Beginner's Guide to Investing in Ireland
Investing may seem complex, but it doesn't have to be. Here at MBC Financial, we're here to guide you on your journey and help you make decisions that suit your unique situation.
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Are you planning to start saving and investing but unsure of where to begin? This step-by-step guide for beginner investors can assist you in making the necessary decisions to begin investing in Ireland.
This guide can help you determine how much you can invest, the investment options available to you, and how to choose the right investment funds for your needs. It will also assist you in figuring out your risk tolerance level.
Our investment guide includes the following steps:
- Understand what investing means
- What investment options are available to you
- Define your investment goals
- Calculate how much you can save and invest
- Understand your attitude to risk
- Risk ratings and investment funds
- Choosing an investment fund
- Begin investing in Ireland
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Understand what Investing Means
At MBC Financial, investing means placing a lump sum and/or regular savings into an investment fund with the potential for growth. The compounding effect of your contributions and the returns on your selected funds can increase your investment fund over an extended period of time. We have a helpful video to help you understand how savings and investments work.
You can invest a lump sum while also saving and investing regularly each month. We will explain how to calculate how much you can afford to set aside each month, and how you can invest a lump sum.
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What Investment Options are Available to You?
If you’re a novice investor, you may prefer not to actively manage your investments. This is where a financial advisor can be helpful. An advisor can help you understand which funds are most suitable for you based on your risk tolerance and other factors like your return-on-investment expectations.
The only decision you need to make is whether you want to save regularly or invest a lump sum, or both.
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Define Your Investment Goals
You may have decided to invest because you have a specific savings goal in mind. Whether you’re saving for a rainy day or want the peace of mind of having funds available for unexpected events, there are many options available to you.
If you’re saving for a future event, such as funding your children’s education, having a specific savings target can be beneficial. For instance, the MBC Financial cost of education survey shows that the average lifetime cost of primary school education was €12,584 in 2022. The lifetime cost of third-level education in Ireland can rise to €60,000.
You can use our savings goals calculator to see how much you need to save regularly or how many years it will take to reach your target based on your contributions. This strategy applies to various future events such as buying a house or saving for retirement.
Cost of college education calculator
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Calculate How Much You Can Save and Invest
This step will help you understand how much you can afford to save. Firstly, calculate your total monthly income. Then, calculate your total monthly expenses. Finally, subtract your expenses from your income to determine how much you have left to save and invest.
Our budget calculator and annual budget spreadsheet can assist you with this.
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Understand Your Attitude to Risk
When you decide to invest, you acknowledge that the value of your investment can fall as well as rise and that you may receive back less than your original investment.
By completing our Risk Assessment Questionnaire, the results allow us to highlight your current attitude to investment and capacity for loss, if any? This then enables us to recommend the most suitable savings and/or investment fund(s) for you. Your plan is reviewed annually by MBC Financial.