Understanding investing and finances in general can be difficult. Economics is a complicated subject that takes a lot of hard work to figure out. There are many books that can help you to understand investments and how to get them right. There are also several websites with a lot of information and step by step guides to understanding investing your money.

Books to help you understand the investment process

The following is a list of some of the publications that can help you to understand investments:

• Investing for Dummies by Eric Tyson

This book, now in its 6^th edition, offers advice on how to develop and manage a portfolio, invest in mutual funds, bonds, stocks, real estate and new businesses. The book will also discuss tax and coverage on changing market conditions.

Areas of investment that you should explore

If you are interested in learning about the investing process, the following areas are important to delve into.

• Managing and developing an investment portfolio.
• How best to invest in each of the investment possibilities which include stocks, mutual funds, bonds, real estate and small businesses.
• Tax implications and laws.
• Investing in the company who employs you.
• Investing resources and retirement planning.

Paul Mladjenovic, author of the third edition of Investing for Dummies, and an expert on investment and finances in general, gives the following tips on investing wisely and successfully.

1. Remember that you are not buying stock, you are buying a company.
2. The major reason to invest in stock is because the company you are investing in is making a profit.
3. Buying stock when the company is not making a profit is speculating.
4. Your stock should never make up 100 percent of your assets.
5. In a severe bear market stock is not a good investment.
6. The price of a stock depends on its customer base, industry, the economy in general and the political climate at the time.
7. Use common sense and logic when choosing your stock.
8. Think carefully about why you want to invest in stock in general and why particular stock.
9. If you feel unsecure about a company, use stop-loss orders.
10. Even if you want to keep your stock for a long period of time, never be rigid in not selling when the market is bad.

How to decide if a company is worth investing in

You should always look at a company’s balance and sheet and income statement and pay particular attention to the following figures.

• Earnings: they should show at least ten percent growth year to year.
• Debt: they should be lower or the same as the year before, and less than the company’s assets.
• Sales: they should be higher than the year before.
• Equity: they should be higher than the year before.

Before you invest in stock, you should consider the following ratios:

• Price to earnings ratio (should be under twenty)
• Price to sales ratio (should be close to one)
• Return on equity (should be growing by at least ten percent a year)
• Earnings growth (should be growing by at least ten percent a year)
• Debt to asset ratio (debt should be fifty percent of assets or less)

Seeking professional advice and assistance

If you are serious about investing your hard earned money you should look into finding a professional who will give you help and advice. Because investing your money can be such a risk, it is important to find a professional from a reputable company with lots of experience and a good reputation.

If you follow the advice of a trained professional, take note of the above tips, do your research and keep up to date with the changing market, there is no reason why you should not be successful.

There are many ways that people attempt to use money to get more money. Everybody dreams of being rich, or at the very least of having no more bills to pay and not having to worry about money. If you had the chance to ensure that you and your family will be looked after until you die, that your children will have enough money to pay for their tertiary education and a good start in life, and that you will be able to enjoy some luxury in the form of holidays a few times a year or a flat screen television, wouldn’t you take it? The answer is yes. Financial security is the holy grail of today’s world and we spend most of our lives strive, as of course we should, to achieve it.

There is, of course, no sure fire way to grow your money. There is a risk with everything. The value of stocks could crash, banks could go bankrupt, property values could decrease and many other things could go wrong. However, there is always a chance that the rewards could be huge and that the income for the rest of your life could be taken care of.

There are several ways to try and grow your money. Investing in companies or stock, buying shares, buying property and placing your money in interest accruing accounts are all common ways that people try to get ahead in the financial race. You should make sure that you fully understand each option before choosing which route to take.

Investing in companies, businesses or ideas

New or long standing companies as well as freelancers with new products are always looking for investors to help fund them and their projects. Without this funding, many businesses and items would never have gotten off the ground. You must have a very savvy business mind to take this route as you should be able to tell what will work and what not. Knowledge of the specific industry, the tool, the people who are running it and some experience is necessary. Depending on how much you invest, the returns could be huge. However, if the company or product does not do as well as expected or fails completely, the loss will also be huge.

Investing in property

Buying property is probably one of the most popular and successful ways to get your money to produce more money. There are several ways of investing in property. You could invest in a property development before it gets off the ground. There are risks as if something happened and the development does not even go ahead or does not do as well as expected, you will have made a loss. You could buy an apartment or house to rent out. You will be making money on the rent but you will also be paying monthly levies, handling all maintenance and repairs and should there be no one looking for your particular rental, you could find yourself making a loss. You could also buy a property to fix up and sell on, which would require some work on your part. You could buy when the property market is low and then sell when it picks up, but all of these options have their setbacks and as many dangers as they do promises.

Placing your money in interest accruing accounts

What many people do is put their money in low risk account where they receive a certain amount of interest every month. The interest depends on several factors and can drop down or pick up very quickly. There is usually a guarantee of some sort that your money will never fall below its original value or that you will not gain less than a certain amount of interest. The downside to this, however, is that the money does not grow very quickly.

The buying of shares in SA’s marketplace

Many people buy shares from major or minor companies. They will earn dividends on the shares and can sell them at any time. The value of the shares can rise and fall meaning that your shares could earn or lose you money.

Whatever option you take, it is essential to understand what you are doing and make a smart choice.

Once you are earning enough money to put some away as savings, you should begin to consider investing a portion of it. Making a good investment will ensure that your money will grow and you will be better off in the future.

Would you like a nest egg to pay a deposit on a home in the next few years? Have you always fancied a speedboat? Do you want to put aside something for your children’s education or give them a great life start with a trust fund? A good investment, over time, can make your life much easier and even allow you a little extra luxury.

How to keep up to date

When you invest (for example in a unit trust or something similar) it is important that you keep up to date with the details of your investment and how it is growing, as well as with the market and economics in general. You need to know what options you have for change and even further growth and what moves you can make to better your investment.

• Do it yourself

Unless you are an amateur investment enthusiast it can prove time consuming and difficult to keep up to date on everything that is going on, what your options are and what the best route to take is. Even after years of experience with investments, without expert help you could easily make a wrong decision.

• Speak to an expert

Contacting an investment expert is a good idea as he or she will investigate your specific situation and give you good advice. It is personal and reassuring to know that a training professional is helping you with your investments, but it might make you uncomfortable to give so much control over your money to a stranger. Also, in today’s busy world most people have full time jobs and families to keep them busy, finding the time to meet with an investment specialist every few weeks could prove tedious.

• Look online

Looking at investment solutions online is arguably the best solution. If you are computer savvy and interested to learn about the investment world while staying safely within the guidance of professionals, finding a web site that offers investment solutions, advice and investment news could help you control your own investments wisely.

What are the benefits of looking online?

There are many benefits to taking the online route and the best way forward, if you are interested is to find a reliable web site belonging to a reliable firm and look around.

1. Many web sites will offer insight into the investment world and updates about the state of the market and economics in South Africa and the world.
2. There will often be a comparison tool on the web site allowing you to line up different investments and compare aspects of them to choose the right one for you. Aspects for comparison include risks, fees and features.
3. Some sites also offer news relating to the investment world to keep you up to date with the market.
4. Using the internet is quicker, easier and more efficient than making appointments and seeing people face to face. You can explore online investment solutions at any time of the day or night and still manage your job and family.

What to remember when looking online

In searching for a web site that suits you, remember the following:

• Go for a web site belonging to a reputable company and always research their reliability before using them. It might be worthwhile to ask experts over the phone before choosing.
• Make sure that their investment solutions systems comply to the relevant regulations and standards.
• Choose a company that understands the ever changing nature of the economic world. It is important that they are willing to adapt and adjust when necessary.

Spot Markets

Gold is generally bought from banks by institutional investors and large buyers. London is the global hub of the spot gold market; and over $33 Billion in gold trades pass through London’s clearing system on a daily basis. It would be a risk to move the gold bars themselves, so deals are transacted with paper transfers. The other major markets for physical gold can be found in China, India, the Middle East, Singapore, Italy, Turkey and the United States.

Futures Markets

Futures exchanges also allow investors to enter the gold market, as they can trade in contracts to sell or buy a commodity such as gold on at a previously fixed price on a certain date in the future.

Exchange-traded funds

When the gold price is high, many investors will be attracted to exchange-traded funds. These funds are backed up by physical metal as securities, allowing people exposure to the gold prices without actually taking possession of the gold itself in physical from.

Bars and coins

Gold bars and coins are sold in specialist shops and are open to retail investors. People interested in buying physical gold as an investment pay a premium of 5% to 20% above the current spot price. The price of the gold also depends on the current gold demand as well as the size of the gold product.

Investing in gold in South Africa

If you have a relatively small amount of money that you would like to invest in gold, you may wonder how to invest in gold in South Africa. There are two ways to invest in gold if you have a smaller investment; Krugerrands or Absa New Gold.

With the money at your disposal, you can start collecting Krugerrands which can be purchased from the South African Gold Coin Exchange (www.sagoldcoin.com). Depending on the gold price at the time, you can buy smaller Krugerrands (such as a 1/10 ounce coin) for about R900.

Another option is to invest in Absa New Gold, an exchange-trade fund that is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. This fund tracks the gold price and allows you to invest as little as R1000, or make a debit order of R300 per month. For more information, visit Absa’s website.

What drives the price of gold?

The price of gold is always fluctuating, depending on a number of factors such as:

• Investors: The greater the demand, the greater the price; and as interest in investing in gold rises, so does the price you pay for it… and vice versa.
• Foreign Exchange Rates: Gold is a popular hedge against the volatility of the currency market. The currency market plays a major role in setting the market price of gold, and as currencies become more unstable, the interest (and price) of gold increases.
• Oil Prices: Gold can also be used as a hedge against inflation caused by oil prices. Recent unrest in the Middle East has boosted both oil and gold prices.
• Central Bank Gold Reserves: Banks buying or selling gold can influence gold prices.
• Fiscal and Political Tensions: Gold is considered a safe investment, bought during times of political and economic uncertainty.
• Hedging
• Supply and Demand: Because gold is stocked in abundance over-ground, supply and demand are not as much a determining factor as with other commodities. In fact, stocks are estimated at about 167 000 tons, which is 60 times more than what is produced by mines annually. This is because gold is not consumed as rapidly as oil or copper.

• Choose the type of investment you want to make

No two investments are the same so you need to decide what you want to get out of your capital: are you looking to grow your capital with shares which have increasing prices? Or are you looking for shares which will pay high dividends and create an income for yourself? Essentially, the choice you have to make is between growth and income.

• Growth of share prices is caused by a variety of factors. However, the price of shares can plummet just as quickly as they rise. For example, a company could introduce new products, technologies and services that cause excitement and cause the share price to increase; but if the technology goes wrong the share price can quickly decline.
• To work out the income offered by the share you need to conduct significant research into the terms of the agreement.

• Understand that you are taking a risk with your money

There is no such thing as a risk-free investment or a sure-fire winner. The prices of shares and the income generated from them can go up, but can also go down. The past performance of the shares is not always a good indicator of future performance. All investments should be approached with this knowledge in mind. That being said, investing in shares can be very rewarding and the greater the risk often means the greater the reward.

Before you buy shares, you need to choose the level of risk that you are comfortable with – would you prefer shares with lees risk and lower returns, or higher risk investments that have the potential of providing higher returns?

• Understand how the company you invest in makes its profits

Companies listed on the stock market make their money from a range of business practices, both retail and service related. Make sure you know how the company you invest in makes its money so you can see if the sector id performing well in general. Consider visiting a local branch of the company to find out more about them and how they are doing. The more informed you are, the better your ability to make wise investment decisions.

As a share-holder, you are actually a part owner of the company. This means you need to know who and what you are trusting with your money. You can review the company’s annual report to see if you like what they say and see how the business has performed in the past and where it is going in the future. These reports can often be accessed online.

It is also worth keeping an eye on the company directors’ dealings – if they’re buying shares in the company it’s a good sign that the company is doing well; if they’re selling shares this shows a lack of confidence in where the business is going.

• Watch the numbers

Keep yourself up to date on the company’s financial indicators as well as the general market performance. Make sure you know which sector the company is in so you can check up on it. Look for changes in the share price and the share percentage price change.

• Don’t stick to one company

Investing in a range of companies helps to reduce the level of risk you put yourself at. If you put all your money into one company that goes bust, there goes all your money! If you diversify into different sectors you also reduce your overall risk. At the same time, it’s best not to invest too little into too many companies. The best thing to do is to choose sectors that are doing well and invest you money in successful companies in these sectors.

About RSA Retail Bonds

RSA Retail Bonds are issued by the government’s National Treasury as a way of financing the budget deficit of the government. Retail Bonds are one of the various types of financial services and investment opportunities that are used by personal investors, brokers, pension funds, banks, as well as foreign investors. RSA Retail Bonds are under the responsibility of the Asset and Liability Management sector of South Africa’s National Treasury. The Liability Management unit of this department is charged with managing the liquidity needs of the government.

It was in the 2003/2004 Budget Review that the Minister of Finance declared that South Africa’s National Treasury would introduce new retail bond securities to target a new source of funding for the government, to encourage the general public to save their money, and to increase the diversity of the market’s financial instruments.

There are two types of RSA Retail Bonds: RSA Inflation Linked Retail Savings Bonds and RSA Fixed Rate Retail Savings Bonds. Each of these RSA Retail Bonds are geared to making it simple and accessible for the general public to earn market-related, secure returns on the money they choose to invest. The RSA Inflation Linked Retail Savings Bonds will mature after 3 years, 5 years or 10 years; and the RSA Fixed Rate Retail Savings Bonds have a maturity of 2 years, 3 years, or 5 years.

Who is eligible for RSA retail bonds?

• You must be a permanent resident of South Africa.
• You must have a valid South African identification document.’
• You must have a South African bank account.
• If you are under the age of 18, you must receive consent from your parents in writing before investing (unless you have been granted majority status or you are married).

Now what you have the answer to the question “What are RSA Retail Bonds”, you may want to know: “How do I invest in an RSA Retail bond?” Simply put, there are three basic steps in the procedure; first, you need to register your relevant details at the National Treasury, then you can select the bond and maturity of your choice and apply for the retail bond. Lastly, you will pay for the accepted application.

1. 1.       Register your details

To start the application process for your RSA Retail Bond, you can go directly to the National Treasury at 240 Vermeulen Street, Cnr Andries and Vermeulen Streets, Pretoria, 0002 or call the department on (012) 315 5888. Alternatively, you can visit any South African Post Office Branch, or the RSA Retail Bonds website (www.rsaretailbonds.gov.za). However, if you are under the age of 18 and have not been granted majority status you cannot apply electronically on the website as parental consent is required in writing for you to apply. After the registration process, you will be given an investor number which can be used as a reference when you make payments to your RSA Retail Bond bank account.

1. 2.       Apply and select the bond and maturity

Like the registration process, there are a number of places you can select the bond type and maturity:

• Any Pick ‘n Pay branch
• The RSA Retail Bonds website (www.rsaretailbonds.gov.za)
• Any South African Post Office Branch
• You can also do directly to the National Treasury (240 Vermeulen Street, Cnr Andries and Vermeulen Streets, Pretoria, 0002) or give them a call on (012) 315 5888.

1. 3.       Pay for your RSA Retail Savings Bond

You can make a payment:

• At any Pick ‘n Pay Branch
• Via internet banking
• Through a direct deposit at the bank
• At any South African Post Office Branch.

If you choose to pay by cheque, the cheque must be made out to the place of payment. In other words, if you paid by cheque at Pick ‘n Pay, you must make the cheque out to Pick ‘n Pay.

In South Africa, there are more unit trusts (nearly 1000) than there are shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. This makes the South African stock and investment environment a complex one. It is the role of Symmetry Multi-Manager to make this confusing environment more accessible by offering a range of funds to suit any types of investor.

What does Symmetry Multi-Manager do?

Rather than placing investment in individual shares, the top asset managers at Symmetry Multi-Manager make the best investment choices for their relevant clients, meaning that clients get the benefit of having multiple asset managers making the right decisions for them. It is up to Symmetry Multi-Manager to conduct extensive research into the individual strengths, performance, philosophy and strategy of asset managers. Symmetry Multi-Manager investments therefore carry lower risk than other investment options.

What funds are offered by Symmetry Multi-Manager?

There are two categories of fund available to individuals: Life Funds and Unit Trusts. Both of these types of investments are suitable across the risk spectrum but there are minor differences between the two so it is worth contacting a financial adviser to see which option is best suited to your circumstances.

Why Symmetry Multi-Manager?

Although Symmetry Multi-Manager is a relatively small firm, they are still able to offer advantages that one can usually only find in big corporations, such as:

• Up to the minute administration and data technology
• A comprehensive management system for various portfolios
• Customised software for monitoring purposes, tracking bond, absolute, international, equity and money market solutions.
• Clients benefit from thorough manager research conducted by Symmetry Multi-Manager. In fact, over 10 000 hours per year is spent by the investment team on manger research. This is a way of ensuring that the right manager decisions are made.
• Symmetry Multi-Manager was the first company of its kind to take home an ASISA/Personal Finance Raging Bull Award. For over five years Symmetry Multi-Manager have also won the Best in Sector for the Defensive Fund of Funds award from Micropal; and can boast 7 Standard & Poor’s/Financial Mail awards given for the best risk-adjusted returns in different categories.
• Every single decision made about any investment is managed by a highly qualified and experienced team of professionals specialising in investment solution.
• Symmetry Multi-Manager is able to offer comprehensive solutions as the company is part of the Old mutual groups, allowing them access to other resources and back-office systems. This allows the company to focus on profitable returns as costs and processes are streamlined through the Old Mutual systems.

Ultimately, what Symmetry Multi-Manager executives see as the factor that separates them from the competition is their staff. The company specifically chooses to employ managers who have different strategies and styles when it comes to investment. This ensures for well-though out investment decisions and decreases the risk of Symmetry Multi-Manager funds and also reduces the dependence of investments on the current market conditions. In fact, the team is so confident in the performance of the investments they make on behalf of clients that each investment team member invests their own personal money in the same portfolios selected for their clients.

Contacting Symmetry Multi-Manager

To take advantage of the investment opportunities offered by Symmetry Multi-Manager, you can find the company at Mutual Park, Jan Smuts Drive, Pinelands 7405. Alternatively, give them a call on +27 (0)21 509 6566, fax on 27 (0)21 503 4079, or shoot them an email on symmclientquery@symmetry.co.za.

What is a unit trust?

Unit trusts allow people to pool their money to invest in low-risk, expensive shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.  Known as blue chip shares, these shares are usually almost impossible for individuals to get their hands on because they are in demand and are very expensive as a result. However, if you take out a unit trust in these blue chip shares, the cost is shared among a large number of investors who pool the money that they have available.

How does a unit trust work?

The money you choose to invest is entrusted to a unit trust management company. The fund manager will need a minimum amount (about R100 to R500) each month. The management company will buy JSE shares on the investors’ behalf, meaning that you don’t need to have any knowledge of the stock exchange if you are considering investing in unit trusts. The company combines the shares in a portfolio and divides it into a number of units; these units will be distributed to each investor according to how much money each investor contributed.

What are the benefits of having a unit trust?

• One of the most significant advantages of unit trusts is their accessibility as people have the opportunity to participate on the JSE regardless of qualifications, age or occupation.
• Because you is entrusting their money to a manager, you doesn’t need any knowledge about the stock exchange and economic market. Rather, expert analysts will invest on your behalf and ensure that you get maximum returns for your investment.
• Unit trusts are one of the best saving options to beat the inflation rate because the compound growth of the investments remain relatively stable, regardless of how the inflation rate is playing up.
• When you take out a unit trust you won’t have to compete with SARS to get your earnings. The dividends income on unit trusts is tax free, and capital growth is also usually free from tax.
• You have direct access to your money invested in a unit trust and the management company can sell you shares immediately upon written instruction. This means that unit trusts can act as an emergency source of funds if necessary; but you are also able to keep your unit trust for as long as you want as you are not committed to a certain investment period.
• Unit trusts are offered on flexible terms, allowing you to change between investing regular monthly payments and investing a lump sum. You can also decrease or increase your payments according to your specific needs.

Hints and tips for investing in unit trusts

• Remember that unit trusts are more effective as long term investments. Most people would suggest that you keep it for 3 to 5 years so that you can let the investment mature. The money will grow slowly, but you will get more out of it than if you had the money sitting in a savings account earning minimal interest.
• Growth or value funds usually show decent return over time.
• There are a number of documents you will need to bring with you when you approach a management institution. These include:  a certified proof of address and proof of identity, bank account details and other such information.
• Instead of approaching a financial advisor, you can cut out the middle man by registering online as most banks have direct investment unit trust options.

These accounts are Nedbank’s newest accounts and they offer their members the opportunity to make the most of their money. So lets examine exactly what Nedbank is offering their customers with these accounts.

The Nedbank Justinvest account is a money market investment account that offers its customers a competitive interest rate and short-term accessibility. This means that should you wish to access your money, there is no waiting period, but rather you can access your funds within 24 hours. However why would you want to when the longer you leave the money in the account, the more money you earn.

If you are looking to invest your money your money into after the sale unit trusts, share, property or something similar, then this is the type of account for you as it allows you the time to make the right investment decision for you. Alternatively, if you are looking to save money for a rainy day, for your child’s education, or a holiday abroad, then this is the perfect opportunity for you. The only thing that you will need to investigate further is the tax implication that you may be liable for.

So now that I have sparked your interest, lets take a look at the features of this type of account offers it holders and what is required to open this account:

1. Should you wish to invest in this type of account, you will be required to pay a minimum deposit of R5000.
2. Should you wish to add more money in to the account, you will be allowed to make deposits of R500 or more.
3. You will be open to fantastic interest rates and these rates will be tiered according to the balance of funds in the account.
4. Should you wish to withdraw the funds for any reason, you will only be required to wait 24 hours in order to obtain the cash.
5. Free monthly stop orders can be set up, however these can only  be done from a Nedbank cheque or savings account with the minimum stop order amount being R500.
6.  Due to the fluctuations of the interest rates, your interest will be calculated daily and paid monthly.
7. Should you make a number of cash deposits in to the account in a given month, you will only be charged on the fifth payment, or if the deposit exceeds R5000.

This really is a great opportunity to make money by simply putting some money in to the account.

The JustSave Account is similar to the JustInvest account in that it allows the account holder the opportunity to save money by means of earning money through competitive interest rates. Again like the Invest account, you will have access to your funds whenever you like. Basically Nedbank is paying you to save your money with them. So now you may be wondering how this works, and if you currently bank with Nedbank and have a transactional account, then you can set up an internal stop order with the bank to deposit money in to your JustSave account on your behalf.

What is even more is that Nedbank will not charge you for this stop order and will place an additional R2 for every stop order credit. Like the JustInvest account, the interest rates are tiered and this means that the more you save, the more interest you will earn.  In addition to this, your capital is guaranteed which means that you will always get out more than what you put in.

If you are now interested in the Justinvest Nedbank investment and Savings Account called JustSave, then why not contact Nedbank and get some more information about what great benefits you can receive by opening one of the two accounts.

Sharenet aim to help you learn to grow your money through investment decisions that are sound. For this, the offer a stock market course through their Sharenet College. This course is for people who are new to the stock market or for those who are looking for a refresher course. It starts with an introduction to the basic investment principles, and then will with the help of a professional asset manager, provide you with the guidance to make the best investments that you can.

Another one of the Sharenet tools that will teach you how to invest money in South African shares, is the software that they teach you to utilise to the best effect. The software such as Ambibroker, Market Tracker, and Cycletrends, will help you make predictions in the market and provide you will the skills to map out the market. Another software programme that Sharenet will provide you with the training to use to best effect is Quickstream. This programme provides the user to real time graphs, news, and other important information that will keep you up to date with what is happening in the market so that you can use it to invest more wisely.

One of the best services that Sharenet offers you is that they do not leave out in the dark once they have provided you with tools to get started. Their premium service provides you with information, such as consensus forecasts, financials, and live price tools that you can use to further you investments. These are all available on their database that as a premium service member you will have access to. Sharenet additionally provides you with online trading services. This will therefore allow you to trade online as well as monitor your profile.

If your interest in trading and investing in the stock market is now sparked, and you are wondering about the cost involved with getting the training and services provided by Sharenet then here is a simple breakdown.

1. Stock exchange course: R4,999.00
2. Technical analysis package: R3,700.00
3. Platinum package: R7,999.00

Although this may seem like a lot of money to shell out initially, then take a moment to think about this. If you are interesting in trading in the stock market and shares and decide to do so without any sort of training, then the chances that you will make sound investments are slim. As a result, you could end up placing a lot of money in a number of shares without the correct information. This could result in you losing all of you money invested. If you however take a course through Sharenet, you can enter the stock market with a sound understanding of what is happening and therefore make investments that could leave you sitting pretty with a lot money in your bank account. It seems like a no brainer to me.

Should you however wish to enter the stock market and are not interested in doing the work yourself, then you should contact an investment bank such as Investec who have brokers that will trade for you. This way you know that you money is in good hands and there is no pressure on you to put in a lot of work, all you have to do is put in your money.