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Making the most of unstoppable megatrends

We look at how to make the most of unstoppable megatrends.

Important notes

This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you please seek advice. If you choose to invest the value of your investment will rise and fall, so you could get back less than you put in.

This article is more than 6 months old

It was correct at the time of publishing. Our views and any references to tax, investment and pension rules may have changed since then.


All information is correct as at 31 December 2021 unless otherwise stated.


Trends are everywhere. They influence what we buy, what we wear and even how we think. They tend to come and go, but they’re normally all around us.

Trends matter to investors too. They can impact what investors buy and sell, and what they think of certain companies, sectors, and a stock market as a whole. That can be a good and bad thing.

Some investing trends led by speculation and sentiment will naturally fizzle out, and with that can come disappointing returns. However, megatrends, underpinned by strong fundamental shifts can work well for investors. The trick is, as always, not to put too much into one thing.

Being well-diversified will help deal with the trends that don’t catch on and turn out to just be fads. We take a closer look at how to tread the line between fact and fad.

Megatrends have always been part of investing and bring lots of opportunity. They’re certainly not a reason to avoid investing and keep all your money under the mattress, especially not with inflation reaching its highest point in over a decade. Investors should be doing their best to spot them and make sure they’re set up to ride the wave.

Investing for your future

There’s usually a moment in life where we twig we can make more of our money. A spark of realisation.

We have to switch our money ON if we want a better chance of growing it over the long term and your best chance of that is to invest. Our readers of the Investment Times have most likely had their inspirational lightbulb.

As a reminder, over 100 years of data shows the stock market has beaten cash in 91% of all ten-year periods. Though there’s no guarantee this will continue, as unlike cash, investments rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than you put in.

Investing’s a commitment to improving your future – the aim of getting rich slowly. Doing it the right way. Taking the right amount of risk. Making the most of tax shelters. And not putting all your money into one or two single investments.

The impact of megatrends

In your autumn issue of the Investment Times, we looked back at how investing has evolved and how investors could prosper in a post-pandemic world. In this issue, we’re focusing on megatrends too big to ignore.

These include the rise of Asia, the evolution of commerce and four share ideas that could benefit from an ageing population. We’ve also looked at wider-reaching themes like sustainability and how resource scarcity is impacting our finances.

We hope you find the investment ideas and insights in this issue useful in helping you make the most of these unstoppable megatrends.

Remember though, everyone’s goals and circumstances are different. Investing isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Past performance also isn’t a guide to the future.

Annual performance across the major sectors (January to December, %)

Scroll across to see the full chart.

Average fund performance across the major sectors, for 2011 to 2016

Past performance isn’t a guide to the future. Source: Lipper IM from 31/12/11 to 31/12/21, IA sector performance.

*Full year performance data not available.

Scroll across to see the full chart.

Average fund performance across the major sectors, for the last 5 years

Past performance isn’t a guide to the future. Source: Lipper IM from 31/12/11 to 31/12/21, IA sector performance.

*Full year performance data not available.

READ MORE

Explore our Investment Times January 2022 edition for more articles like this.

See all articles

Important notes

This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you please seek advice. If you choose to invest the value of your investment will rise and fall, so you could get back less than you put in.

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