What are the Steps in the Investing Process?
Step 1 is to examine your
life. Who are you and what do you do? How do you live? What sort of
a lifestyle do you enjoy? What kind of lifestyle, realistically, do
you want to enjoy? This is the time to dream, but to dream not too
big. Think about 10 years ahead and paint an overall picture of how
you want your life to be at that point.
Step 2 is to develop your goals. What do you want to achieve? When
do you want to achieve it? How much will you need to achieve this
goal? Be as specific as possible and write this information down. If
you are a couple, make sure that both of you share the same goals.
This is where you take the picture from Step 1 and break it down
into specifics. Then decide which of these items should be achieved
first, then which second and so on.
Step 3 is where you consider your resources. What money do you have
and where is it? What are your debts? What assets do you own? Then,
using your budget to help guide you, what additional funds can you
apply to the achievement of each goal as set up in Step 2?
Step 4 is where you research which investment will give you the most
reward for the least risk – so you do not lie awake at night
worrying. This is where the confusion usually begins. There are so
many possible investments available to you that you end up spoilt
for choice and find making a decision impossible. This is also when
most potential investors run into trouble.
Step 5 is where you actually invest your money in those vehicles you
selected in Step 4. When you do this, you also pre-determine which
benchmarks you will use to judge that investment’s performance. You
should also pre-determine those conditions under which you will sell
out of that investment.
Step 6 is the monitoring of your investment program. How frequently
will you watch your investments? What will you do when your
benchmarks are reached? What will you do if they aren’t? Back you go
again to Step 1.
It is better to involve a financial professional from the very
beginning since the more information that professional has about
you, your hopes, your dreams, the better they can serve you. This is
not always the case. Most people actively begin searching for
professional help when they reach Step 4 and this is fine as long as
you realize your vulnerability to effective marketing. Take your
time when selecting your financial professional. Spending time here
in the selection process will benefit you greatly later on.