As 2025 begins, investors are facing growing concerns about an "AI bubble" – or a hypothetical period of excessive growth in technology stocks. The Bank of England and Alphabet's CEO have expressed worries about the unsustainable valuations of these companies.
If you're not directly invested in tech stocks, it's likely that you have some exposure through your pension or investments. A crash could lead to a broader market downturn, affecting many companies beyond just those with ties to AI.
Experts agree that predicting when an "AI bubble" will burst is difficult, if not impossible. Daniel Casali, chief investment strategist at Evelyn Partners, notes that it's hard to predict peaks and troughs in the stock market, but warns against making decisions based solely on fears of a bubble bursting.
If there is a collapse, Casali says investors should expect contagion – meaning the sell-off will spread beyond tech stocks. Banks, jobs, and even confidence are all at risk.
In terms of protecting your finances, experts recommend diversifying your investments, rather than focusing on a single area like AI. This can include sectors like insurance, utilities, food producers, household goods, and telecoms – which often pay dividends and have more predictable earnings.
Investors with younger pensions or those looking to cash in gains should consider taking a long-term approach. Even experts acknowledge that timing the market is difficult, if not impossible.
A crash could impact your retirement savings, but having an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses can help cushion losses. Experts also recommend holding onto investments like gold and short-term government bonds – which tend to perform well in periods of economic uncertainty.
In terms of specific investments, consider funds that offer access to these assets. For example, the Trojan Fund allows you to invest in household names with a lower exposure to tech stocks, while the Royal London Short-Term Money Market Fund provides access to short-term government bonds.
Ultimately, experts stress that there's no one-size-fits-all solution – but by taking a long-term approach and diversifying your investments, investors can better protect themselves from the potential risks of an "AI bubble" crashing.
If you're not directly invested in tech stocks, it's likely that you have some exposure through your pension or investments. A crash could lead to a broader market downturn, affecting many companies beyond just those with ties to AI.
Experts agree that predicting when an "AI bubble" will burst is difficult, if not impossible. Daniel Casali, chief investment strategist at Evelyn Partners, notes that it's hard to predict peaks and troughs in the stock market, but warns against making decisions based solely on fears of a bubble bursting.
If there is a collapse, Casali says investors should expect contagion – meaning the sell-off will spread beyond tech stocks. Banks, jobs, and even confidence are all at risk.
In terms of protecting your finances, experts recommend diversifying your investments, rather than focusing on a single area like AI. This can include sectors like insurance, utilities, food producers, household goods, and telecoms – which often pay dividends and have more predictable earnings.
Investors with younger pensions or those looking to cash in gains should consider taking a long-term approach. Even experts acknowledge that timing the market is difficult, if not impossible.
A crash could impact your retirement savings, but having an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses can help cushion losses. Experts also recommend holding onto investments like gold and short-term government bonds – which tend to perform well in periods of economic uncertainty.
In terms of specific investments, consider funds that offer access to these assets. For example, the Trojan Fund allows you to invest in household names with a lower exposure to tech stocks, while the Royal London Short-Term Money Market Fund provides access to short-term government bonds.
Ultimately, experts stress that there's no one-size-fits-all solution – but by taking a long-term approach and diversifying your investments, investors can better protect themselves from the potential risks of an "AI bubble" crashing.