Here’s how I’d invest £1k a month in shares to make a million within 25 years

A plan to invest £1k a month in attractive shares at low price levels could lead to a portfolio valued in excess of £1m over the long run, in my view.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Making a million from a strategy to invest £1k a month in shares may sound somewhat unlikely at the present time. After all, the stock market crash occurred only a handful of months ago. Furthermore, the economic outlook remains precarious. And this could mean investor sentiment weakens in the short run.

However, the stock market’s past performance shows it’s delivered high single-digit annual returns over previous years. Through building a portfolio of the best shares while they trade at cheap prices, it’s possible to build a seven-figure portfolio over the long run.

Invest £1k a month in the best shares at cheap prices

A strategy to invest £1k a month in shares may be capable of generating higher returns than the stock market through focusing on the most attractive businesses. They’re likely to include those companies that have long-term growth potential. For example, they may operate in a sector that’s likely to benefit from growth trends. This could be through the continuing switch to digital operations, or the use of new technology.

Clearly, such companies may face challenging operating conditions in the short run due to a weak economic outlook. However, this could present an opportunity for an investor to buy them at cheap prices. In doing so, they may be able to purchase them at a discount to their intrinsic value. This may enable them to generate impressive total returns. Ones that outperform indexes such as the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 over the coming years.

Investing money in high-quality shares

Of course, not all companies with strong long-term growth prospects will necessarily be around to benefit from them. Therefore, it’s crucial for an investor to ensure they invest £1k a month, or any other amount, in stocks that have solid fundamentals. For example, those companies that have manageable debt levels, a clear and sustainable competitive advantage over their peers, and low valuations relative to their sector rivals.

Furthermore, diversifying across a wide range of attractive shares is likely to be a logical move. Even the very best shares may face unforeseen problems that lead to disappointing returns. Having a range of companies within a portfolio reduces the impact of poor performers.

Making a million from a regular investment in shares

Even if an investor obtains the same return as the stock market, they could generate a £1m portfolio over the long run. For example, the FTSE 250 has produced annual total returns of around 8% over the past 20 years. If an individual decides to invest £1k a month at an 8% return over a period of 25 years, they would accumulate a portfolio valued at around a million.

However, by focusing on the best companies when they trade at low prices, it may be possible to make higher returns. In doing so, a £1m portfolio could be achieved in a shorter timescale.

Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Elevated view over city of London skyline
Investing Articles

£15,000 invested in UK shares a decade ago is now worth…

How have UK shares performed in recent years? That depends which ones you have in mind, as our writer explains.…

Read more »

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

3 FTSE shares with many years of consecutive dividend growth

Paul Summers picks out a selection of FTSE shares that have offered passive income seekers consistency for quite a long…

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Prediction: Diageo shares could soar in the next 5 years if this happens…

Diageo shares have been in the doldrums for some years now. What on earth could waken this FTSE 100 dud…

Read more »

Investing Articles

With a P/E of 5.9 is this a once-in-a-decade opportunity to buy dirt-cheap easyJet shares?

Today marks a fresh low for easyJet shares, which are falling on a disappointing set of first-half results. Harvey Jones…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Think the soaring Tesco share price is too good to be true? Read this…

The Tesco share price keeps climbing. It's up again today, following a positive set of results, but Harvey Jones says…

Read more »

Artillery rocket system aimed to the sky and soldiers at sunset.
Investing Articles

BAE Systems shares are up 274% in 46 months. And I reckon there could be more to come

Our writer’s been learning about the state of Britain’s defence forces. And he thinks it could be good news for…

Read more »

Stack of British pound coins falling on list of share prices
Investing Articles

5 years ago, £5,000 bought 218 Greggs shares. How many would it buy now?

Greggs sells around 150m sausage rolls every year. But have those who bought the baker’s shares in April 2021 made…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

How big does an ISA need to be when aiming for a £500 monthly second income?

What sort of money would someone need to put into dividend shares if they were serious about targeting a £500…

Read more »