Are lower interest rates good for investment?

Are lower interest rates really good for investment? Honestly, it’s complicated, isn’t it? I mean, on the one hand, lower rates can feel like a gift – remember that time I finally refinanced my mortgage and shaved a whole percentage point off my payments? Felt amazing! That extra money each month? Suddenly, I could think about investing more, you know?

Lower rates do make stocks seem more appealing than, say, bonds. Bonds, with their lower payouts, feel a bit…blah when you could be potentially making more on the stock market. Plus, companies are usually happier with lower borrowing costs – they can expand, hire more people, maybe even give out bigger bonuses. More profitable companies? Usually means higher stock prices, right? That’s the theory anyway, and I’ve seen it happen with some of my own investments. Like that tech company I bought shares in last year – their growth has been pretty impressive since interest rates dropped.

But… there’s always a but, isn’t there? Lower rates also mean less return on your savings accounts and bonds. I’ve got a decent chunk of money in a savings account, and the interest is pathetic. Barely covers inflation! So it feels like a bit of a gamble, doesn’t it? Putting your money in somewhere with potentially higher growth, but also higher risk.

So, are lower interest rates good for me? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on my risk tolerance and what I’m hoping to achieve, long-term. It’s definitely something I spend a lot of time thinking about, and probably something you should ponder too. It’s not a simple yes or no answer, unfortunately!