Consumer Discretionary is the second best sector to invest in, new study reveals

• The IT sector is the best sector to invest in with an average return of investment of 18.1%
• The consumer discretionary sector comes in second with 15.3%
• The worst sector to invest in is communication services with 8.4% average return

IT is the best sector to invest in based on average returns, a new study reveals.
The study, conducted by InvestinGoal.com, analysed the consistency, reliability, and average returns of all sectors that the companies within the S&P 500 index are divided into to identify the most lucrative investment opportunities.
The IT sector comes in first place with an average return from 2010 to 2022 of 18.1%, the highest of the list. This sector comprises the category of stocks relating to the research, development, or distribution of technologically based goods and services.
Moreover, the minimum return in the last decade was -28.2% in 2013, while the maximum was 50.3% in 2019. The best-performing stocks of the year within the IT category were Advanced Micro Devices, Lam Research and KLA with a growth of 153%, 117% and 100% respectively.
In second comes the consumer discretionary sector with an average return of 15.3%. The minimum return from 2010 to 2022 was -37% in 2022, while the maximum was 43.1% in 2013. This sector includes businesses that sell non-essential products and services that consumers may avoid without any major consequences to their well-being.
The healthcare sector is third with an average return of 13.4%. It includes businesses engaged in providing medical services, producing medical devices or medications, offering medical insurance, or aiding in the overall delivery of healthcare to individuals.
Some examples that have been growing in the past years are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Johnson & Johnson.
Further down on the list, the industrials sector comes fourth with 13.2% average returns. This sector comprises companies whose primary focus lies in producing capital goods utilized in manufacturing, resource extraction, and construction activities.
The top five close with the financial sector, which includes firms and institutions that provide financial services to commercial and retail customers, with an average return of 12.3%. This sector comprises a broad range of industries including banks, investment companies, insurance companies, and real estate firms.
On the other side of the list, the communication services sector is the worst to invest in based solely on average returns from 2010 to 2022, which has been 8.4%.
The energy sector is second to last on the list with a return of only 10.2% and, at the same time, a maximum return of 65.7% for 2022, the highest on the list. While the first figure might not come as a surprise given the cost-of-living crisis that the world has been facing in the past few years, at the same time it’s astonishing to see how the maximum return has been so high in 2022.
Filippo Ucchino, CEO of InvestinGoal.com commented on the findings: “Based on this data, investing in the IT sector has proven to be highly rewarding, with strong average returns in the long run. This dynamic sector thrives on innovation and technological advancements, such as software development, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, offering tremendous growth opportunities for investors.”
“The enhancement of artificial intelligence in particular poses a starting point for a new era of development in the stock market. In fact, AI-driven systems can analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and make predictive models, ultimately influencing market trends and investment strategies.”
 https://investingoal.com/
 

Amanda Moss, public relations expert

How do you structure your sales letter to keep your readers engaged and motivated?  

A sales letter is a powerful tool to persuade your prospects to buy your product or service. 

Grab attention
Your headline should capture the attention of your target audience and make them curious to read more. It should also communicate the main benefit or promise of your offer. Use clear, specific, and compelling language to hook your readers and entice them to continue.
 Add your perspective

• Articulate the pain or problem you’re solving. For example, we’re offering a session to prepare women business owners on how to pitch to corporations to get their foot in the door at conferences. Our headline is “How to pitch to corporates effectively at conference.” Then in the letter, we start with how every ineffective elevator pitch is a missed opportunity to address how important it is to be prepared and have your pitch down.
  
  

Build interest
Your introduction should build on the headline and explain why your offer is relevant and valuable to your readers. It should also establish your credibility and authority on the topic. You can use stories, testimonials, statistics, or facts to support your claims and show your readers that you understand their problems and needs.
Make it personal

• Humans are emotional creatures. Therefore, your introduction should grab their attention through a story or testimonial that connects with your target audience. For example, manufacturing is a technical industry. There is no room for creative writing. So how can we sell a pipe or valve? We tell a story. We tell the story of the quality assurance manager that learned the importance of ISO certifications, went back to school to complete a certification in non-destructive testing technology, and was recently certified as an API Q1 Internal Auditor. The story is not only about selling pipe, fittings, and flanges, but it also tells the story of the quality of work through human connection.
  
  

Create desire
The third element of a sales letter is the body. Your body should create desire for your offer by highlighting its features and benefits. You should also address any objections or concerns that your readers might have and show how your offer solves them. Use bullet points, subheadings, and short paragraphs to make your text easy to read and scan. You can also use emotional triggers, such as urgency, scarcity, or social proof, to increase your readers' desire and motivation.

Offer to solve their problem

• What do they want to become? And what needs to be solved to get them there? Provide the solutions to help them get to the After state by understanding the pains they’re experiencing now. Remember, they won’t give you the love if you don’t understand their pain.
  
  

Create Desire
Give them a reason to want to buy from you, tug at their emotions, pull them in with the promise of what they want .The sales letter should focus on the benefits of your product, not just the features. Explain how your product or service can make the reader’s life easier, save them time or money, or improve their quality of life.
​
Prove value
 Your proof in the sales letter should demonstrate the value and results of your offer by providing evidence and examples. You can use case studies, testimonials, guarantees, or endorsements to show your readers that your offer works and that others have benefited from it. You should also compare your offer to your competitors and show why your offer is superior and unique.

Call to action
Always finalise your letter with your call to action should tell your readers exactly what you want them to do next and how to do it. It should also create a sense of urgency. You can use phrases, such as "click here", "order now", or "claim your spot", to direct your readers to the next step. You should also make your offer irresistible by adding bonuses, discounts, or guarantees and make the contact details very clear.

Jacqueline Daley, business & compliance consultant

Want to start a business but don’t know where to start?

Here are some fundamental elements to consider

Business Plan
This does not have to be a 50-page document, there is something called the Business Model Canvas (BMC) that is a ‘snapshot’. A 1-page business plan template that enables you to see the basic structure of your business idea set out into specific areas that ensure you have a basic knowledge and understanding of what is required for your business to be effective.
Having a business plan is a great starting point and a way of identifying any areas that might need a bit more work before you start.

Finance
Do you need to invest any money into stock, equipment, premises, business cards, etc? Is the business being created to replace employment income or another source of personal finance?
Write yourself a personal budget plan, looking at what you need to live, not live on baked beans and bread, but a realistic figure that incorporates social activities, birthdays and other special occasions, as well as a realistic amount for your bills and other outgoings.
Once you understand your own personal financial situation then look at what the financial position of the business may look like. What would be needed to get started and what ongoing running costs there might be. This will help to develop a pricing strategy, give you an understanding of how much you need to sell and how often, and what opportunities there may be for future growth.
Having a point of reference allows you to see clearly whether the business idea will require an initial injection of cash, and how much, when this ‘capital investment’ is likely to be realised (i.e. when does the money raised by sales equal the amount put in), and the likelihood of the business being able to cover its costs and pay you a wage.
There are options to support the set up of a business, such as the governments Start-up Loans scheme, and some grants, but you should always try to set up a business without leaning on ‘debt finance’, as this puts your business in a position of owing money before you have even started. Look at other options first and do market research to ensure you know the probability of success.
​
Market Research
Know your audience. Who are you trying to sell to, what are you trying to sell them, and how much are they prepared to pay?
These are important questions, as if you have something you think will sell but you don’t know who will buy it or how to reach them to tell them what you have to offer, then you will always struggle to get sales once you have exhausted your initial family and friends network.
Knowing how much your products/services are worth is not about being the cheapest, but about understanding your worth and what value others see in your offering (e.g., convenience, quality, uniqueness, etc.).