In order to make investments it is necessary to contact a qualified professional who can support and guide us in the choice. 

But even before contacting a financial advisor or a bank, we must ask ourselves some questions, namely:

• What are my investment goals?

• Am I willing to take risks?

• How long am I going to invest?

• What are my return expectations?

Accurately identifying the investment objective is a fundamental step. Think carefully about what motivates you to invest. Do you want a supplementary pension? Do you want to set aside a sum of money for your children's future? Do you want to save money to buy an apartment in the future?

Before investing, it is good to remember that there is no such thing as a "zero risk" investment and, depending on the type of investment, there may be risks. In principle, the higher the expected return, the greater the risks.

Therefore, you should ask yourself first of all how risk tolerant you are and secondly whether and to what extent you are financially able to cope with any loss of money or even the total loss of invested capital.

Another aspect to take into consideration is the investment period: the longer the money is tied up, the greater the return from which one will be able to benefit. But you need to be careful: if you then want or are forced to withdraw the money before the set deadline, you can face penalties or even lose part of the interest.

Advice before making an investment

Before signing any investment contract it is necessary to fully understand all aspects, risks and clauses. Therefore, you must carefully read the entire contract, including the clauses written in small print, calmly analyze all the pros and cons, ask the financial advisor to clarify any doubts and don't be afraid to ask questions. Of course, before entering into an investment contract, you need to keep in mind the three main elements of an investment:

what is the return; how risky the investment product is; how long the investment period lasts and what are the methods and consequences of the termination of the contract.

Do not forget to:

• Think calmly and have any doubts cleared up by the financial advisor

• Compare the conditions of the various financial products to identify the one that best suits your needs

• Analyze in detail the terms and conditions of the chosen product

• Check what is the necessary commitment in terms of savings and if this commitment is compatible with your investment objectives

• Pay attention to the conditions of release and early closure