In general, the greater the degree of risk in investment,
the higher the return. Shares, for example, which can quickly
rise or fall in value, typically have a higher yield than bonds,
which offer good security but only pay about 5%. Therefore
all investors must decide how much risk is appropriate in their
particular situation. Diversification must also be considered
in an investment strategy. Wise investors usually seek to
spread their investments across a variety of geographical
and business sectors. As accurate predictions of the future
are almost impossible, it is best to have as many options
as possible. A further consideration is investor involvement.
Some investors opt for a high degree of involvement and want
to buy and sell regularly, constantly watching the markets.
Others want to invest and then forget about it. Personal
involvement can be time-consuming and worrying, and
many prefer to leave the management of their portfolios to
professional fund managers.