done reliably over the long-term. In fact, trying to market time can seriously damage your wealth: missing out on the best few days of the market each year (while you sit on the sidelines trying to work out when to invest) has a dramatic impact on long-term returns.

We will always tell you that "now" is the best time to invest.

It is time in the market that matters, not timing the market. To capture the long-term returns offered by shares you need to invest in them for periods of at least five and ideally ten years at a bare minimum.

Secondly, by investing in no commission, low-cost, low-turnover index tracking (passive) funds you are guaranteeing your investments get the bulk of the returns that the markets have to offer. We use passive, institutional index tracking funds only available to selected advisory firms. These funds feature in all five of the Values to Vision Model Portfolios. Your long-term goals and attitude to risk will determine which portfolio is appropriate for you.

Please see the Library link on the left for more information about our investment partners and the arguments for passive fund management.

Thirdly, our role is to help you remain invested when everyone else is encouraging you to sell. Financial pornography (designed to titillate and sell advertising) is omnipresent and relentless - "Sell Shares Say Experts", "UK Recession Imminent", "Emerging Markets Offer Best Value", "Gold To Beat Shares For Next Five Years" etc.

Perhaps the most famous example is the August 1979 Business Week cover story, shown above. Entitled "The Death of Equities" the article propounded that equity investing was no longer worth the risk. Barely 18 months later the USA, UK and other world markets embarked on the greatest bull market in history, lasting for nearly two decades, creating tremendous wealth for those not swayed by the financial media!

We understand that it is very difficult to not be captivated by the incessant "noise" that surrounds money, markets and finance. Through our Client Care Program (details of which can be found in the Library section to the left) we will hold your hand through the economic cycles, helping you to stay the course and capture the long-term returns offered by efficient capital markets. Because it's all about you.