INVESTING VS CASH
Over 5+ years, your cash can go far
Cash tends to fall behind when investing's in the race. Staying invested for 5+ years can improve your chances of better returns. So, we’ve rounded up some investment ideas for your uninvested cash. Keep it simple with our managed Ready-Made Investments, or build your own portfolio from our Wealth Shortlist.
Before you get started: investing for 5+ years increases your chances of positive returns compared to cash savings. But investments rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than you put in. This is designed to give you guidance and useful information, but it isn’t personal advice. Not sure what's right for you? Ask us for advice. Our Ready-Made Investments are managed by Hargreaves Lansdown Fund Managers, part of the Hargreaves Lansdown Group.
Before you get started: investing for 5+ years increases your chances of positive returns compared to cash savings. But investments rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than you put in. This is designed to give you guidance and useful information, but it isn’t personal advice. Not sure what's right for you? Ask us for advice. Our Ready-Made Investments are managed by Hargreaves Lansdown Fund Managers, part of the Hargreaves Lansdown Group.
Do you have too much uninvested cash?
Cash has its place. It's there for the moments you don't see coming, or while you decide your next move. But if some of your money has been sitting uninvested in your account for a while and you don't expect to need it for at least five years, it could be worth considering whether it's in the right place.
Although keeping some cash readily available is important, money you won't need in the short term may have greater potential to grow if invested.
The long-term cost of sitting on uninvested cash
Investing typically outperforms cash over the long term — and the longer you stay invested, the more time your money has to grow. As the chart shows, £10,000 left in cash for 10 years grew to just over £11,000. Invested in the global stock market over the same period, it reached over £33,000.
Your actual returns depend on the investments you choose. Remember, investments can rise and fall, and past performance isn't a guarantee of future returns.
Past performance isn’t a guide to the future. Source: Lipper, 31/08/2016 to 31/08/2026. Interest rates based on the average instant access rates available on £10,000.
A little inspiration to get you started
Ready-Made investments
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Wealth Shortlist
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Our research team carefully reviews hundreds of funds to create a curated list.
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We put the funds under the microscope to make sure the list contains only funds with the best performance potential.
Our go-to option for Group SIPP clients
HL Growth Fund is our default investment option if you have a Group SIPP. It's a simple, one-fund solution, run by our in-house experts. It brings together a number of different investments to help spread the risk, all with one aim: growing your pension over time.
FAQs
Common questions we get asked.
It depends on when you’ll need your money. Saving can help with short-term goals and unexpected costs; investing may help you grow your money over the longer term.
There’s no perfect time to invest. Waiting too long could mean missing out on potential opportunities. If you don’t want to invest a lump sum all at once, investing smaller amounts regularly could help you spread your investments over time.
Having a mix of investments can help you build a portfolio that's prepared for the ups and downs of the market.
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