Get a Financial Life

Invest to achieve your goals

Instructions

Create a financial safety net.
Before you start investing, it's crucial to have an emergency fund in place. Aim to save an amount that covers three to six months of your living expenses. Keep this money in a savings account or a money market fund where you can get to it quickly if needed.
Define your financial goals. Define what you're saving for: retirement, a house, education? Your goals will dictate how much risk you might want to take with your investments.
Choose where to invest. If you're a beginner, you may begin by investing in a money market fund. These funds are less risky because they invest in short-term debt securities, offering a safer way to earn returns slightly better than those of a typical savings account. Then, once you're comfortable, consider diversifying your investments into stock and bond funds. Stock funds will offer higher potential returns but come with increased risk, while bond funds typically offer moderate returns with less risk than stocks.
Minimize extra costs.
Choose funds that don't charge a front-end load or commission to avoid unnecessary expenses. Look for funds with low annual expense ratios to ensure more of your money stays invested and working for you.
Assess your comfort with risk.
Think about how much financial risk you're willing to take and what your investment goals are. This self-assessment will help you decide how to balance your investments between stocks (which are riskier but offer higher potential returns) and bonds (which are generally safer but offer lower returns).
Explore ethical investment options.
If it's important for you to invest in a way that reflects your personal values, look into socially responsible funds. These funds prioritize ethical, environmental, and social issues. But always keep an eye on their fees and how well they perform compared to your other investments.
Reconsider the need for professional advice.
Once you've got a handle on the basics, you might find that you don't need a financial advisor. If you do decide to seek professional advice, opt for a fee-only advisor to avoid potential conflicts of interest. As an alternative, consider using robo-advisors, which can offer investment management and guidance at a lower cost.