10 ways to invest your money in 2018 

Thanks to the demand-supply imbalance that comes with wine, it’s no surprise, then, that it’s been one of the best performing investments for nearly two decades, producing positive returns in every five-year holding period since 1999 and outperforming 98% of investment-grade asset classes over the same period.

And, for those that want to get in on the action, but don’t know their Barolo from their Bordeaux, then the ‘Cellar Plan’ by Berry Bros. & Rudd will help you out. Straightforward and fuss-free, all you have to do is pay as little as £100 per month into your account, let your account manager use his or her wealth of knowledge to help plan purchases, and then let your bottles mature in the company’s temperature- and humidity-controlled bonded warehouses. And, if you want to trade, you should try the Berrys’ Broking Exchange (BBX), an online marketplace that will give you access to a rich and varied treasure trove of mature fine wines that aren’t available anywhere else.

To learn more about Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Cellar Plan, register your interest to attend a special event in their cellars on 28th March by emailing: finewine@bbr.com

Although loved by infants the world over, Lego is far from child’s play, as it was announced just over two years ago that the Danish building blocks have appreciated far better than numerous investments. Since 2000, the average value of a set from the company has gone up, with those in “pristine” condition appreciating by 12 per cent; additionally, when a model is removed from the market, the price is further elevated. With this in mind, old Lego is rising in price faster than gold, and some sets have even been up an astonishing 2,230% since 2007.

In recent years, vintage watches have become a $2bn to $3bn market – and that’s all down to record-smashing auctions driving interest and the boom of watch blogs, forums and social media (mainly Instagram) spreading awareness. Last October, Paul Newman’s stainless steel Rolex Daytona, with the inscription “Drive Carefully, Me” on the case-back, went for an astounding $17.7m at auction, despite a (very) conservative estimate that the timepiece would fetch upwards of $1m. You don’t necessarily have be a cash-rich collector to make it work for you – just watch out for the right names at the right prices, and there’s potential to make a profit.

As a tangible product, it’s easy to see why art is an attractive prospect, given that investors’ desire for “real assets” have been spurred on by the fact that the last financial crisis was caused by investments into products many didn’t understand. Moreover, as a physical product, the prestige of a painting will never change, even if its price does rise and drop every so often.

For those who are lucky enough to find the right piece, the rewards will be fruitful. At the end of last year, Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi (Saviour of the World) was bought for £342m ($450m), the highest price ever paid for a work of art – during the Fifties, the same painting, then believed to be done by a follower of da Vinci and not da Vinci himself, sold at an auction for a mere £45. Finally, art has a very low correlation to the stock market, meaning that paintings can go up in value even when the market crashes, making it a good diversification as part of an overall portfolio.

Gold has traditionally been a go-to asset, with investors clinging to its solidity and rarity – less than 200,000 tonnes of the precious metal have ever been mined. Throughout our history, it’s been the mark of opulence and decadence and for centuries was used as a currency in its own right. In recent times, major economies (including England’s and the US’) have even fixed their currencies to the gold standard because the metal has been considered such a stable store of value. Furthermore, while gold prices can be volatile (in April 2013, gold plunged 13% in two trading days), it can also shine brightly when other investments appear unpromising (in 2002, when U.S. stocks plunged 22%, gold gained 24%, and it was also one of the few assets that ended 2008 in positive territory).

With their striking visuals and strong cultural connotations, classic and luxury cars are one of the most compelling asset classes out there – a notion made even stronger by the fact that they offer a 28 per cent investment return over 12 months. And if that doesn’t convince you, between 2000 and 2017, that specific market has grown by 179 per cent – a figure that outperforms the FTSE 100 by a comfortable margin.

Thanks to its ever-expanding reach, tech seems to be ubiquitous in every sector of the economy. And without them, the market wouldn’t be what it currently is, given that its five most valuable companies (Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook) belong to tech industry. Without it, the S&P 500 would have returned 14.6 per cent in 2017 through late November; instead it returned 19.5 per cent. Evidently, it’s time to accept that tech giants are the blue chips of today, and in order to keep up with the market, you can’t afford to avoid them.

The British pound has had mixed performances since the UK voted to leave the European Union, and although it’s seen a steady recovery in recent months (especially against the dollar), it still continues to stay largely flat against the euro – so, before a Brexit deal is struck and we’re certain of the political and economic forecast, it may be worth investing some of your cash in other currencies.

Moreover, other currencies, such as cryptocurrencies, could produce positive results; notably in 2017, Bitcoin had increased in value from below $1,000 dollars to a peak of just under $20,000. Investors should be warned that this can be a risky area to dive into, however if something like Bitcoin moved into the mainstream and became a recognised medium of exchange, its value would likely increase dramatically; there are already signs this may happen as more than one hundred hedge funds specialising in cryptocurrencies have started.

If anyone is to know about the best financial investment, it’s going to be Warren Buffett, the world’s richest investor. According to the legendary business magnate, you’ll be far better off with low-cost S&P 500 index funds than paying higher fees to managers who often underperform. This idea is made evident by the fact that Buffett recently won $1m from Protége Partners in a bet that hedge funds wouldn’t outperform a S&P index fund.

You can also invest your money into areas that won’t necessarily yield a profit, but will benefit you elsewhere, namely investing in higher education for your progeny. As of last year, university tuition fees in England are the highest in the world, with English students paying 25 times more than their French peers; moreover, in 2017, the outstanding student loans debt in the UK hit just over £100bn. With such costs, education will feel more like a burden than a commodity to many, so if you’re looking to invest somewhere closer to home, then why not help lay the foundations for your offspring’s future?