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Managed Funds Versus Individual Shares

Written by R. A. Stewart

Investors have a choice to invest in managed funds or individual companies but which one is appropriate for your type of situation.

Managed Funds

When you purchase managed funds you have a share in several companies. Your money is combined with other investors and you get a share of any profit. The fund is managed by a fund manager which means that once you have decided where to invest your money it is up to the fund manager to invest on your behalf. The advantage of this is that you can just get on with life and let your fund manager do the work; after all, that is what they are paid to do.

There are still some choices which you have to make such as which fund you are going to invest in.

The decision of which fund to invest in can be summed up in one question, “What is your timeline?”

Are you needing the money in the short-term, medium-term, or long-term?

Short-term is up to three years

Medium-term 3 years to 5 years.

Long-term is more than 5 years.

The three types of funds available are conservative funds, balanced funds, and growth funds.

Conservative funds are the least risky but have less scope for increased returns. Growth funds have the potential to grow your savings but are volatile while balanced funds are a mixture of both.

Individual Companies

Investing in individual companies is much easier these days thanks to all of the online investing platforms available. Sharesies, Hatch, and Kernel Wealth are three in New Zealand which are popular, there are others. If you are outside of New Zealand then you will have them in your own country.

The problem with investing in one or two companies is that unless you have a lot of money to invest it becomes difficult to diversify even using one of these micro platforms. Myself, I just do this for an interest and no other reason. I choose one company per year to invest in and drip-feed money into this company throughout the year. If it falls over, then no harm is done because it is not going to affect my lifestyle one little bit.

Some people invest in individual stocks with the idea of trying to beat the market. That is hard to do , you may have successes from time to time, but it is trying to be more right than wrong which is the problem.

Financial experts advise against trying to beat the market but rather play a numbers game instead by investing in managed funds.

Summary

Choosing between Managed Funds and individual companies is dependant on your goals and timeline. It is your personal circumstances which should be the deciding factor in which is the better option for investing. 

About this article

The contents of this article are of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

 

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Having Different Strings to Your Financial Portfolio

Written by R. A. Stewart

“Have your money in several places because you do not know what kind of bad luck you will have.”-Ecclesiastes: 11:1-2 

Solomon was saying we should all diversify our savings in order to protect us from uncertainty. None of us have any control over the uncertainties of the markets but we do have a say on how to react to what the markets are doing. 

The first thing to do is to diversify your investments in order to lessen the impact of a market meltdown.

If you are just starting out in life and don’t have that much savings this can be applied by investing in managed funds. This is a type of investment where your money is combined with those of others.  You may have a piece of a number of companies. This lessens any impact of any company falling over.

If you were to just save up your money and invest it all in the one company you are putting yourself at a greater risk because the company may have a bad year with its share price losing half of its value.

Investing all of your savings into the one company is called “Placing all of your eggs in the one basket”, it is risky. Sometimes this type of investing pays off but when it does not the results can be catastrophic for those who lost their life savings.

You sometimes hear about the success stories of so-called gurus but not the Mum and Dad investors who tried to do the same thing as the rich gurus and lost.

It is important to invest according to your own personal circumstances and your own goals and not be persuaded by anyone else to invest in this and that.

Whenever there is a chance for a capital gain there is also a chance for a capital loss, therefore your strategy has to allow for the possibility for a capital loss. If you are saving for a car and expect to withdraw the money within 2 years you certainly would not invest in growth funds which are high risk, high return because you may find that your balance has dropped significantly just when it is time to withdraw the money. Growth funds are a more appropriate investment for your retirement fund when you are young and have decades ahead of you.

Your financial portfolio should be a mixture of different types of investments which reflect the goals and purposes of each fund. This could be your emergency fund, saving for a house deposit, car, or overseas fund, retirement fund etc. 

As Ecclesiastes says, “Invest in different places, you never know what kind of bad luck you may have.”

About this article

The contents of this article are of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for a blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

Tired of seeing your bank charge you $5-10 every time you withdraw cash abroad PLUS that hidden foreign transaction fee? 🤯 That’s money that should be buying you a gelato, a beer, or a souvenir. Wise gets you the real mid-market exchange rate with only tiny, transparent conversion fees from 0.42%. Stop funding your bank’s next vacation. Fund yours. 👉 Link in bio to get your Wise card! 

JOIN WISE HERE

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Key to Investing Is….

Making a start. You do not have to be rich to invest but you do have to invest to be rich. 

Most people can save money but becoming an investor requires diligence and a certain amount of common sense which a lot of savers do not possess. It is for this reason that a retirement savings scheme where a small percentage of your gross income is paid into the scheme is an excellent option. The money is taking out of your wages that it is virtually unnoticed. It is with fund managers who invest it on your behalf. Using their knowledge. Another advantage is that your money is diversified among a number of companies. This reduces your risk. 

Having money set aside for the sole purpose of your retirement has to be part of your financial plan and is the responsibility of each individual. As I said at the beginning, the key to investing is making a start.

Experience is your best teacher. Doing your homework and reading about all of the different kinds of options available to you when investing is all very well but at some point you have to get down to the nitty gritty and make decisions on where to invest your money. It is all about backing your judgment. 

There is no excuse for being financially illiterate with so many books on financial matters and you don’t have to spend money to have access to them as you will find them at your local library.

Having a goal is important because you will just fritter your money away on stuff which is meaningless if you do not know where you are going. Having goals requires vision. It is making choices today which have an impact on your future. If you do not save and invest then your future or aspects of it will be in the hands of others.

There are consequences for not making provision for your future. One is that if you are purchasing a car and you have no savings then you are at the mercy of finance companies. They are happy to lend you money to purchase a car. 

When you borrow money to purchase things such as a car or household appliances you are accumulating liabilities. Anything that costs you money is a liability.

You do not have to be saving for anything in particular to start investing. Building up a portfolio of shares to give you an interest in the markets is something Mum and Dad investors like to do. In this day and age this can be done easily with so many online share market platforms available.

In this age starting takes more effort than continuing. People are so set in their ways that they  find it hard to change-moving from thinking about investing or saving to actually doing it.

Waiting is costly!

Many people are waiting till the time is right before investing. They wait for their debts to be paid off, they wait for a promotion, wait for the share market to drop or wait for some circumstances in their life to change. All of this waiting means that they are not taking advantage of compounded interest which can snowball their wealth.

Not only that; they are missing out on the experience which comes from getting involved in the markets.

Taking that first step whether it be setting up an emergency fund, a brokerage account, or a retirement fund shifts your mindset from spender to saver, from saver to investor.

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago and the second best time was yesterday. 

About this article

This article is not considered as financial advice, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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Fixed Term Versus Dividends

Written by R. A. Stewart

Two excellent wealth building vehicles are fixed term deposits and dividends paying shares. Both aim to put your capital at work but they operate differently as far as risk, return, and tax treatment goes.

Fixed-term interest

Your money is invested for a predetermined period of time, this could be for months or years for a guaranteed interest rate.

Investors in fixed-interest deposits know the return they are receiving on their investment.

Dividends

Dividends are made by the companies to their shareholders; they represent dividends of the company’s pot-tax profit.

Investors in companies on the share market do not know the return they are receiving. It is the directors who decide how much to distribute to shareholders.

Investors in the share market aim to receive a regular income through  dividends and capital growth of their shares. (share price appreciation)

Key Differences

Fixed-term interest

  1. Capital Preservation and Steady income.
  2. Low capital risk
  3. Fixed and guaranteed income
  4. May lag inflation depending on the interest rate.
  5. Money not available until maturity

Dividends

  1. Income growth and capital appreciation
  2. Moderate to high capital risk due to market volatility.
  3. Variable income depending on how well the company is doing.
  4. Shares have historically outpaced inflation.
  5. High liquidity. Shares can be sold when markets are open.

Which is more risky?

The main risk with fixed term interest is inflation risk where the purchasing power of your money decreases with rising costs. The other factor to consider is that the market rate of interest may increase during the time you are locked into a lower interest rate.

The main advantage with shares is that it can be quickly turned into cash when needed. The flip side to this is that the markets may be down just when you need that money but thanks to managed funds and micro investing platforms it is possible to invest in such a way as to minimize the risk of being on the losing side of a downturn in the markets.

It is a matter of investing according to your timeline.

If you need the money within twelve months or the money needs to be on call then a personal bank account paying next to no interest may be your best option. However, fixed term interest may be your best option, if you have $5,000 to invest and need that money for say, a car in six months to a year. Your other option if you are in that position is to invest in a conservative fund. Your money will be invested in shares but in less risky companies.

What about the medium to long-term?

Shares have traditionally outperformed returns on fixed-term interest in the long run. 

If your timeline is long-term then past history indicates that you are better off investing in shares.

It is important to stay calm when the markets are down and your retirement fund balance has dropped. Just continue to live your life, working and making contributions to your retirement fund and let the final balance take care of itself.

About this article

This article is not financial advice and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

 

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Mistakes made by investors

 

Written by R. A. Stewart

Everyone makes mistakes, it is a part of learning. Those who claim to have never made any mistakes are living in self-deception. As far as money and investing is concerned, learning how to invest according to your goals and personal circumstances requires experience and that will be accompanied by mistakes along the way. As they say, “Experience is your best teacher.”

Here are some of the most common mistakes made by investors.

  1. Investing too conservatively

Investing too conservatively will leave you short-changed in the long run if there are decades between you and retirement. Long-term investors who are too conservative are leaving thousands of dollars on the table. This does not mean that you should be reckless and invest your life savings in something risky but invest for growth.

  1. Investing in the wrong fund.

If you have a retirement fund or mutual funds then investing according to your goals is important. If you have a rainy day account this should be invested in something safe such as with a high street bank because the money is available as needed and the last thing you want is to invest your rainy day fund in something volatile such as shares and  just when you need the money your balance has gone down and you will have less money in your account than you thought you had.

 

  1. Not diversifying

Placing all of your eggs in one basket is just asking for trouble. You don’t know what is going to happen in the future. Investing your money in several places will cushion you from the effects of a downturn in the economy because not all industries are affected in the same way. 

  1. Unwillingness to get financially educated

Ignorance can be very costly. If you are not even willing to learn how to manage your own money and investing then you have only yourself to blame if you end up in need. There is only one person who can change your situation and that is the person you see in the mirror.

  1. Lack of Planning

Not knowing where you are going will lead you to nowhere. Having goals for you and your finances gives your work and your life a purpose. It gives meaning to everything you do. It is the “Why” to everything you do.

Everyone has choices but these choices have consequences and it is up to you to make choices which are beneficial to you and your family if you have one. Taking responsibility for your choices and mistakes shows that you are a mature person. Immature people blame others for their mistakes and are quick to find a scapegoat for their misfortune.

About this article

This article is of the opinion and experience of the writer and is not financial advice.

You may use this article as content for your blog or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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Investing: Experience is the best teacher

Investing: Experience is the best teacher

Written by R. A. Stewart

“He who never made a mistake never made anything”-Jim Addison, Scottish evangelist

In investing as in anything else in life there is no substitute for experience. It is all very well learning about how to become a good investor but it is only when you start investing your own money in the markets when you learn how to become a good investor.

Some investors play the markets on paper and are excited that their paper portfolio is showing a profit on paper so start investing real money and soon find that the markets don’t just rise but fall as well.

It soon dawns on them that what goes up also goes down. 

It is important to get used to the volatility in the markets and ride out the lows. If you are clear on why you are investing then the highs and lows are not a problem.

There are two ways to learn:

  1. Your own mistakes
  2. The mistakes of others

You can reduce your own mistakes by getting yourself financially literate. This comes from reading books on investing and finance and from learning from the mistakes of others.

There is nothing quite like making your own decisions as to where you are going to invest your money. The satisfaction to be had when your judgment is spot on, but you will make mistakes along the way as we all do.

Don’t beat yourself up if some company you had shares in fell by the wayside. Learn from your mistakes and move on. It is important to not let the market volatility deter you from investing.

If you are new to the world of investing then think of it this way. If you are learning to drive a motor vehicle, learning how to use a computer, or learning the ropes in a new job, you will make mistakes but as you gain more experience your level of competence will grow and your mistakes will be less and less.

Learn all you can about the ins and outs of the market and apply it to your own personal circumstances. The older investors have been through a number of roller coaster rides with the share market over the years and are worth listening to for their opinion, but it pays to have the discernment to know who is worth listening to and who not to take advice from.

A few people were scared from the 1987 share market crash, called “Black Monday” that they never invested in the share market since. Such people have missed out on the gains since 1987 and the experience would have made them good investors.

Good judgement comes from past bad experiences; it is all a result of the lessons taken from previous experiences. 

Investing experience will give you the ability to make better choices in the future and this helps to increase your future wealth. 

Never use the excuse, “I don’t have any experience in this or that”, we all started from somewhere, and today it is possible to start investing in the markets on a shoe-string with all of these investing apps.

All the best

About this article

The information here is the opinion and experience of the writer and is not financial advice, therefore discretion is advised.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

 Tired of seeing your bank charge you $5-10 every time you withdraw cash abroad PLUS that hidden foreign transaction fee? 🤯 That’s money that should be buying you a gelato, a beer, or a souvenir. Wise gets you the real mid-market exchange rate with only tiny, transparent conversion fees from 0.42%. Stop funding your bank’s next vacation. Fund yours. 

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The Magic Power of Compounding

 

Written by R. A. Stewart

If you have any kind of financial knowledge you will know that the process of investing your money for years, sometimes decades and leaving your interest or dividends accumulate so that you end up earning interest off your interest is known as compounding.

Your investment starts to snowball once you have built up a decent portfolio. Using the process of compounding will enable you to achieve your goals faster.

Compounding also helps you to beat inflation which is a thorn in the side of those who are trying to get ahead in life. 

Investors who choose to have their interest or dividends paid into their bank account rather than have them added to their investment will find that their original investment will lose it’s purchasing power thanks to inflation. 

Your investing timeline is a big factor and the purpose of your investment.

If you are retired then you may prefer to have dividends paid into your bank account to help pay the bills and many do just that. The young ones usually let the income from their investments accumulate. This is common in retirement and mutual funds.

When you are saving for something then consider whether they are short-term, medium-term, or long-term goals. This matters because choosing the wrong type of investment for your timeline can affect how much you will end up with when it comes the time to cash in your investment.

For example it is not appropriate to invest your emergency fund in a growth fund due to it’s volatile nature because what is liable to happen is that just when you need the money the markets are down and there is less money available in your emergency fund than you thought there was.

At the other extreme, it is foolish to just leave your retirement fund in an ordinary savings account where you are paid minimal interest because inflation will erode the spending power of your money. 

Here is a break-down of the timelines of Short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals.

Short-term goals are within 12 months.

Medium-term goals are 1-5 years.

Long-term goals are over 5 years.

Getting into the habit of saving and investing will put you into a good position to withstand the financial shocks which life throws at you. This could be illness, job loss, family emergency, car breakdown, or anything else.

It takes vision to make some kind of provision for your future because you are preparing yourself for an event which may or may not happen. 

Then there are events which most people planned for such as buying a new car, further education,  saving for a house deposit, marriage, family, overseas trip, and retirement. People who have common-sense will make provision for events in their life which they expect to happen.

Investing your money for compound interest will help you to achieve your money goals sooner rather than having your interest or dividends paid to your bank account to spend. But it all depends on your personal circumstances.

About this article

This article is not financial advice and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised.

You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

 

 Tired of seeing your bank charge you $5-10 every time you withdraw cash abroad PLUS that hidden foreign transaction fee? 🤯 That’s money that should be buying you a gelato, a beer, or a souvenir. Wise gets you the real mid-market exchange rate with only tiny, transparent conversion fees from 0.42%. Stop funding your bank’s next vacation. Fund yours. 

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The Rule of 72: The Ultimate Mental Math Trick to Double Your Money

The Rule of 72

Written  by R. A. Stewart

When investing your money there is a formula for calculating how long it will take your money to double. this is known as the Rule of 72. It is a quick, useful mental math shortcut used to estimate how long it will take an investment to double in value at a fixed annual rate of return.

Here is how it works:

The Formula

Divide 72 by the rate of interest or the expected rate of return per annum.

Note: When using this formula, you use the percentage as a whole number, not a decimal. For example, for a 6% return, you use $6, not $0.06

How It Works (Examples)

  • At a 6% return:
    72 divide by 6 = 12
    Your money will take approximately 12 years to double.
  • At an 8% return:
    72 divide by 8 = 9
    Your money will take approximately 9 years to double.
  • At a 12% return:
    72 divide by 12 = 6
    Your money will take approximately 6 years to double.

Reversing the Formula

You can also flip the formula to find the interest rate required to double your money within a specific time frame:

72 divide by 3% = 24

If you want your money to double in 24 years, you need a 3% return

72 divide by 7.2% = 10

If you want your money to double in 10 years, you need a 7.2% return

Why 72?

The number 72 is used because it has many low divisors ($2, $3, $4, $6, $8, $9, $12), making the mental math incredibly easy.

Mathematically, the exact number for natural log-based compounding is closer to $69.3, but $72 provides a remarkably accurate approximation for typical investment returns (between 5% and 12%) without needing a financial calculator.

Here is an example of how your money can double using the Rule of 72 Formula.

Expected return per annum (per year) is 8%

Maria has $1,000 to invest and she has decided to invest it in kiwisaver at an expected return of 8%.. Here is a breakdown of  how this initial investment will grow.

Age Investment Age Total

18 $1,000 27 $2,000

27 $2,000 36 $4,000

36 $4,000 45 $8,000

45 $8,000 54 $16,000

54 $16,000 63 $32,000

63 $32,000 72 $64,000

When an investment is left to compound it means that the interest or dividends are added to the  original investment which means that you are earning interest fro the interest.

This is how kiwisaver fortunes are being made.

At the other extreme, Jasmine invests $1,000 at the age of 18 but instead of just leaving the interest with her $1,000 investment she gets her interest or dividends paid into her bank account to spend. The spending power of her original investment of  $1,000 has been eroded by inflation over the years. This means that her $1,000 if she were to spend it when she retires would not go as far as her original $1,000.

Example

Age Investment Age

18 $1,000 27 $1,000

27 $1,000 36 $1,000

36 $1,000 45 $1,000

54 $1,000 63 $1,000

63 $1,000 72 $1,000

Retirees who have built up a good nest egg sometimes like to have their interest and dividends paid to them to help with day to day living costs but this is not suitable for the young ones who seek to build their wealth over time.

About this Article

The information in this article may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your website, blog, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

“Mastering Family Finances” is an essential guide for families looking to achieve financial stability and peace of mind. This ebook offers practical advice on budgeting, saving, and managing debt, tailored to meet the unique financial needs of households. From setting up a family budget to planning for future expenses like college and retirement, this book covers every aspect of family financial planning in a straightforward, easy-to-follow format. With tips on building an emergency fund, improving credit, and making smart investment choices, “Mastering Family Finances” empowers families to secure a brighter financial future together.

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Mistakes with Money

Written by R. A. Stewart

1 They make poor life choices

The difference between the rich and the poor is because their choices in life are different. There is a stark difference between what a rich person and a poor person does with their discretionary spending money. All of those satellite dishes on council estates tell a tale. A rich person will find ways to invest their discretionary dollar so that it multiplies while a poor person will spend all that they have and more when you consider the consumer debt that they take on. It is also a fact that the poor tend to have more children and having kids does not come cheap, so this further compounds their vulnerable financial position.

2 They do not save 

People in a poor financial state do not save money. They fritter away their money with no thought for the future. Their financial situation is made worse because of their poor lifestyle choices. They borrow for stuff which is not essential to everyday living and spend money on things of no lasting value and this leaves them with nothing to show for their labors.

3 They do not invest

Wealth does not increase when money is not invested. Instead it loses its value due to the effects of inflation. Investing gives you a financial education and this leads to better decision making when it comes to money matters. This in turn leads to better financial outcomes for the future.

4 They do not take risks with their money

Investing involves taking some risks with your money but this does not mean speculating which is really just gambling on some favourable outcome going in your favour. It is having a strategy of investing which enables you to make the most of what you have

5 They do not get financially literate

Lack of financial literacy is the number one reason why so many people are broke. Lack of ambition to rise above mediocrity is the main reason and there is little hope for the individual who lacks the will to improve their financial situation. I know that you are not one of those people otherwise you would not be reading this.

  1. They hang out with the wrong people

People tend to associate with like-minded people. You are the average of the person you spend most of your time with. You will learn money attitudes from whoever you spend most of your time with. 

  1. They have a poor attitude

Having a poor attitude to money is one sure way to live in mediocrity all of your life. When you receive a windfall do you invest it or spend it? Most people do the latter then accuse those who make the most of what they have as stingy. 

Having the will to improve your finances is one thing but putting it all into action is another. Reading books and investing some of your discretionary dollars is a starting point. It has never been easier for the person with limited means to invest in the share market with so many online investing plat forms. It is just a matter of having goals which align with your values. Having something to save for is what provides the motivation to save.

About this article

You may use this article as content for your website, blog, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

Working in your chosen field

You may not have the talent or inclination to be an international sportsperson but you can be an asset in your chosen field and that does not mean that you have to be something out of the ordinary to become a valued member of society. A person who works at an entry level job can do so with such a good attitude that their diligence will not go unnoticed by their employers.

You may not particularly like your job and have any control over what happens at work but your attitude is something you can control. An employer with a bad attitude will take that bad attitude with them wherever they go. 

If you enjoyed this article then this ebook may interest you:

 

How to Enjoy Your Job

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The Benefits of Investing from a Young Age

The Benefits of Investing from a Young Age

Written by R. A. Stewart

To start your journey on to financial prosperity it is crucial that you start young if you want to get the full benefits of time. Here are three benefits of investing while you are young. This does not mean that investing when you are older will not have its own benefits. Investing money at any age will be beneficial and is better than having no savings whatsoever.

Here are the main benefits of investing from a young age.

  1. Time is your Friend

When you are young you are able to make time work for you. Money invested in the correct funds will multiply and increase its value. This is called compounding and it can really increase your wealth. Not only will your original investment keep producing a profit for you but the profits whether, that is from interest or dividends will be added to your original deposit and it too, will produce a profit for you.

  1. More Time to recover from financial setbacks

The markets can be volatile with shares going up and down like a yoyo, but with the benefit of time, young people have time on their side to ride out the storm. That does not mean that people who are just retired should not invest in the share market but rather they need to ask themselves this question, “How will the loss of this money affect my lifestyle?”.

It also does not mean that young people should invest all of their money in the share market. It all depends on what the money is going to be used for. If you need the money in the short term then you need to be a little bit more conservative with your investing.

The case I am making for the young ones to be a little more aggressive with their investing is that they may not be retiring for another forty years, therefore, taking advantage of capital gains which the share market offers can pay off.

3.It is better to make your mistakes early in life

People tend to make most of their mistakes early in life. That is no surprise since lack of experience often leads to errors of judgement, but as far as investing money goes, there are advantages in making your mistakes early in life. One is that you have fewer commitments, therefore, a mistake which can result in an investment going down the gurgler will not affect your lifestyle as much as it would for a person who has a family. Investing mistakes made early in life can be used to make better judgments in future. 

Investing early in life will enhance your financial literacy and will put your whole life ahead of you. There are opportunities to grow your wealth so grab it with both arms.

  1. More disposable income

As a young one you are likely to have more disposable income than someone who is older and with more commitments. If you are sensible, then investing your money will help grow your wealth. You are also likely to be in a position to take more risks with how you are investing your money, but that does not necessarily mean speculating on something which is a bit dodgy, but rather, taking some calculated risks.

  1. Habits formed early will make and break you

Developing habits which add value to your life and others will make and break you. One of these habits is the habit of saving and investing. These days it is easy to start a financial portfolio with so many investing apps available. It is just a matter of choosing one which is the right fit for your investing objectives. It is also important to set goals which align with your values and not be influenced by what your colleagues at work or your family say. It is your life and you are the one who has to live with your decisions so use the brain which God gave you and you will be better off in the long run. By all means, take note of financial advice as you will find in the business section of the newspapers but learn to develop the ability to discern whether advice is good or bad. Associate with people who have common sense. As the proverb says, “He who walks with wise men shall become wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed.”

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