There are two main types of risks you need to consider when investing. The first is investment risk. This is the risk that your investment could fall in value. This risk is impossible to eliminate entirely, but it can be reduced by diversifying your portfolio and investing for the long term. The other risk is platform risk. This is the risk that the platform you are using goes bankrupt and ceases to trade. You can reduce this risk by choosing a reputable investment account provider that is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), and uses a separate custodian for customers’ assets.