Over the last 100 years, equities have had a superior long-term track record for delivering inflation beating returns. However, in the short term equity markets can be volatile, reacting to everything from the outlook for the economy to negative news flow impacting on investor sentiment and confidence. Short-term speculation is dangerous because it is all too easy to get your timing wrong. Instead, a measured long-term view on investment, guided by specialist advice, along with investment products and fund managers you can trust, is the key to a successful future financial strategy.

Despite a broad based and sharp recovery in 2009, global equity markets are still attractively priced relative to other asset classes due to the corrections they have experienced over the last few years. Whilst the long term outlook for equities is positive the outlook for the global economy and markets remains cloudy in the short term. Many professional investors and fund managers, acutely aware of how capricious markets can be, are preparing for uncertain and volatile conditions in the short term.

Drip-feeding money into volatile markets reduces the worry of investing at the wrong time and can benefit the long-term investor. Nervous investors can be reassured and rewarded by regular savings and the use of our Automatic Transfer Facility. This facility is for investors, perhaps those concerned about market timing, wanting to move money into or out of the market over a period of time.

It is always worth remembering that in a medium to long-term strategy, the only prices that matter are the ones you buy at and sell at. Difficult though it is, try to ignore what is going on in between. The old maxim 'time in the market, not timing the market' has never been more apt than during the recent turmoil in the financial markets.