Take the middle ground

With low interest rates and volatile markets, it is no surprise that products specifically structured to provide a middle ground between direct investment in equities and bank and building society accounts have sprung up and become more widespread. Capital guaranteed products can be a genuine and welcome alternative, especially if they offer a 100% or more as a guaranteed minimum return. Capital protected investments can - and many do - provide genuine value, but this does depend on whether the returns on offer are of value and not compromised by the levels of capital protection. Also, w...