News

17/08/2012 17:13:03

Investors have become risk adverse, says expert

An expert has said that investors have become risk adverse as a result of the financial crisis.

Chartered financial planner Paul Lothian believes that as well as affecting finances in the short term, the credit crunch has had a long-term effect on investor attitudes.

"There is no question that the credit crunch … caused a similar crash in investor confidence, which most have yet to regain," he explained to the Scotsman.

This, Mr Lothian argued, has caused investors to miss out on prime money-making opportunities.

"The nadir of March 2009 proved to be the buying opportunity of a lifetime but, unsurprisingly, few retail investors had the appetite," he said.

As investment goes, the financial planner had the following wealth management advice: "The best approach is to buy and hold an appropriate mix of asset classes, widely diversified, regularly rebalanced, held over the long term and at the lowest cost possible."

Barclays Stockbrokers has dubbed this approach like that of a heptathlete.