Essentially Wealth

Rise in investor confidence

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Choosing how to transfer your wealth

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Planning for your best retirement

Rise in investor confidence

Despite ongoing economic challenges, a recent survey1 has identified a rise in investor confidence. While this is certainly encouraging, focusing on long-term goals and retaining a strong sense of discipline in investment positioning remains a prerequisite for any successful investor.

Optimism in the air

It’s fair to say 2022 was a turbulent year for global markets. The war in Ukraine, soaring inflation and
rising interest rates all weighed heavily on a challenging 12-month period. Towards the end of the year, however, markets did stage a cautious recovery despite ongoing fears of a looming recession.

Inflation expected to fall

The final quarter of last year also witnessed a rebound in investor sentiment, with the same survey reporting an increase of five percentage points in respondents’ confidence about their portfolios compared to the previous quarter. This optimism was driven by hopes that inflation may have peaked and looks set to continue falling in the months ahead; a view reflected in the International Monetary Fund’s latest economic musings which predict global inflation will drop from 8.8% in 2022 to 6.6% this year and 4.3% in 2024.

Young guns

Data from the survey also revealed most investors were either positive or ambivalent about last year’s market volatility and its impact on their investing mindset.
Almost one in four (23%) 18 to 34-year-olds say theirb investing appetite increased in 2022 whilst just 6% of over-55s share this view. This variation will partly reflect differing retirement time horizons, as younger investors are able to adopt a longer-term view.

Investor discipline

Maintaining a long-term philosophy and discipline in investment positioning, based on prudent risk management principles and avoiding panicky decisions has always been a key element for successful investing.
In practice, this means achieving an appropriate level of diversification and understanding how to blend investments – that’s what we do.