Getting the best out of shares 

Ever heard someone boast about 'playing the share market'? It sounds dangerous and implies that investing in shares means you either make a fortune or lose everything. Certainly, there are speculative shares and investing in them is similar to gambling. But they are just a small part of the market. There are also many blue chip companies that have paid increasing dividends for years.

A major benefit of shares is that you can invest in small parcels - you don't need to outlay $100,000 or more as you do with property - and you can sell in small chunks as well. Another important benefit is that many shares pay franked dividends which are tax-free for most investors. How well have shares performed? Well, if you had decided 20 years ago to invest $100,000 in a managed fund that matched the All Industrials Accumulation Index, you would now have over $3 million.

Of course most investors feel that picking the right shares is beyond them. That's why managed funds such as share trusts have become so popular. They enable people to pool their money and invest it under the guidance of an experienced fund manager who makes all the decisions for them. One of our senior financial advisers would be happy to discuss this with you - just telephone your nearest Whittaker Macnaught office to arrange a meeting.