HSBC’s Head of Investments and Wealth Solutions for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, Basit Saiyed, has a clear message for potential investors: start now.
In a recent episode of Arabian Business’ AB Majlis podcast, Saiyed shared his insights on navigating the complex world of investing, emphasising that it’s never too early to begin.
“Some investments can indeed be complex, but the rules of investing are simple,” Saiyed said.
He outlined these rules as starting early, investing regularly, and putting in what you can afford.
“Invest into a diversified vehicle, and ultimately, just know what your goals are and how much time you have to meet them,” he added. This advice comes at a time when traditional savings accounts are falling short, prompting more people to turn to investments for better financial gains.
For those intimidated by the notion of investing or concerned about lacking sufficient funds, Saiyed offered reassurance.
“In today’s time, we really don’t need a lot of money to get started. You can start with a couple of $100 get into regular investing, find a diversified vehicle to invest in, and that’s absolutely possible,” he stated.
Saiyed highlighted HSBC’s World Trader app as a convenient tool for both novice and experienced investors, allowing users to start their investing journey with as little as $100 or $200 a month.
The HSBC World Trader app, as described by Saiyed, provides access to funds, stocks, ETFs, and fixed-income instruments across up to 25 markets and 77 exchanges worldwide.
“Overall, you get access to news, insights, trends, ratings, and the browser version also has access to a Bloomberg channel, which allows you to, of course, keep yourself up to date with what’s going on in the market.”
Current economic climate for investments
Addressing the challenges faced by investors in today’s economic climate, Saiyed pointed out the double-edged sword of information overload.
“A common challenge that investors do face is cutting the clutter. With the level of information and news available in the market, it’s quite easy to set unrealistic expectations or cause unnecessary panic,” he explained. To combat this, he stressed the importance of accessing authentic news, data, and analysis from trusted sources.
When discussing practical advice for young investors, Saiyed emphasised the importance of starting early and investing regularly. He provided a compelling example: “If you invested $1,000 a month between 2004 and 2021, you’d be looking at 160 percent in returns. So accumulated $216,000 investment… would get that pot to 563,000 over that period of time.”
This growth occurred despite major economic crises like the 2007-2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gen Z investors
Saiyed also touched on the changing landscape of digital investing, particularly for younger generations like Gen Z. He noted the increased speed at which young people consume information and their desire for accessibility from trusted sources. “They want to be able to get the right information from a trusted source with convenience, and that’s how they want to make their decisions,” he explained.
In his closing remarks, Saiyed reiterated his core message: “Start early in your investing journey. If you have let a few years go by and you never got into it, I would still say it’s not too late. Start today and don’t delay.”
Tune into AB Majlis every Monday
To listen to the full episode and gain a comprehensive understanding of doing business in the Gulf region, visit our RSS feed or check out AB Majlis on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms.
Episodes are also available on:
Tune in every Monday for weekly episodes that will help you stay ahead of the curve and enrich your understanding of the Gulf region.
Subscribe to Arabian Business for more exclusive content.
Follow us on
