What is Buy-and-Hold Investing? A Guide

Jul 24, 2024

Buy and hold is one of the oldest investment strategies, praised by top names on the investment scene including Jack Bogle and Warren Buffet. It’s a great strategy if you’re looking for healthy long-term returns.

But what exactly is buy-and-hold investing? How does it work? That’s what we’ll be exploring in this blog post. Today, we’ll be covering:

  • What buy-and-hold investing involves
  • How buy-and-hold investment works
  • The pros and cons of buy and hold investing
  • Buy and hold investment tips

 

How Does Buy and Hold Investing Work?

Buy and hold is a strategy that involves purchasing high-quality assets with the intention of holding on to them for a long period of time, regardless of any short-term fluctuations. You can hold onto investments for years, or even decades.

The key principle behind this approach is patience. So, instead of trying to time the market or buying and selling frequently (short-term trading), you will focus solely on the long-term growth potential. With a long-term approach and patience, you can weather short-term volatility and benefit from the power of compounding. However, as a buy-and-hold investor, you will need discipline.

It can be tempting to dive in and amend your portfolio when you notice fluctuations, but it’s important to maintain a long-term outlook and believe in the underlying value of your assets.

Whether you invest in stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), real estate, or other asset classes, remain committed throughout market ups and downs.

 

Is Buy and Hold a Good Investment Strategy?

Over time, stocks generally generate higher returns compared to assets (such as bonds). However, there is ongoing debate about whether it’s best to buy and hold, or opt for an active investment strategy instead.

Both have the potential to generate returns, but buy and hold can also offer tax advantages because you can delay paying your capital gains taxes on longer-term investments. Let’s explore some of the pros and cons of buy and hold to determine the best investment strategy for you:

 

Pros of Buy and Hold

 

Straightforward approach - Buy and hold investing is easy to implement, and you don’t need to constantly monitor and manage your portfolio. It’s a great approach if you lead a busy life.

Significant long-term returns - When you hold onto your investment for an extended period, you have the potential to generate significant returns.

Lower transaction costs - Buy and hold doesn’t involve frequent trading, which means you can ultimately reduce transaction costs such as brokerage fees and taxes.

Diversification - As part of a buy-and-hold strategy, you can build a diversified portfolio across various asset classes and reduce the risk associated with any single investment.

 

Cons of Buy and Hold

Potential for losses - Although holding onto your investments can lead to high profits over time, you could also experience losses during market downturns. This means you need to weather temporary declines. You’ll need a strong stomach and a long-term perspective.

Lack of flexibility - Unlike active trading strategies, the buy-and-hold approach could limit your ability to capitalise on short-term market opportunities or adjust your portfolio quickly in response to market changes.

 

An Example of Buy and Hold Investing

Let’s imagine that you want to invest £10,000 in a diversified portfolio of stocks and hold onto those investments for 20 years.

Over that period, the stock market experiences its usual ups and downs, but you hold onto your investment and resist the urge to sell during short-term downturns.

You trust in the long-term growth potential of your investment portfolio. Despite the short-term fluctuations, the broad market trends upward over the two decades.

As a result, your initial £10,000 investment grows significantly. You may also receive dividends and capital gains distributions along the way, adding to your total returns.

So, at the end of the 20 years, your investment has grown significantly. You have a significant nest egg for retirement or your other financial goals!

 

Tips for Buy-and-Hold Investors

If you’re considering buy-and-hold investing, here are some tips to help you maximise your returns and minimise risk:
  1. Focus on high-quality investments - choose assets that have solid growth potential
  2. Stay the course - avoid reacting to short-term fluctuations and don’t sell in a panic; stick to your long-term investment plan instead
  3. Spread your risk across various asset classes, industries and regions to reduce risk
  4. Rebalance your portfolio regularly to ensure your portfolio remains aligned with your goals
  5. Stay informed about market trends and regulatory changes that could affect your investments
  6. Seek the support of a professional such as a financial advisor - especially if you’re a beginner

 

What Asset Classes Can You Apply Buy and Hold To?

Buy and hold is traditionally associated with the stock market. That being said, you can apply this strategy to various asset classes, such as real-estate, bonds, and commodities.

Art investment can follow a buy-and-hold approach. When you purchase artwork as an investment, whether it be blue-chip art or art from up-and-coming artists, you may plan on holding onto it for a long period of time while it steadily increases in value.

Like other traditional investments, the value of art can appreciate over time - especially if the artist grows in popularity, or if the piece of art becomes culturally significant. When you hold onto artwork and avoid selling straight away, you can benefit from its growth in value over the years.

If you’re looking to invest in art, you’re in the right place. We can help you generate up to 12% from investment-grade art per year. After all, there’s a reason why 81% of high-net-worth individuals invest in art! Get started today by downloading our free investment guide.

 

Buy & Hold: Key Takeaways

  • Buy and hold is a time-tested strategy that involves patience and discipline
  • It can be an effective way to grow your wealth over time through the power of compounding and the growth potential of high-quality assets
  • You can invest in art with Grove Gallery and implement the buy-and-hold approach for investment success

 

Buy and Hold FAQs:

Can I lose money with a buy-and-hold strategy? Yes, you can lose money with this strategy - as you can with any investment strategy. However, you can weather market volatility over time.

How can I reduce the risks? The key is to diversify your portfolio and focus on the long-term. Spreading your investments across different markets can reduce damaging your overall portfolio.

How long should I hold my investments for? This can vary depending on the specific investment. With bonds, for example, we recommend a minimum of 2 years. For equities, however, a minimum of 7 years often works best.

Should I rebalance? Yes - rebalance your portfolio regularly to ensure you have the right asset allocation. Make sure your portfolio remains aligned with your risk tolerance and goals.


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