Investor Snapshot - Kyle Caldwell, Funds and Investment Education Editor - interactive investor

What was your first experience of investing? 

When I was a personal finance reporter at The Telegraph, I always tried to follow the mantra of “put your money where your mouth is” to better relate to our readers, many of whom were DIY investors. I started out with a small number of funds and investment trusts in my stocks and shares ISA, mainly investing in global and Asia-Pacific strategies. 

Prior to setting up an ISA, I switched out of the default pension fund in my workplace pension. It was a balanced managed fund, with around 60% in shares and 40% in bonds. I felt this was too cautious for the decades-long investment period I had ahead of me, so I switched into a fund that invests solely in shares. 

Has there been a person or resource you have found most helpful in your investment journey?

I’m in the fortunate position of being at the coalface. I’ve interviewed hundreds of fund managers and learnt a huge amount about different investment areas. 
I’ve also met lots of fund analysts and professional investors who manage portfolios that invest in funds, which has deepened my understanding of the key attributes DIY investors need to consider when researching funds and investment trusts. 

Have you had any investments that have performed extremely well or extremely poorly? If yes, what 

In investing, there are no guarantees, but investment success for me is about aiming to, at the very least, enjoy returns above inflation. The odds of success can be tilted in your favour by having a long-term approach and holding your nerve when stock markets have bad patches, which are inevitable from time to time. 

I held most of the funds in my stocks and shares ISA for a decade, which involved keeping a cool head during the stock market turmoil of the Covid-19 period. Around two years ago, I cashed in my stocks and shares ISA, with my overall returns having benefited from my long-term approach and me resisting the urge to regularly tinker with my portfolio. 

I cashed in because I needed the money. I was investing for a specific goal, which wouldn’t have been achieved by leaving the money in cash savings. I recently started investing again, and I’m rebuilding my stocks and shares ISA. 

What has been the riskiest investment you have made, or considered? 

I made the classic mistake when I started investing of buying a fund I didn’t fully understand. It had the ability to ‘short’ - make money from a falling share price. The fund had a strong period of performance but then fell like a stone. I didn’t appreciate the risk level of the fund and found the investment strategy too complex to get my head around. The lesson I learnt was to stick to approaches that I understand. 

What’s next for your investing journey?

I’m now investing on an even longer-term view of around 25 years. I would like to have the option of an early(ish) retirement and would like my stocks and shares ISA to supplement my pension investments. 

What would you tell your 20-something self about investing? 

Start investing as early as possible to benefit from the wonders of compound interest, in which investment returns themselves generate future gains. 

Thank you Kyle!

This interview is for information only and it is not investment advice. It is for use in the United Kingdom only. Investments and/or investment services may not be suitable for all investors. Capital is at risk and past performance is not an indicator of future performance.