After you invest

Reviewing your investments

After you invest, it’s important to review your investments regularly to make sure they are still helping you meet your goals. A review, usually at least once a year, helps you check how your investments are performing, assess fees and charges, and find out whether better options or tax savings may be available. Some investments, such as shares, may need more frequent reviews due to market changes.

You should also review your investments if your circumstances change, such as a major market shift or receiving a lump sum. If you plan to make significant changes, it’s a good idea to seek independent financial advice.

Why should you review your investments?

A regular review will help you:

• Assess investment fees and management charges to check you’re getting the best value.
• Ensure that you are on track to meet your investment goals or possibly help you reach them sooner
• Potentially make tax savings
• Avail of cheaper and better rates and deals that may have come onto the market in recent months
• Ensure that the return you are getting is at least equal to, if not better than, inflation

How often should you review your investments?

• You should set a review date at least every year. It can be helpful to set this date two or three months before the end of the year to make the most of any tax allowances you may be entitled to.
• If you have invested in a fixed-term financial product, such as a tracker bond, set up a reminder to do some research a month before your investment matures. This will help you understand what offers are available for reinvesting your money.
• You should also carry out a review if an unexpected event happens, such as a sharp change in the stock market or interest rates, or if you receive a lump sum payment that you want to invest.

What should you do if you want to make changes?

If you decide to make significant changes, you should seek independent financial advice.