09 Oct 7 Investment Tips For Beginners
The road to financial stability starts with creating a budget, paying off high-interest debts, and maintaining an emergency fund. Setting aside money from each monthly paycheck into a savings account will earn interest, but a piece of the financial puzzle is still missing. Real money is made through investments, but its complexity can be intimidating. Follow these 7 tips to invest wisely and safely with your hard-earned money.
Set goals
Do you want to make money in the long-term or do you want a quick return on your investment? For beginners, you should think long-term rather than fast cash. Are you trying to make enough money to fund a specific expense, such as a vacation to Europe, or do you want to make general investments? Volatile industries like the stock market are best for long-term investing, since you may be tempted to immediately cash in or back out depending on the success or failure of your stock.
Do your research
Knowledge is power, especially in the realm of investing. However, complex financial jargon can be confusing and overwhelming to the uninitiated. Consider investing in a few financial literacy books that can provide a detailed analysis on the principles of investing or on stock markets. Check out top-rated business books for a crash course in investing you may not have received in college.
Invest in a financial advisor
Even with enormous resources like Google’s search engine and Amazon’s digital library, you may need additional coaching. Financial advisors aren’t just an unnecessary expense. They can help you differentiate a sound investment from a fad and can give personalized advice. Financial strategists recommend avoiding TV channels for stock market advice, as television commentators provide only short-term information.
Diversify your portfolio
Investment portfolios can include real estate, stocks, mutual funds, and retirement accounts. Each industry is its own beast, which means you’ll need to thoroughly investigate housing markets or stock prices before dipping your toe in the water. For the beginner investor, start by investing in your company’s 401(k) plan and take each investment slowly. Don’t take on too many investments by rushing to diversify your portfolio.
Keep costs low
Even if you only have a small amount of money to work with, small investments can build up into significant payoffs. When you’re new to investing, you should avoid spending large amounts of capital, even if it’s available. Individual stocks, small mutual funds, and exchange traded funds are inexpensive, low-risk investment options.
Choose high or low-risk investments
Once you begin gaining confidence in your investment abilities, it’s time to decide if you are ready for riskier investments. Unfortunately, great rewards rarely come without some amount of risk. In the stock market, risk-sensitive traders are known as bears while more enthusiastic traders are called bulls. Extreme fear over an investment will cause you to react emotionally rather than logically to a potential crisis, so beginners should steer clear of anxiety-inducing investments. Keep in mind that as a young adult, you have more time to recover from an investment gone wrong than someone twice your age.
Consider automation
Certain investments can be made through automatic contributions, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. Low-cost funds are best for automatic deposits. Automated investing is hands-off and can be managed without spending a lot of time. A busy investor can quickly become overwhelmed by trying to keep a close eye on all of his or her investments. Once you gain confidence with your investment strategies, you can take a more active role in expanding your investment portfolio.
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