WHAT BALANCE of risk and return am I looking for? With longer-term and higher-risk products, you can expect higher potential returns, but these are not guaranteed, and you could lose some or all of your money. You need to consider carefully the effect of this on your financial situation.

• How does it complement my existing investment portfolio?

• What is the minimum investment amount and can I add to my investment without having to take out a new product and pay full charges again?

• What are the charges? How much would my investment have to grow each year to cover charges? Funds with high charges may or may not perform better than similar funds with lower charges.

• What is the minimum recommended term of the investment? If it's a long-term investment, can I afford to tie up my money for that long?

• Will I have to pay additional charges if I withdraw my money early? How much of my original investment is secure, if any?

• If the product includes guarantees, what exactly do they cover, and what conditions are attached? How much tax will I have to pay on my investment return?

• What happens to my investment if I die? Could I get a more attractive and definite return elsewhere for the same lump-sum and term?

• How can I find out how my investment is performing?

Information provided by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (www.itsyourmoney.ie)