Try to get a feel for the reputation and strength of the company. Read what is said about them on consumer websites and in the financial press. After all, you could be investing with them for the next 20 years or more, so you want to know what they’re like. You want to feel confident that the company can pay out when your investment matures, and it isn’t using up money today that it should be keeping for the future. Ask about the financial strength of the company you intend to trust with your money, or ask your adviser about the strength of any company they recommend. Please bear in mind that the financial strength of a company can decrease in the future.