‘How investing helped me take control of my future’
Meet three people who share how investing changed their view on money, and how it helped them on their financial journey
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Elizabeth Anderson Show biography
Elizabeth Anderson is a business reporter at The Telegraph, with a particular focus on enterprise and start-ups. Prior to joining The Telegraph, she was a section editor at Management Today magazine. She also has extensive experience in broadcast journalism, having worked as a freelance business TV and radio producer for the BBC.
Published 28 October 2026 3:25pm GMT
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It’s never too early to start planning for the future Credit: Getty
Elizabeth Anderson Show biography
Elizabeth Anderson is a business reporter at The Telegraph, with a particular focus on enterprise and start-ups. Prior to joining The Telegraph, she was a section editor at Management Today magazine. She also has extensive experience in broadcast journalism, having worked as a freelance business TV and radio producer for the BBC.
Published 28 October 2026 3:25pm GMT
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More and more of us are starting to be aware of the need to make our money work harder, but knowing where to start is a stumbling block for many.
Investing your money gives it the potential to grow over time. Over longer periods of time (five years or more), investments such as stocks, shares and funds have the potential to give you higher returns compared to cash savings.
You still need to ensure you have safety net savings before you invest. Investing can be one way to start planning for your future. You need to be mindful that the value of investments can fall as well as rise. In certain circumstances there is a chance you could get back less than you put in.
NatWest offers three ways to invest your money* depending on your knowledge of investments.
- If you already feel confident making your own decisions, you can use their self-select service.
- If you need a guiding hand, you can access a qualified investment adviser for £200, and if you decide not to invest it won’t cost you a penny.
- If your finances are more complex and you have at least £250,000 of investable assets, NatWest offer a tailored financial planning service for which fees apply.
Eligibility criteria, fees and charges apply.
Small steps can make planning feel more manageable Credit: Getty
Below, we speak to three people on why they invest and how it’s changed their relationship with money.
Alex Finch
’I’m investing to be financially independent’ – Alex Finch, 28, management consultant in Hertfordshire
Alex Finch started investing aged 23 after reading a personal finance book on holiday. He learned that investing in the stock market had the potential to bring greater returns over the long term than saving money into cash accounts.
His initial goal was to build enough for a deposit to buy a home, so he continued saving into cash initially. Once he’d got his deposit together, he began investing in the stock market through a stocks and shares Isa.
Alex says his Isa balance is currently around £77,000, built up through regular contributions over time (often up to the annual Isa allowance, currently £20,000).
He also invests through his workplace pension, paying 6 per cent of his annual salary, which his employer matches to take the annual total to 12 per cent. He invests in globally diversified funds, rather than picking individual stocks.
Alex’s aim is to achieve financial independence by the age of 45. This would give him the freedom of choice on whether to reduce his hours, continue working, or perhaps retrain.
“Everyone has a different take on financial independence. For me, it’s about the future security it could give me, and investing can hopefully help me get there quicker,” he says. “I dedicate a significant amount towards my investments, but I still spend money on holidays and experiences to enjoy life now. It’s important to have a balance.”
Thinking about the future often starts with understanding your options Credit: Getty
“Investing for the long-term could help your reach your goals,” says Patrick Morse, NatWest Premier’s head of upper affluent. “By taking full advantage of the tax efficiencies that come with a stocks and shares Isa, Alex is putting himself in a strong position to meet his targets by planning for the future. Regular savings offer peace of mind, complemented with investing, which opens up greater opportunities for growth.”
Beatrice Ngalula Kabutakapua
‘Investing wasn’t as complex as I’d assumed’ – Beatrice Ngalula Kabutakapua, 40, a business owner and coach from London
Beatrice Ngalula Kabutakapua invests through her own stocks and shares Isa, and has junior stocks and shares Isas for her two children, aged 10 and seven.
She started investing back in 2018 after attending a financial health workshop for black women in business, where a speaker explained that investing doesn’t have to be complicated.
“Once I had the knowledge, I decided to act straight away, and I found investing wasn’t as complex as I’d assumed,” she says. “The difficulty was getting started in the first place. I set up a direct debit so the money goes out of my account automatically each month and I don’t have to think about it.”
She is investing to build a safety net for the future. Beatrice runs her own business and says she values knowing she is putting money aside for the future, particularly if her plans or income change.
She uses her Isa to fund any personal development and recently used some of the money accumulated in her Isa to attend a conference in Puerto Rico, but the focus is on the long term. For her children, she’s investing with the aim of giving them options at 18, whether that’s travelling or getting a head start financially as they enter adulthood.
A balanced approach looks different for everyone Credit: Getty
Beatrice’s story helps to dispel a common misconception about investing. “A lot of people believe that there’s a barrier to investing, or that it’s not something that is accessible, but that’s not the case,” says Morse. “With a NatWest stocks and shares Isa, all you need to do is pick which of our five ready-made funds suits you. If you feel you need to learn more about investing, then you can speak to one of our qualified advisers with Online Investment Advice – and if you choose not to invest you don’t have to pay the £200 fee for the service.”
Sylvie Frankel
‘I have more control and confidence’ – Sylvie Frankel, 41, a financial strategist from Derbyshire
Sylvie Frankel invests to feel more in control of her future. Her dad first got her involved as a teenager with investing in the stock market, but she began investing independently in her mid‑twenties.
Sylvie invests through a stocks and shares Isa and workplace pension, and also invests in Isas and junior Isas for her children, aged 19, 16, three and one.
“Working in finance has made me very aware that ordinary savings accounts often don’t even keep up with the rates of inflation. So, if you just leave your money in cash, what you can buy with it lessens over time,” she says. “For me, investing can be the most effective way to prepare for retirement and to afford big life goals such as buying a house.”
Sylvie says investing has given her a sense of control and confidence. Having invested for 15 years, she has seen many periods of stock market turbulence, and believes the important thing to remember is to stay focused on the long term.
“I avoid putting all my eggs in one basket by diversifying my investments through funds. This can help to reduce the risk of any losses and I invest for the long term. Investing seems more approachable now but you could always seek professional advice, which may cost a fee, if you’re not comfortable with it,” she says.
Sylvie’s background in finance has given her the opportunity to appreciate the finer details of investing. “When you’re planning for the future, every penny counts,” says Morse. “Stocks and shares Isas are more tax-efficient options for investors and combined with NatWest’s fees of just 0.55 per cent of your investments, this means Sylvie could keep more of any money an investment makes.”
Tax reliefs referred to throughout this article are those applied under current legislation, which may change. The availability and the value of any tax relief will depend on your individual circumstances.
Learn more about how to invest with NatWest at natwest.com/investments
This article was produced in partnership with NatWest. The views and experiences shared by the individuals featured are their own and do not constitute financial advice. NatWest does not endorse or guarantee any particular investment outcome.
NatWest is a trading name of National Westminster Bank Plc. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Financial Services Register Number 121878
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