4 Investment Tips to Protect Your Future

By Eileen O'Shanassy

August 9, 2017   •   Fact checked by Dumb Little Man

best investment ideas

Almost everything in our daily life revolves around money. We go to work to earn money and we use that money to pay for food, gas, our homes and all our necessities. It can seem like a never-ending cycle, especially if you are still trying to establish yourself.

However, there are some smart financial choices that you can make that will allow you to make money from your money without having to do much at all. Investing your money carefully can help you increase your income substantially with only a little oversight on your part.

There are a variety of methods that you can utilize to see a good return on your money. You should make sure that you consider what is best for you and your finances before making any major decisions.

Here are a few things that you should consider before looking for the best investment ideas.

Pay Off Your Debt

If you want your investments to succeed, you need to be making smart choices in all of your financial affairs. No matter how well you invest your money, if you are spending more than you can pay back, you are going to lose money.

Debt has a nasty way of catching up to us when we least expect it, and it is never forgiving. It would be very difficult to finally start seeing a return on your investment and then have to use all of that and more to pay off debts that you have incurred.

Additionally, no matter how well you invest, there is no guarantee that your investment will be successful. You might get a lot of money, you might only get a little or you could lose your money. Spending more than you have in anticipation of receiving money from your investments could come back to haunt you.

You could also lose your investments if you have to declare bankruptcy before you see returns. If you do end up in this position, talk to a legal professional about filing for bankruptcy to see if there is a way to protect your investments.

See Also: Staying Out Of Debt: 3 Money Habits You Should Be Doing

Keep Track of Your Money

keeping track of money

While it might not take a lot of work, taking the time to keep track of your money is one of the most important things that you can do. Knowing where you are spending and how that money is doing will help you understand how to best manage your investments.

Gone are the days when you can keep track of everything in a notebook or on a piece of paper unless you are a financial wizard. Find a software program or spreadsheet that fits your needs and use that to keep track of your income, your expenses and your investments.

It is important that you keep your records up to date and that you regularly review how your investments are performing. Find a schedule that works for you, but make sure that you are reviewing this information at least once a month.

Buy Low

buying low

This may seem like an obvious piece of advice, but it is repeated often for a reason. If you are investing in a company, it doesn’t make sense to spend a lot of money on stock in a moderately successful company when you could spend a little money on a company that is growing.

If you manage to find and invest in a company that is newer but growing strong, then you have a pretty decent chance of making a lot of money off of your investment. It may be helpful to look at companies that have had financial troubles recently but are doing well again. Their growth reassures you that your investment is sound.

Consider Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are probably one of the best and easiest investments for new investors. When investing, the more diverse your portfolio is (or the more variety you have in types of investments), the better chance you have of getting a good return on your money.

Mutual funds can provide you with a diverse portfolio with professional management. There are also many variations of mutual funds to best meet your particular needs. Make sure that you choose someone that you trust to manage your mutual fund.

See Also: 7 Common Money Mistakes to Avoid (And their easy Solution)

Wrap Up

Every investor wants to earn high returns, but that always isn’t possible. Immerse yourself in financial markets and literature well before you decide to invest or before you put all your money in your best investment ideas. Talk to a financial adviser to make sure that you are aware of what you are getting into.

It’s easy to get taken advantage of if you don’t know much about investing, not to mention fail to gain money on your investments.

Several sources were consulted for this article. For more information on any of the points discussed, you can visit Forbes’ article “Mutual Funds 101,” Investopedia’s “To Invest Or To Reduce Debt, That’s the Question,” the Balance’s “What are the Easiest Ways to Track My Investments,” and Bankruptcy Law Office.

 

Eileen O'Shanassy

Eileen O'Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check here for more information on getting better home technology and security. Check out Eileen's Twitter @eileenoshanassy.

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