All investments are based on the same principle using money to make more money. This is true whether you have a simple deposit account or a complex portfolio of shares and funds. The reasons you want this extra money will depend on your particular circumstances and your plans in life you may be saving for immediate needs or aiming for a long-term goal, such as building up a pot of money for retirement.

In this guide we hope to give you an idea of how shares can play a part in your investment plans. To do this we will introduce some of the key topics connected with investing in shares such as mutual funds, diversification and the importance of investing for the long term.

It doesn't matter whether you are simply planning to put aside a small portion of your salary each month, or you have a large sum to invest. Our aim is to give you the information you need to take control of your investments past and future and make them work for you.