Being new to this type of investment I would like some help. My husband and I have been investing a sum of money each month into a stocks and shares ISA. We have paid in for 40 months and have 20 months to go if we do this for 5 year period as advised by our banks financial advisor. Obviously with the current financial situation we are nearly £2000 down on what we have paid in between us so far. Do we ride the storm? Can we stop any further payments and leave the amount in there so far and would it continue to make money (if there is any to be made). Sorry I am ignorant when it comes to these sorts of financial matters but understand that there is a risk with this sort of investment.

Hi,

The biggest benefit to paying into an investment vehicle monthly rather than one off payments is that you even out these bumps in the market. When the price drops, your same monthly payment can buy more units than when the price is higher.

You need to ask what your aims are for this. If it is a long term investment - and I mean 5-10 years minimum - I would carry on (provided you are still comfortable with the funds that you have chosen). In years to come, when the price has recovered, you will look back on this time as the period where you got a real bargain.

Investments are not for the short term. As you have found out, these price drops can be very disturbing. Generally, the best thing to do once you have decided to invest in the stockmarket is to let it run its course unless something fundamental changes which causes you to reassess.

Hope this helps.

Just out of interest, what is the investment?

This really shows my ignorance! Without looking at paperwork pay so much monthy with halifax bank. All I know is what I have paid in and what plan is worth is much lower! Have 20 months to go on with one, and about 36 months with the other. We have a mixture of low, medium and high risk inestments. Is this any help?

This really shows my ignorance. All i know is that we have a mix of low, medium and high ivestments with a high street bank. What i have paid in is lower than what plan is currently worth. Have 20 months to go on one (both my husband and I have one each). The other one is a joint plan with 3 more years to run!