ShareSave, BAYE and beyond – What’s next for your financial future?

If you’ve been taking part in ShareSave or BAYE – well done. You’ve already taken a positive step towards building your financial future. These schemes are a smart way to start investing, but they can also be a launchpad for thinking about what comes next.

Now’s a great time to pause, take stock, and explore how you can keep your money working for you.

Thinking about your next move

When your ShareSave matures or your BAYE shares reach the end of their holding period, you’ve got choices. Do you keep the shares? Sell some or all of them? Or put the money somewhere else entirely?

A good starting point is to ask yourself:

• What do I want my shares to do for me? Am I aiming for long-term growth, or would selling now help me achieve another goal?
• How comfortable am I with risk? Shares can rise and fall in value. Some people are happy to ride out the ups and downs. Others prefer something steadier.
• How much should I keep in cash? A financial cushion can help cover unexpected expenses without dipping into investments.

The important thing is you don’t need to decide everything straight away. Taking your time often leads to better decisions.

Understanding risk and reward

At the heart of investing is the balance between risk and reward. The more adventurous you are, the greater the potential rewards – but also the potential setbacks.

Risk is the chance that your investment may not perform as expected. Reward is the potential for growth and profit if things go well. Successful investing usually means finding the right balance – growing your money steadily without taking on more risk than you’re comfortable with.

And don’t forget inflation. If your money grows too slowly, rising prices can quietly eat away at its value over time. That’s why keeping all your savings in cash can sometimes feel safe but may not keep pace with your long-term goals.

Building a balanced portfolio

It’s tempting to keep a lot of your money in one place – especially in a company you know and believe in. But just as you wouldn’t store all your valuables in the same place, it’s wise not to put all your investment eggs in one basket.

Financial experts often suggest not having more than 10–15% of your total investments in a single company’s shares, even your employer’s. That way, if one investment struggles, others can help keep your overall finances on track.

Different types of investments (often called asset classes) come with different levels of risk and reward:

• Cash: stable and easily accessible, but usually the lowest returns.
• Bonds: loans to companies or governments. Moderate risk, often steady returns.
• Shares: ownership in a company. Higher risk, but potential for bigger rewards.

The key is diversification – mixing different types of investments so you’re not relying on one alone.

Exploring other options

Not all investments need to be in the stock market. Other options can give your portfolio more stability, while still helping it grow:

• Cash ISAs – earn interest tax-free, with easy access to your money.
• Fixed-term savings accounts – lock money away for a higher rate.
• Government bonds (gilts) – low risk, steady returns.
• Premium Bonds – no interest, but a monthly prize draw.
• Diversified investment funds – bundles of shares and bonds that spread risk automatically.

The right mix for you depends on your goals, your timeline, and how comfortable you are with risk.

Learn from trusted sources

There’s plenty of financial advice online. Good places to start include:

• MoneyHelper – free, practical guidance from the Money and Pensions Service.
• Money and Pensions Service – clear, impartial information about money and pensions.
• Gov.uk – official information on ISAs, pensions and government-backed savings.

For personalised advice, an independent financial adviser can help build a plan around your own circumstances.

Don’t forget what you already have

You may already have tools at your fingertips to keep investing:

• Workplace pension – extra contributions can give you a tax-efficient boost.
• Lifetime ISA – for under-40s, designed for your first home or retirement, with a government bonus.
• ShareSave and BAYE – keep making the most of them. If you’re not in BAYE yet, you can join at any time. And when the next ShareSave comes around, it’s worth taking another look.

It’s also a good idea to check your pension is on track. You can do this via the NatWest Group Benefits Hub on the intranet.

Final thoughts

Think of ShareSave and BAYE as the first chapter of your investing story. By balancing safe and growth-focused options, diversifying across different asset classes, and being mindful of both risk and inflation, you can build a stronger financial future.

Look out for upcoming sessions from Wealth at Work in early 2025, where they’ll cover what to do with shares you’ve built up through share plans. And don’t forget, NatWest’s Financial Wellbeing Hub is always there to help you make confident, informed decisions.

The best investment decisions are the ones you make with confidence.