The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may not get back the full amount you invest. Eligibility criteria, fees and charges apply.
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Investment guide
Things to know if you're new to investing
Saving vs investing
A savings account could be a good option for money you might need in an emergency. Some accounts let you access your money straight away to pay for any costs you aren’t expecting.
Savings accounts also come with an interest rate, so you know what you’ll get back from them. They could be a better option if you’re planning to spend the money on something within the next 5 years.
Over a long time though, the real value of money held in savings accounts can be reduced by inflation. What you can buy with your money may reduce because prices tend to go up.
Investing gives you a better chance of a return that beats inflation or savings accounts over the long term. But your return is unknown when you start investing and you could get back less than you put in.
What our customers say about investing with us
Coutts, investment managers for Royal Bank Invest, look after £43bn (Q1, 2024) and have over 300 years of experience.
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Customers have been anonymised for data protection purposes. Investing may not be the right option for everyone. It needs a long-term perspective and tolerance for risk.
Selena, a 40-year-old Royal Bank Invest customer explored lots of options before deciding Royal Bank Invest was the best way forward
"By far the easiest way I found to get investing, and I’m enjoying watching what’s happening with my investment... I’m in it for the long haul, so it’ll be interesting to see how I stand in few years’ time. Overall, really pleased with this Invest account."
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Muhammed, a 50-year-old Royal Bank Invest customer uses our online platform to see his investment options
"The website is easy to use, I found information on funds easy to understand and risks well explained and documented. When it’s broken down and presented in everyday language, everything seems straight forward. It’s a very stress-free way to try out investing for the first time."
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John, 35
"It’s actually fun to do and doesn’t have to be a huge investment."
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Isabella, 32
"It is a good way to start investing, if you are new or risk averse as you can start small."
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Olivia, 29
"This has been an opportunity to be brave enough to hopefully aid our financial future."
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Pay off any high interest debts
It’s generally considered best practice to pay off any high interest debts before you start investing.
It’s also a good idea to have a plan in place for how and when you’ll pay back your other borrowing.
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Create a safety net of savings
It’s a good idea to have at least four months’ worth of essential spending set aside for any unexpected events before you consider investing.
That way you’re less likely to dip into your investment and spend it rather than letting it build and mature over the long-term.
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Get comfortable with risk taking
There are two things to consider with risk.
First, can you afford it if your investment loses value?
Second, how will you react emotionally when your investment goes up or down in value? Falls in value can upset new investors and some sell before they have given their investment a chance to recover.
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Invest for the long-term
If you want to access your money in the short or medium term (in less than five years), then investing might not be right for you.
If you’re looking to invest for five years or more, then you may be more likely to reap the benefits of investing.
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Busting investment myths
We want to set the record straight when it comes to reasons people avoid investing. Here are six myths surrounding investing. Consider them busted.
- 01
You need to watch your investments like a hawk
While we encourage you to take an active role in investing, we don’t expect you to spend your days watching it closely. That’s what our investment managers at our private bank, Coutts do for you.
Our investment managers use their expertise to invest your money wisely and responsibly.
- 02
You need lots of money to make investing worthwhile
You don’t need lots of money to invest. You can start small and build your investment up over time.
Open a Royal Bank Invest account from £50 and top up your investment at any time from just £10.
- 03
You need to take huge risks
Investing isn’t risk-free, but that doesn’t mean you need to take huge risks either. A basic principle of investing is to spread your investments around. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Investing in funds helps reduce the risk of losing significantly if one single investment fails. It’s called diversification.
- 04
You can't easily access the money in your investments
There’s generally no fixed period you need to invest in an Stocks and Shares ISA or General Investment Account.
If you want to sell your investment, let us know and we’ll move the money back in to your online banking account.
- 05
You aren’t investing if all you have is a pension
Lots of pensions are investments, so if you have a pension, you may well already be investing.
Our personal pensions work in the same way as our other investments. The main difference with personal pensions is you can’t access your pension until you’re 55. - 06
You have to pay big fees to invest
Investment fees vary and you should check the fees before you invest.
We charge a maximum of 0.62% of your investment a year. That means if you invest £1000 a year, it will cost you no more than £6.20 a year in fees.
Jargon buster
When is a good time to invest?
Any investment should be looked at as a medium to longer-term goal (five years or more). The sooner you start investing, the sooner your money could be working for you.
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The benefits of investing regularly
By investing what you can afford on a regular basis – and forgetting about it – those small amounts could soon turn into something worth having. Read about the potential benefits of forming a regular investment habit.
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Check-in with Royal Bank of Scotland
Our free Financial Health Check is a review of your personal finances, giving helpful hints, tips and ideas to help you get financially fitter both now and in the future.
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Ways to invest
If you’re looking to build wealth over time, then investing your money could be a good way to start. Check out our range of investment options to fit your financial goals.
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Already an investor
Login to Royal Bank Invest to view online valuation performance and compare all investment products available to you.
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