PENULISAN 5: TUGAS SOFTSKILL BAHASA INGGRIS BISNIS 2

Keuntungan GOT Melebihi TLOTR

Hai, kali ini saya akan membahas mengenai seberapa besar keuntungan game of thrones selama penayangannya. Hingga tulisan ini dibuat Jaringan televisi HBO telah menayangkan musim keenam dari Game of Thrones. Episode berjudul "Oathbreaker" yang ditayangkan di Indonesia Senin (9/5/2016) adalah episode ketiga musim keenam, atau secara keseluruhan merupakan episode ke-53 dari serial drama fantasi ini.

Sama-sama mengambil genre fantasi, wajar jika Game of Thrones (selanjutnya disingkat GOT) banyak dibandingkan dengan trilogi The Lord of The Rings (TLOTR). Terlebih, keduanya diangkat dari novel. TLOTR diangkat dari novel berjudul sama karya J.R.R. Tolkien. Sementara, GOT dari novel serial A Song of Ice and Fire hasil tulisan George R. R. Martin.

TLOTR adalah film bioskop, sementara GOT adalah film seri. Namun kualitas sinematografi, efek spesial dan skala produksi GOT tidak kalah dari film-film epik dengan setting abad pertengahan. Sampai-sampai ada penanya di situs Quora yang ingin tahu apakah GOT secara ekonomis layak diproduksi, sementara dengan ongkos produksi dan keahlian yang sama, kita dapat membuat film bioskop seperti TLOTR.

Pada 2014, pertanyaan itu dijawab dengan gamblang oleh Laurent Gorse, seorang pembuat film profesional dengan pengalaman sebagai penulis, produser dan sutradara. Gorse menjawab, "Benar, ketika Game of Thrones selesai, serial ini menghabiskan uang lebih banyak daripada trilogi The Lord of the Rings. "Pria asal California ini mengatakan, HBO menghabiskan uang senilai kurang lebih USD6 juta untuk tiap episode GOT. Karena GOT sudah mencapai episode ke-50, berarti HBO sudah menghabiskan sekitar USD300 juta.

Menurut The Numbers, tiga film TLOTR menghabiskan uang senilai USD297 juta. Artinya, ongkos produksi GOT sudah mengalahkan tiga film TLOTR (The Fellowship of the Rings, The Two Towers, dan The Return of the King) yang tayang dari 2001 hingga 2003. Tiga film garapan sutradara Peter Jackson ini memperoleh pendapatan sebesar USD1,2 miliar dari pendapatannya di Amerika Serikat.

Sementara itu, berapa pendapatan yang diraih HBO dari penayangan GOT?

Sebenarnya sulit untuk dihitung, karena HBO adalah layanan yang bergantung pada jumlah pelanggan yang membayar setiap bulannya. Jadi, orang yang berlangganan HBO belum tentu ingin nonton Game of Thrones. Total penonton per episode pada acara televisi seperti ini juga sulit diukur, tidak seperti penghitungan jumlah penonton pada layanan pengaliran video.

Menurut Wall Street Journal (5/2/2014), pada 2013 pendapatan kotor HBO mencapai USD4,9 miliar. Namun Game of Thrones merupakan acara yang paling banyak ditonton di HBO. Gorse mengungkap tiga kemungkinan.

• Pertama, pada 2013, GOT menyumbang 20 persen dari USD4,9 miliar yang diperoleh HBO. Artinya, hampir semiliar dolar. Tidak berbeda jauh dari pendapatan USD1,2 miliar yang diperoleh TLOTR. Dengan kata lain, selama lima musim pendapatan GOT hampir lima kali lipat TLOTR.
• Kedua, misalkan GOT hanya menyumbang 10 persen dari USD4,9 miliar yang diperoleh HBO. Angka tersebut sudah mencapai USD490 juta dolar, hanya membutuhkan waktu tidak sampai tiga musim untuk menyamai pendapatan TLOTR.
• Ketiga adalah skenario terpahit. Taruhlah GOT hanya menyumbang USD200 juta per-musimnya, alias sekitar empat persen dari pendapatan HBO pada 2013. Pada musim keenam GOT sudah menyamai pendapatan TLOTR, dengan ongkos produksi sedikit lebih besar.

Gorse menekankan, nyaris tidak mungkin pendapatan acara televisi sebesar GOT hanya empat persen dari seluruh pendapatan HBO. Ini karena HBO juga mendapat perolehan dari penjualan DVD dan Bluray Game of Thrones.

Kesimpulannya, kemungkinan besar Game of Thrones lebih menguntungkan dibanding perolehan TLOTR di Amerika Serikat, atau setidaknya menyamai perolehan trilogi tersebut.

Source:

https://beritagar.id/artikel/seni-hiburan/keuntungan-game-of-thrones-diperkirakan-lebihi-the-lord-of-the-rings

M8 TUGAS SOFTSKILL BAHASA INGGRIS BISNIS 2

Elliptical Sentence

Ellipsis means leaving something out. Elliptical sentence is a shorter form of sentence which some words have been omitted, but it retains the same meaning. It is used so that we can avoid unnecessary repeated words.

It is noticeable that elliptical sentences are used quite common in some contexts as:

[1] In normal conversation

  •  A: Where are you going?  B: To school. (= I am going to school.)

  •  A: Ready? (= Are you ready?) B: Yes, I am. (= Yes, I am ready.)

[2] In comparison

  •  Phalla is taller than Phearom.

     (= Phalla is taller than Phearom is tall.)

  •  The ads attracted younger than older people.

     (= The ads attracted younger than  it attracted  older people.)

[3] In sentences joined by coordinating conjunctions

  •  I have washed and ironed my clothes.

     (= I have washed my clothes, and I have ironed my clothes.)

  •  Bora likes football, Phalla volleyball, and Sopheak basketball.

     (= Bora likes football, Phalla likes volleyball, and Sopheak likes basketball.)

  •  Kolab has five dollars, and Sopheak three.

     (= Kolab has five dollars, and Sopheak  has  three dollars.)

[4] In some dependent clauses

  •  If you clean the house today, i will tomorrow.

     (= If you clean the house today, i will clean the house tomorrow.)

  •  I will go to the party if you will.

     (= I will go to the party if you will go to the party.)

[5] In reduced clauses

  •  The song sung by Preap Sovath was so popular.

     (= The song which was sung by Preap Sovath was so popular. )

  •  The man selling the shoes is my friend.

     (= The man who is selling the shoes is my friend.)

  •  The police has found the car stolen yesterday.

     (= The police has found the car which was stolen yesterday.)

  •  When studying, he tried hard.

     (= When he was studying, he tried hard. )

  •  I visited the Bayon Temple after coming back from Battambang.

     (= I visited the Bayon Temple after I came back from Battambang. )

  •  Though a bit nervous, she presented the products to the doctor very well.

     (= Though she was a bit nervous, she presented the products to the doctor very well. )

[6] When used with "SO, TOO, EITHER, NEITHER"

  •  My sister is tall, and so do my brothers.

     (= My sister is tall, and my brothers are tall, too.)

  •  A : I was very sleepy last night.  B : So am I.

     (= A : I was very sleepy last night.  B : I am hungry, too.)

  •  My mom likes mangoes and my brother does too.

     (= My mom likes mangoes, and my brother likes mangoes, too.)

  •  He didn't say anything, and I didn't either.

     (= He didn't say anything, and I didn't say anything, too.)

  •  Her father likes to travel, and she does either.

     (= Her father likes to travel, and she likes to travel, too.)

  •  He didn't study hard, and neither did I.

     (= He didn't study hard, and I didn't study hard, too.)

  •  She doesn't review the lessons, and neither her friend.

     (= She doesn't review the lessons, and her friend didn't review the lessons, too.)

source :

http://grammarkit.blogspot.com/2012/12/elliptical-sentence.html

PENULISAN 4: TUGAS SOFTSKILL BAHASA INGGRIS BISNIS 2

Review singkat Game Of Thrones

Tulisan kali ini, saya akan membahas sedikit mengenai salah satu series barat paling popular di dunia yaitu Game Of Thrones. Series ini adalah sebuah serial televisi drama fantasi Amerika yang dibuat untuk HBO oleh David Benioff dan D. B. Weiss sebagai showrunner dan penulis utama. Serial ini adalah adaptasi dari A Song of Ice and Fire, sebuah novel serial fantasi karya George R. R. Martin, yang edisi pertamanya berjudul A Game of Thrones.

Series tersebut tayang perdana di HBO di Amerika Serikat pada 17 April 2011. Hingga tulisan ini dibuat, HBO kembali menyiarkan Game Of Thrones untuk musim ke 6. Setiap tahun, series ini disiarkan selama 10 episode. Lalu kenapa series ini bisa begitu popular di Indonesia? Mari kita simak prologue singkatnyaa

Dikisahkan 7 Great Houses (keluarga besar) di benua fiksi Westeros & Essos saling berebut kekuasaan untuk dapat menduduki tahta besi "The Iron Throne" di ibukota Westeros yaitu King's Landing. Persengkongkolan, pengkhianatan, intrik tidak berkesudahan, peperangan hingga percintaan terlarang yang selalu mewarnai episode demi episode. Bagi sebagian orang, cerita ini mungkin sedikit rumit & sulit dipahami dengan cepat.

Westeros adalah daratan terbesar menjadi tempat cerita epik fantasi ini berlangsung. Di mana bahasa yang digunakan adalah British English. Ada hal menarik yang menjadi perhatian yaitu ketika Joffrey diangkat menjadi raja sepeninggalan ayahnya King Robert Baratheon, di mana dalam ceremoni namanya disebut "King Joffrey Baratheon, The First of His Name, King of The Andals and The First Men, Lord of The Seven Kingdoms and Protector of The Realm". Masih banyak lagi kata-kata yang menyebut The Seven Kingdoms setiap episode yang ditayangkan.

Apa maksud dari The Seven Kingdoms atau 7 Kerajaan itu? Karena kalo dihitung jumlah dari House Family yang ada, semuanya berjumlah 9. Apa tidak salah ya?

Ternyata kata 7 Kerajaan atau The Seven Kingdoms berasal dari waktu sebelum penaklukan Targaryen terhadap kerajaan-kerajaan di Westeros oleh Aegon I yang merupakan kerajaan independen. Ambisi Aegon I Targaryen untuk menaklukan 7 Kerajaan d Westeros dibawah kendali "The Iron Throne" menjadi kenyataan. Dari hasil penaklukan tersebut ada beberapa Keluarga House Besar pada waktu itu jadi punah, namun ada beberapa House Kecil tumbuh menjadi The Great House. Semenjak itu ada 9 wilayah yang dikuasai oleh masing-masing Great Houses namun tetap dibawah kendali "The Iron Throne" oleh keluarga House Targaryen, kemudian terjadi Robert's Rebellion "The Iron Throne" beralih ke keluarga House Baratheon yang saat ini dipegang oleh King Robert Baratheon kemudian dilanjutkan oleh King Joffrey Baratheon.

7 Kerajaan sebelum penaklukan Targaryen ( Kerajaan independen ) :

Kingdom of The North

Kingdom of The Vale & Sky

Kingdom of Isles & Rivers

Kingdom of The Rock

Kingdom of The Reach

Kingdom of The Stromlands

Dorne

Banyaknya perdebatan akan series ini yang akan ditayangkan di Indonesia, menjadi pertanyaan? Karena banyaknya adegan kekerasan dan juga vulgar. Tapi, karena tayangan ini hanya ditayangkan pada tv kabel HBO Indonesia di jam 22.15 WIB. Hal tsb menjadi wajar, Karena selain adegan yg dijelaskan diatas, salah satu hal paling penting dalam series ini adalah intrik politiknya, dilihat dari sisi dialog serta pengucapan dalam conversation yang sangat memukau.

Tulisan selanjutnya, saya akan membahas kelanjutan dari series ini yang sudah ditayangkan oleh HBO di season 6, Banyaknya tokoh-tokoh penting yang mati, merupakan hal yang unik pada series ini. Lalu bagaimana dengan Season ini? Siapa yang akan bertahan dan menduduki Iron Throne, simak baik-baik di HBO.

Reference:

https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones

www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones

www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947

http://hboasia.com/HBO/id-id/shows/game-of-thrones/season6

Telling About My Plans

I was the second child in my family. Since childhood I was taught by my parents to always be responsible. Now I am a student majoring in accounting Gunadarma semester 6. To achieve the purpose of life, I have always been a principle of life that I apply to daily life. Where in principle they will be, I always make a plan for the future. Plan for the future is one thing that is very important to achieve the desired results so as not to regret in the future.

Back when I was a kid I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but the ideals that changed when I sat in college. Precisely now, I am interested in the field of taxation, where it makes me sure will become. In addition to taxation, I've been investing in stock mutual funds began in 2014 to ten years kedapan. I think it is important to invest, because I have prepared investment future savings.

There is a proverb says, "Without a plan, our lives will be destroyed". And what about the plan that will I live? Listen carefully.

1. I've invested. Why invest? Because we never know what will happen in this life. At least I had taken the precaution, if there is an unexpected need. And with investing, I can set up savings for the future, unlike the savings in the bank. hehe

2. After the trial PI is finished, I will take English language courses. In The MEA is already a must for me to master the English page. For example: when applying for a job needed English language qualification.

3. After graduating from Gunadarma, I will carry out the course brevet a / b taxation. To accomplish the job I wanted brevet certification required.

4. Then I want to take the test CPNS (taxation), if accepted at the DJP. I am very grateful, otherwise I will try in KAP Company which provides tax services.

5. As I already have a regular income, I would save some money in salary for savings / invested (depending on the Indonesian economy at that time). After that I will continue S2 at the university that I know of yet, college planning nights while working.

6. The latter are finding my life partner, which form a family that always gives love and saying.hehe
And have a life of my successor. This is a plan that should always remember in my hearts.

Terjemahan

Saya adalah anak kedua di keluarga saya. Sejak kecil saya diajarkan oleh orang tua saya untuk selalu bertanggungjawab. Sekarang saya seorang mahasiswa gunadarma jurusan akuntansi disemester 6. Untuk mencapai tujuan hidup, saya memiliki prinsip hidup yang selalu saya terapkan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Dimana pada prinsip tsb, saya selalu melakukan rencana untuk kedepannya. Rencana masa depan adalah salah satu hal yang sangat penting untuk mencapai hasil yang diinginkan agar tidak menyesal dikemudian hari.

Kembali ketika saya masih kecil saya ingin menjadi seorang pengusaha, tapi cita-cita itu berubah ketika aku duduk dibangku kuliah. Tepatnya sekarang, saya tertarik pada bidang perpajakan, dimana hal itu membuat saya yakin akan bidang tsb. Selain perpajakan, saya sudah melakukan investasi reksadana saham dimulai tahun 2014 hingga sepuluh tahun kedapan. Menurut saya penting untuk berinvestasi, karena dengan investasi saya sudah menyiapkan tabungan masa depan.
Ada pepatah berkata, “Tanpa rencana, hidup kita akan hancur”. Lalu bagaimana dengan rencana yang akan saya jalani? Simak baik-baik yaa.

1. Saya sudah melakukan investasi. Kenapa investasi? Karena kita tidak pernah tau apa yang akan terjadi dalam hidup ini. Setidaknya saya sudah berjaga-jaga, jika ada kebutuhan yang tak terduga. Dan dengan investasi, saya dapat menyiapkan tabungan untuk masa depan, beda dengan menabung dibank. Hehe

2. Setelah sidang PI selesai, saya akan mengambil kursus Bahasa inggris. Pada Masa MEA ini, sudah suatu keharusan bagi saya untuk menguasai Bahasa tsb. Contohnya: ketika melamar pekerjaan dibutuhkan kualifikasi Bahasa inggris.

3. Setelah lulus dari gunadarma, saya akan melaksanakan kursus brevet a/b perpajakan. Untuk mencapai pekerjaan yang saya inginkan sertifikasi brevet dibutuhkan.

4. Lalu saya ingin mengikuti tes CPNS (perpajakan), jika diterima di DJP. Saya sangat bersyukur, jika tidakpun saya akan mencoba di KAP, Perusahaan yang menyediakan jasa perpajakan.

5. Saat saya sudah memiliki penghasilan teratur, saya akan menyimpan sebagian uang gaji untuk ditabung/diinvestasi (tergantung ekonomi Indonesia saat itu). Setelah itu saya akan melanjutkan S2 di universitas yang belum saya ketahui, rencana kuliah malam sambil bekerja.

6. Yang terakhir ini adalah menemukan pasangan hidup saya, yaitu membentuk suatu keluarga yang selalu memberikan kasih dan saying.hehe

Dan memiliki seorang penerus hidup saya. Ini merupakan suatu rencana yang harus selalu saya ingat dalam hati ini.

PENULISAN 3: TUGAS SOFTSKILL BAHASA INGGRIS BISNIS 2

How to sell shares

Do you want to sell some shares? Perhaps they are an inheritance and you would prefer the cash. Or maybe you have held the shares for many years and judge the time is now right to offload the stock.

1.      Select a stockbroker

Whatever the reason for the sale, you can only trade shares through a stockbroker. So, first you have to select your broker. There are various different types of stockbroker and the choice depends largely on your dealing habits and your budget.

2.      Execution only

Some stockbrokers operate solely on an execution-only basis, which means they do not offer any advice. They are therefore best suited to the more sophisticated investor, who is happy to go it alone.  An execution-only service can also be a good option if you want to carry out just one simple trade, perhaps if you want to sell a batch of shares.

3.      Help and guidance

If you are not a confident share trader, you might prefer a stockbroker that offers an advisory service.  You would then be given help and guidance about the sale of your shares, though the final decision would be yours.  Or, you could select a discretionary or management service, allowing the stockbroker to take all the decisions on your behalf.

4.      Nominee accounts

You then have to decide between a nominee account and a certificated account. With a nominee account, the shares are held in the stockbroker’s name and the firm takes care of all the administration. You are still the ultimate owner (and any shareholder perks, such as discounts, should still be yours to enjoy), but nominee accounts are increasingly popular because they are simple and convenient.

5.      Paper share certificates

If you opt for a certificated account, you will receive paper share certificates and the shares will be in your name. Bear in mind, though, that the process of selling – and buying – shares could take a lot longer as you will have to post the certificates to the broker.

6.      Stockbroker commission

It’s important to check out any account fees so you understand the costs involved. Stockbrokers charge a fee or commission for every share trade. The commission is either a flat rate or a percentage and varies according to the firm and the type of service. An execution-only broker, for example, might charge commission of £2.95 if you are a regular trader, or £11.95 if you buy and sell shares only rarely. There are also different charges for postal, phone and online share deals.

If you are unsure about your tax position, you should speak to an accountant or tax adviser.

You can switch to a different broker if you are not happy with the service or costs, though you might have to pay a transfer fee.

7.      Tax bill

There is no stamp duty payable on the sale of shares, but you could incur a tax bill if the profit from the sale exceeds your annual capital gains tax allowance, which currently stands at £10,900 (for 2015-16 tax year). If you are unsure about your tax position, you should speak to an accountant or tax adviser.

The rules are different if you are selling shares in your own business – again, it is important to take expert advice on tactics and timing.

8.      Information for investors

It’s not always easy to decide if and when to sell shares, but there’s plenty of information available to help you reach a decision. Your stockbroker should be able to provide stock reports. There are also various magazines and websites aimed at the amateur investor.

Reference:

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/shares/how-to-sell-shares/

PENULISAN 2: TUGAS SOFTSKILL BAHASA INGGRIS BISNIS 2

5 things you must know before buying shares

1.      You own a part of the business

When you invest in stocks, you do not invest in the market (despite what you think). You invest in the equity shares of a company. That makes you a shareholder; you now own a small part of that business without having to go to work there.

The good news is, since you own part of the company, you are entitled to a share in its profits.

The bad news is that you are also expected to bear the losses, if any.

That is why investing in shares is risky. If the company does well, you benefit. If it does not, you lose. There are no guarantees whatsoever.

2.      In the short-run, the price of the share can wildly fluctuate

Let's say the company fixes the price of each share at Rs 10. This is called the face value of the share.

When the share is traded in the stock market, this value may go up or down depending on supply of and demand for the stock.

If everyone wants to buy the shares, the price will go up. If nobody wants to buy the shares, and many want to sell them, the price will fall.

The value of a share in the market at any point of time is called the 'price of the share' or the 'market value of a stock'.

A share with a face value of Rs 10 may be quoted at Rs 55 (higher than the face value) or even Rs 9 (lower than the face value).

So you might have paid Rs 15 for a share which is now quoting at Rs 12. Don't panic and sell. If it is a good company, the share price will eventually rise.

The prices will get influenced by the market sentiment and the general direction of the market. As a result, you may see short-term slumps.

3.      Always invest for the long-term

The best way to make money is to buy low and sell high. This means you should buy the share when the price is low and sell it when it is high.

That is why you must buy in a bear market. This is a term used to describe the sentiment of the stock market when it is low and the prices of shares have generally fallen. The best time to sell is in a bull market, when the sentiment is high and the prices of shares are rising.

But it is very difficult to time the market. In fact, no one can do it. If we could, we would all be millionaires, wouldn't we?

That is why, when you invest in the market, it is best to invest for the long-term. Hold on to your shares for a few years before you think of selling them.

Companies increase their sales and book higher profits over the years. This will eventually reflect in the share price, so ignore the short-term slumps.

Once you decide that you are in for the long haul, you can ride over the bear and bull runs with no stress at all. Over time, the price of your shares will appreciate.

If you are getting a good price for your stock, keep selling small amounts at regular intervals. Keep booking profits.

4.      Decide how much you want to invest

Always remember one basic rule in finance -- if something gives you higher returns, that's usually because it carries a greater risk.

That's the reason why not-so-good companies will pay you a higher rate of interest for your deposits.

The same reasoning goes for stocks too -- they give higher returns than, say, bank fixed deposits because they are more risky. So the amount of money you invest in the market depends on your capacity to bear the risk.

If you are young with a steady job, you can invest a larger proportion of your income in the stock market than, say your parents who are close to retirement. If you have a lot of debt to repay, avoid putting too much of your money in stocks.

It's best to decide how much of your savings you will allocate to stocks, and stick to that plan. Don't get swayed by how much your friend is investing.

5.      Don't rely solely on 'good advice'

A smart investor should never invest buy shares of companies he doesn't know much about. Relying on 'advice' from friends is not always a great idea. Do some groundwork yourself.

It doesn't matter who is buying the stock or who is recommending it. Steer clear of such ways of making a fast buck. These tips will land you in a soup.

When you hear of a 'hot tip', dig further.

Take a look at the company's profit and loss statement, which would have been audited by chartered accountants. There is a wealth of information here. To understand the information in a Profit & Loss Account, read Want to buy a stock? Read this first.

Do some basic calculations on your own. The Earnings Per Share (net profit/ number of shares) and Price/Earnings ratio (market price/ EPS) should give you a fair understanding. Read How to spot a good stock to understand what these ratios mean and how to use them.

These tips should get you started. Tread cautiously though. If stocks intimidate you, consider a diversified equity fund.

A mutual fund manager will research many companies before investing in their shares. This way, you can participate in the stock market even as you leave the research to professionals.

Reference: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/apr/26share.htm

PENULISAN 1: TUGAS SOFTSKILL BAHASA INGGRIS BISNIS 2

Top tips for choosing investments

Use these tips and key steps to help find an investment that’s right for you.

1.      Review your needs and goals

It’s well worth taking the time to think about what you really want from your investments. Knowing yourself, your needs and goals and your appetite for risk is a good start, so start by filling in a money fact find.

2.      Consider how long you can invest

Think about how soon you need to get your money back. Time frames vary for different goals and will affect the type of risks you can take on. For example:

  Ø  If you’re saving for a house deposit and hoping to buy in a couple of years, investments such as shares or funds will not be suitable because their value goes up or down. Stick to cash savings accounts like Cash ISAs.

  Ø  If you’re saving for your pension in 25 years’ time, you can ignore short-term falls in the value of your investments and focus on the long term. Over the long term, investments other than cash savings accounts tend to give you a better chance of beating inflation and reaching your pension goal.

3.      Make an investment plan

Once you’re clear on your needs and goals – and have assessed how much risk you can take – draw up an investment plan. This will help you identify the types of product that could be suitable for you.

A good rule of thumb is to start with low risk investments such as Cash ISAs. Then, add medium-risk investments like unit trusts if you’re happy to accept higher volatility. Only consider higher risk investments once you’ve built up low and medium-risk investments. Even then, only do so if you are willing to accept the risk of losing the money you put into them.

4.      Diversify!

It’s a basic rule of investing that to improve your chance of a better return you have to accept more risk. But you can manage and improve the balance between risk and return by spreading your money across different investment types and sectors whose prices don’t necessarily move in the same direction – this is called diversifying. It can help you smooth out the returns while still achieving growth, and reduce the overall risk in your portfolio.

5.      Decide how hands-on to be

Investing can take up as much or as little of your time as you’d like:

  Ø  If you want to be hands-on and enjoy making investment decisions, you might want to consider buying individual shares – but make sure you understand the risks.

  Ø  If you don’t have the time or inclination to be hands-on – or if you only have a small amount of money to invest – then a popular choice is investment funds, such as unit trusts and Open Ended Investment Companies (OEICs). With these, your money is pooled with that of lots of other investors and used to buy a wide spread of investments.

  Ø  If you’re unsure about the types of investment you need, or which investment funds to choose, get financial advice.

6.      Check the charges

If you buy investments, like individual shares, direct, you will need to use a stockbroking service and pay dealing charges. If you decide on investment funds, there are charges, for example to pay the fund manager. And, if you get financial advice, you will pay the adviser for this.

Whether you’re looking at stockbrokers, investment funds or advisers, the charges vary from one firm to another. Ask any firm to explain all their charges so you know what you will pay, before committing your money. While higher charges can sometimes mean better quality, always ask yourself if what you’re being charged is reasonable and if you can get similar quality and pay less elsewhere.

7.      Investments to avoid

Avoid high-risk products unless you fully understand their specific risks and are happy to take them on. Only consider higher risk products once you’ve built up money in low and medium-risk investments.

And some investments are usually best avoided altogether.

8.      Review periodically – but don’t ‘stock-watch’

Regular reviews – say, once a year – will ensure that you keep track of how your investments are performing and adjust your savings as necessary to reach your goal. You will get regular statements to help you do this. Find out more below.

However, don’t be tempted to act every time prices move in an unexpected direction. Markets rise and fall all the time and, if you are a long-term investor, you can just ride out these fluctuations.

REFERENCE:

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/top-tips-for-choosing-investments