The Covid-19 pandemic brought about a new wave of first-time investors. Forced to stay home, many people began investing for the first time thanks to commission-free and easy-to-use investment apps such as Robinhood. That new group has been coined the investor generation. If you are new to investing, here are some tips to help you avoid the mistakes that often fall on inexperienced and first-time investors.
It is easy to get glued to the business channels or daily stock market reports. This is counterproductive, however, and often a waste of precious time. Checking your investments every quarter or two times a year is more than enough and will save you plenty of time. Investing is a long-term game, and you need to be focused on the long-term and not the short-term trends.
Following the crowd is usually not a good idea and could land you in trouble. It is no different in the investment world. Following the crowd without doing your due diligence on investment can land you into major financial trouble. Don’t invest just because something is considered hot or popular right now. Look into it further before you put your hard-earned money into it.
Be careful of financial advice from so-called financial gurus and experts on social media. Look into their credentials and do your research before deciding on investing in options these social media gurus are pushing.
Patience is vital if you want your investments to grow and give you a return. Many new investors are impatient and expect immediate and fantastic returns on their money. This is not the case with investments. You need to give your investments ample time to grow.
You should not invest money that you will need in the short term. Remember investing takes a lot of time to see a return. Put aside the money you will need within a few years in savings and leave the money for your long-term goals in the stock market or other long-term investments such as bonds.
The last two major mistakes beginners make are having unclear investment goals and delaying investing. Is your goal to set aside money for retirement, grow your wealth or protect your money from inflation? Set a goal and stick to it. Delaying investing is not smart because you are losing out on the effects of compound interest. Inflation will also decrease the value of money if you just leave it in your bank account. Start investing early, even in small amounts, to maximize compound interest.