As Maxstream says buy yourself some investment magazines and do your homework before investing in any fund. If you don't feel happy doing this then find a good IFA preferably one recommended by friends and make sure they explain everything so that you fully understand the risks and benefits of the various options.

Internet banking is easy and it takes a maximum of three days to get monies transferred between different organisations. The comparison tools on this website (and other similar ones) are good for highlighting the best rates for ISAs and instant access savings accounts - you should be able to do much better than 0.5% on your ISA without too much trouble.

Hi

Just a couple of pointers:

1. I quite I-Shares which are available through Barclays Stockbrokers (not the Barclays Bank). They are a really pure, inexpensive investment, which give great exposure to a multitude of different markets. I would also say that is you find or be recommended to a good local IFA then that would be my preferrred route - a large number of best fund managers do not deal direct and you have to go through an IFA.

2. The type of investment you describe here is more a 1/2 on the scale not 4. There is nothing to fear from internet based accounts (just remember all your log on details!). There are also telephone based accounts. All of which are very secure and generally only allow transfers to and from a nominated account - usually you main current account.

3. Again nothing to fear from the internet - transfers can be same day or take up to 3 days. The money goes into your current account so you have access via the branch network of however you bank with.

Best of luck.

Personally I find funds like the Barclays one too complicated and I would prefer basic unit trusts or investment trusts investing in larger UK companies in a stocks & shares ISA. I drive on the A1M regularly but I wouldn't bury money there. If you don't understand a fund, it's not for you. A browse through investment magazines at your newsagent might help you decide. For the low risk, you need to accept that you can't have safety and a high interest rate and you might take your pick from the cash investments from banks and building societies that you know and trust. You could also consider putting a little in premium bonds.

There is no "right place" for the money. You need to find some places where you, not me or anyone else, is comfortable for it to go.

Hi Kind People

I've been putting off asking these questions for nearly a year now! I feel so overwhelmed by this current global financial mess that i've kinda got 'stuck' and don't know which way to turn! Last year i went to every bank and building society and had meetings with them all - most of them didn't really have my interests at heart and offered poor deals then just as i had completed that round of enquiries the financial market seem to go into further turmoil and i decided to back off making any decisions until things had settled down abit! Have we got there yet? Anyone know?

Anyway further to my late Dad's passing and subsequent inheritance i have done everything i need to do financially except with the last £23,600!

1) I want to know where can i invest £10k - medium risk (6/10 risk), 3-5+ year long term growth investment, accessible in absolute emergency although will try very hard not to touch it. I have in mind Barclays Annual Defined Returns but having phoned Barclays twice over the last few months they have had no integrity and never returned any calls! Then my dad's late financial adviser suggested the A1M fund (or something that sounds like that).

So what other choices are there? Are these two any good? - i really need someone completely independent to assist me as i feel so incapable at the moment at deciphering what to do.

2) I want to know where i can invest £10k - lower risk 4/10 - 1-5 years - emergency money fund - easy access - preferably a high street bank/building society - unless internet banking is easy - i have a fear of internet banking as i don't know how easy it is to access my money. Although i am with Natwest and can transfer money from one fund into another very quickly. Just not sure how easy it is to transfer money from one organisation into another.

3) I have a Nationwide cash isa with £10k in it and will top this up with another £3600 for this year once i've found a new home for it. Obviously Nationwide is offering a terrible rate of interest 0.50%. So i'm looking at transferring this Isa account elsewhere (assuming there are no penalities to moving it). I do like the idea of it, again, being an accessible premises that i can visit, rather than the internet - unless it is easy to transfer monies in and out of different organisations funds.

Sorry, feeling so helpless, but need to get all this money put in the right places by Xmas. It is currently in Natwest cash reserve earning £14 interest over a three month period - terrible!

I would be most grateful for any pointers as to which funds/organisations i should look into for these three investments.

I live in Borehamwood, Herts if thats any help - we have the normal run of the mill financial institutions down the main shopping street.

Kind Regards

Sue x