Among the host of myths and assumptions that stop people fulfilling their financial potential, the idea that there is a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ time to invest has been one of the hardest to shift.

Some of that may be down to the human tendency for short-term thinking. Research by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority published 18th December 2024 showed that – especially for younger investors – the idea that investment is full of quick-but-secret inside tracks to riches, is persistent.

It’s also damaging. While almost two thirds of young people in the UK admit to investing in hyped products they see on social media – often decisions made within 24 hours and based on short-term, emotional triggers such as Fear Of Missing Out – more than half later regret those investments.

So if successful investment isn’t about hitting the moment, does timing matter?

As Fahad Kamal, Chief Investment Officer at Coutts, the bank behind our investments, says: “Don’t try to time the market; time in the market is what matters.”

Investing could be a reliable way to protect. your money from the effects of inflation over the medium and longer term, as well as accessing a variety of paths to grow your wealth.

What it is not – especially if you approach it in a strategic and diversified way – is a field where you choose a time and amount and either ‘get lucky’ or ‘get unlucky’ as a particular investment rises or falls by the day. Like all strategic moves, that means it’s best taken dispassionately, filtering out the hype and the heat of the moment, and with a medium- to long term view front of mind.

Typically, investments should be for the long-term, that’s five years or more. And with this longer view, and the tendency of the market to rise over this period, the question of ‘good time’ and ‘bad time’ to invest becomes less important.

Still, that doesn’t mean time is irrelevant. To quote the Oxford Treasury of Sayings & Quotations, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now.” The sooner you start investing, the sooner your money could be working for you.

The unpredictability of stock markets means that for an individual investor, picking the perfect time to invest can be very difficult, if not impossible.

A balanced approach to investment means picking a product that offers you the right kind of return, and takes your appetite for risk – or lack of it – into account. It also means letting professional fund managers, such as NatWest Premier’s award-winning teams, manage your investment. It’s their role to watch the markets, and to make the best decisions possible with your money.

They’ll also help you invest in funds that spread your money between different investment types such as shares and bonds – so you’re never too vulnerable to the daily fluctuations of one investment, or one sector. In that way, they take you beyond the need to think about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ moments. 

If you decide to invest, focus on the longer term. This could give you the best chance of making your mix of investments work for you. 

Of course there are always risks that come with investing – markets can go down as well as up on the shorter term, and you may get back less than you invested. But again, over the longer term, markets tended to rise consistently.

NatWest Premier’s dedicated team will be happy to consult with you on the investment type that fits you best – whether that’s a stocks and shares ISA, or one of the more sophisticated investment products that NatWest Premier offers in association with Coutts

1. Time in the market matters more than timing the market
2. Aim to invest for the long term 
3. Think strategically about your preferred risk and return profile – perhaps in consultation with one of Premier Financial Planning specialists 
4. Investing could support your overall financial goals – like buying a home or saving for retirement. It could protect your money from the effects of rising inflation and lower interest rates
5. Have patience with your investments and give them time to grow
6. Make sure you’re aware that investments can go down as well as up