There’s a lot of articles written on investing every year. So much in fact that even if you could take the time necessary to read it all, the ensuing confusion would probably see you knowing less than you do now. So, it’s a great idea to just start with the basics. Read on to find out more.
Always look into free resources for investments rather than a broker who is motivated by commissions. Investment fraud is such a disastrous possibility that spending a little time verifying your broker’s legitimacy is well worth it.
Conceptualize stocks as being parts of companies that you really do own, instead of being hazy intangibles that you can trade. Before you can truly ascertain the value of a stock, you must first devote your time to learning as much as possible about each opportunity. This can help you carefully think about whether or not it’s wise to own a specific stock.
Avoid timing the markets. Over the course of history, it has been shown that steady investments over time yield the greatest returns. Figure out how much you can afford to invest on a regular basis. Then, consistently invest and do not forget to keep up with it.
Avoid investing too much in the stock of any company that you currently work for. Although it seems good to support your company by owning its stock, there are certain risks involved. If your company begins to not do well, not only will your income be at risk, but so will your portfolio. On the other hand, if employees can purchase shares at a discounted price, buying them could be a good investment.
When you first begin to invest in the stock market, be sure to keep it simple. The temptation to diversify and try every strategy you hear of can be strong; however, as a beginner investor, it is more prudent to discover, and stick with, one strategy that will work for you. In the grand scheme of things, you can save a lot of money.
Have an open mind when looking at a company’s stock price. If you pay a lot for a stock versus what it’s worth, your returns will be reduced. A stock might not seem like a good deal one day, but may drop in price and be a great deal a few days later.
Your portfolio should be reviewed constantly. Keep a close eye on your portfolio making sure that your stocks are performing well, and the overall market conditions are in your favor. However, do not get so obsessed that you have to constantly check your stocks. The market does go up and down all the time, so pay more attention to the overall trends than to the daily fluctuations.
If you wish to pay lower fees for investing, considering trading online. There are many online firms that trade stocks and are much cheaper than a regular brokerage firm. Remember to do comparison shopping online for the best deal. Fidelity is one possible option you may want to consider; TradeKing is another.
Projected Return
If you are looking to invest, first check out a company’s price/earnings ratio and total projected return. A good rule of thumb is that the ratio of price to earning be less than two times the projected return. If you’re looking at a particular stock that has a ten percent projected return, then the ratio of price to earnings must not be more than 20.
There you go! You have learned the basic principles of successful investing, and you know why it is a good idea to invest your money. While youth has many advantages, foresight is a hard thing for young people to grasp. Now that you understand the basics of investing, it is time for you to use what you have learned to improve your financial future.