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Invest Now for Dividends Later
No matter what age you are or even your level of employment or economic position, it may be a good idea to start preparing now, even in a meager way, for eventual financial security. Some people feel they need every dollar they make to get by from one paycheck to the next. While this may be true for some, there are others who squander significant sums on insignificant things. They could be socking that money away into an investment account that, over time, could lead to huge savings and a comfortable retirement.
It isnt hard to get started. All you need is $100 to $500 to open an account, and anywhere from $25 to $50 monthly to continue building your stock or mutual fund portfolio. In fact, a young person aged 20 could deposit $2,000 and then not another dime. In forty years he or she might have tens of thousands of dollars. The stock market has followed fairly predictable patterns since its inception in the 1800s in New York City. Although historic events like the Great Depression and several global wars have impacted its activity, the gains and losses remain fairly consistent, with most investors earning a predictable return on their investment.
Of course, no one can predict what the future holds, or whether the pattern will continue. And none of us should invest more money than we can afford to losejust in case the world economy crashes one of these days. But with steady deposits that continue to compound and earn interest over time, a sensible and prudent investor can substantially increase the amount of money going for retirement or a dream vacation at some future point.
If you are thinking about opening an investment account, do a little online browsing for more information. Visit sites like E-trade or Scotts Trades to see how the process works. Start reading your newspapers financial pages for details about the latest stock prices and market trends. Do a little paper trading by following the daily stock news. Instead of actually purchasing stock, however, work it out on a piece of paper by pretending to buy a certain amount of stock for the specified price and then watching to see how it performs over the following week. Chart your gains or losses to figure out whether your stock deal was successful. If you do this for several months, you will soon learn to understand more about the stock market and how to buy and sell like the pros.
Even if your budget is tight, try to set aside a little money to open an investment account from any windfalls that come your way from job bonuses, inheritances, or cash gifts. Some people set aside their annual job raise, or part of it, as part of their investment strategy. Then, as your budget becomes looser with paid-off bills or grown-up kids, you may be able to start having a standard monthly amount deducted automatically from your paycheck and deposited into your investment account. This could take the form of a Roth IRA (individual retirement account), a money market fund, a mutual fund portfolio, or individual stock shares.
It probably is a good idea to take an investment class at the community college or sign up for a financial planning seminar. Success may be just a few years away if you start now and plan right.
You can find more great investment information at
Opening an Investment Account
Have you ever thought about playing the stock market Many of us dream of hitting it big by investing $100 and earning $100,000 within a few years. But the system doesnt work that fast. Generally speaking, the market will continue to pay dividends over time, but the path may get bumpy and you could even lose part of your investment in a bear market. Never invest more than you can afford to lose.
The flip side of investing is that many people have earned comfortable dividends that built a retirement fund, put kids through college, or financed a new home. However, it takes time for an investment fund to grow, and the sooner you start, the better. Here are some tips for opening a fund that could pay off big as time goes on.
1. Start young. Open an investment account for your children and continue adding to it as they grow. Although you may want to maintain bank savings accounts as well, an investment fund is apt to grow more quickly and can provide needed funding for their adult years. Ask relatives to consider giving mutual fund shares as gifts instead of an overabundance of toys or clothes that wont get worn. A person who invests $2,000 by age twenty may have nearly $100,000 at retirement age.
2. Make automatic deposits. Set aside $25 to $50 each month for your investment account. You can have it deducted automatically from your paycheck so that you never see or miss that money. When you get annual raises or bonuses at work, consider adding a portion of those amounts to your investment fund, as well.
3. Choose a responsible broker. Do an online search or contact the Better Business Bureau to find a suitable agent to handle your account. Make sure that the person is someone who is willing to keep you informed and who shares your values and philosophy on investments. Schedule an annual consultation with your agent for a review of the previous year and a preview of the year to come in terms of what you might expect from your investments performance.
4. Take an investment class or at least buy the book. Learn something about the way the stock market works both in your country of residence and the world economy overall. Dont become wholly dependent on an agent who may not be able to fully explain your account or plan strategic moves without your permission, which requires either your understanding or your trust.
Be patient. The stock market can play funny tricks on investors. Prices soar and plummet by turns, and your investment may look great one day and dismal the next. Keep in mind that the general performance trend since the market began is to pay out consistently over time. Dont panic when conditions get rough. Hang in there and stay cool, and you will likely be glad you did.
To learn more the world of investments and trading, visit The Forex Trading Directory at
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