All of us, no matter where we are in the world, we all hope that in 2022 our lives in general and the economy, in particular, will return to normal. This also gives hope to investors that the different industries will bring new opportunities and big profits. But when? One thing is sure – it is certainly worth considering all options to increase income or maintain the stability of the personal or family budget.
Why invest your money instead of just saving it in a bank or under a mattress? The purpose of investing is to increase the sum you have chosen to invest in a particular venture. Profits are usually generated for a longer time (months or years). The risk that it brings must also be taken into consideration – it can lead to losses if the funds are not invested in the right activities or are not managed wisely.
In what you can invest in? The correct answer is more than one: buying shares of large companies, real estate, starting your own business, creating online platforms and much more. The decision depends entirely on the interests and knowledge of each person, as well as the amount of money he/she is willing to invest.
What do you need to know when talking about investment in 2022? Here are 4 of the most important investment trends for this year, which will be useful to anyone who has decided to invest their savings in a new venture.
1. The impact of the pandemic
One of the key topics in 2022 will probably be the speed with which the world can recover from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Will this be the year we return to mass public events and regular international travel? When that happens, it’s a good idea to invest in tourism and entertainment businesses.
The economic recovery after the spreading of the pandemic around the world will be a tough process. At first, people did not even believe that such inflation (because of the rising prices of basic household goods) would occur, but unfortunately, this is already happening in most countries.
According to Bloomberg, global foreign-direct investments in 2021 had increased by 77% compared to the results before the pandemic. When it comes to investment, four main factors related to rising inflation must be taken into account, which can have a negative impact: population decline, economic deglobalization, declining productivity and rising government debt.
2. Sustainable investing
The interest in sustainable investing has increased significantly in the last few years. It is related to putting money in renewable energy, in funds focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) and in green finance. The pandemic seems to be increasing interest in this type of investment, and many companies have begun to buy in ESG stocks. Increased attention to sustainable investment is mainly due to climate change.
Sustainable investing is not a single approach but includes several methods that can be used to get a good return and at the same time help people and the planet. Whether it is large companies or medium investors, sustainable investment is an appropriate investment option in 2022, which is becoming more widespread among smaller investors and provides good profit opportunities.
3. Development in the world of technology
The evolution of technology has attracted the interest of both consumers and investors for a long time and continues to attract it as innovation moves forward at a remarkable rate. In recent decades, technological inventions have changed people’s lives. Industries such as finance, real estate, transport and healthcare are being transformed to new advances in technology.
An example of such a change is the invention of artificial intelligence (AI), which is used in almost every major industry in the world. With such a speed of development, technology is an excellent investment idea for large and small investors. According to experts, in 2022, investment in technology should focus on the following trends: artificial intelligence, metauniverses, fintech, electrical devices and batteries, cloud computing and quantum computing.
4. Real estate investments
Buying real estate and renting it out later is also something that can be invested in. This method, which carries a lower risk of loss, is preferred by many people who want to play it safe. Renting homes is a good investment for long-term investors who want to manage their property and provide regular cash flow.
Buying real estate can be an investment that will diversify investments and provide stability and a steady income. The sum that is initially invested in the purchase of the property usually increases over time. In this way, the property itself can also bring a profit on sale over time, even without being rented out. A survey shows that 38% of respondents expect a high return on their real estate investment in 2022.
The advantages of iCard, if you invest
iCard digital wallet will be your perfect assistant if you decide to invest your savings this year. With a single mobile app, you can open up to 18 free accounts with IBAN in 6 different currencies (3 accounts in each currency). You can top-up each account with the sum of your choice and use different accounts to invest in different endeavours.
If you do not want to use money from your main account, which contains all your finances, open a new free account and fund it with the necessary amount in seconds. Keep in mind that when investing, it is more than good to be cautious and always have money set aside. So even if you lose the money you invested, you will never be left without anything.
When opening an account in iCard, you will have the opportunity to have up to 25 debit cards associated with your accounts – 5 physical and 20 virtual cards (including those you have already closed). Three of them are completely free (the physical iCard Visa and the two virtual cards Visa and Mastercard), and if you need to use more, you need to pay a minimum issuance fee. Each of the cards can be linked to an account of your choice. In addition, you have full control over its operations: it can be frozen/unfrozen at any time, you can check its PIN if you forget it, change spending limits and keep track of transactions with it.
If you need to transfer money from one of your accounts to another, you can do it instantly and free. You can also send funds to all other iCard customers for free. Internal money transfers in the digital wallet are made immediately and from anywhere in the world.
Another useful feature in the digital wallet for all investors is the encrypted chat in iCard Messenger. Any message you send or receive is hidden and is not stored on our servers. You can be sure that no one but the recipient will see your messages.
Do not hesitate and take advantage of the services of iCard, which will help you invest your savings.