Investing QuickStart Guide

investing quickstart guide

A robust investment strategy forms the foundation of any wealth-building journey, and stock market investing is essential if you want to keep your money working for you. Luckily, it has never been easier to get started investing in stocks than it is today.

The Investing QuickStart Guide brings the key insights of Warren Buffet, Peter Lynch, Burton Malkiel, and James Altucher together in a seminal resource that’s as easy to read as it is comprehensive. Written by a CFP(r) practitioner who brings 30 years of finance experience to the table, it is a beginner-friendly book that is full of simple, step-by-step instruction and practical tips to help you succeed in your investing endeavors.

1. Choose Your Type of Account

There are many different types of accounts available for people who want to start investing in the stock market. These can range from a simple, low-cost savings account to a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account (IRA). If you are just starting out, you may want to stick with a standard brokerage account; this will allow you to buy stocks and other investments and to fund your account with a small amount of money, usually $5 or $10.

2. Select Your Portfolio

A good investment strategy will include a combination of stock, bond, and other asset classes, and each should be diversified. You’ll need to know how much of each you want to allocate to the stock market, as well as your risk tolerance. You also need to be mindful of your age and other factors that might impact how aggressively you should go about putting your money to work.

3. Set Your Goals

Before you begin to shop for your new investments, think about your long-term financial goals and what you’re hoping to achieve from them. You can then use these as a guide to decide how aggressively you should be investing in the stock market, including how much you want to invest and when you plan to do it.

4. Determine Your Deposit Size

After you’ve determined your financial goals and risk tolerance, it’s time to figure out how much money you’ll need to fund your new account. This can be done by using an online calculator or with the help of a friend, family member, financial advisor, or an app that will take you through a series of questions to help you figure out how much you should put into your new investment account.

5. Pick Your Stocks

If you’re looking for a specific company to invest in, you might consider buying its shares. This is a less risky and more straightforward way to begin investing in the stock market, but it will require a substantial amount of research before you can make an educated decision.

6. Spread Your Assets Over Time

Finally, it’s a good idea to review your investment portfolio a few times each year to make sure it still meets your goals. This is especially important for people who have a longer-term goal, such as retirement.