Financial blunders: Things you should know before investing 14th March 2023
Managing one's finances and accumulating wealth are essential activities that one must learn right from childhood. However, since most parents do not talk much about finances with their children, young adults grow up without knowing much about critical financial decisions like how to buy general insurance online, investing fundamentals, savings, etc.
Investing is an ideal way to grow one's wealth. The drastic price dip and sheer boredom during the pandemic introduced new investors into the stock market. However, you should avoid those rookie mistakes that most investors make with their money. This blog presents some common financial blunders you should consider before investing.
1. Constantly consuming media about the market:
It is very tempting to watch news channels that offer trading advice 24*7. These channels give what seems like certain information, but it is not advisable to take advice straight from them as they have no idea about your financial situation. Additionally, when this information has been made public, it has already been factored into market pricing, and listening to them becomes futile. Seasoned experts in the market take their information from several independent sources and then derive their conclusions.
2. Being unclear about your investment goals:
Make sure you are clear about the direction of your investing journey. After having a separate savings account that serves as your backup in case something goes wrong, the rest of the money is safe to invest. A common mistake most individuals make when investing is to expect high returns as the end goal. While making money is important, you should balance it with the amount of risk you're willing to take, and that should be determined by looking over your other financial goals.
3. Too high expectations and a lack of patience:
Investments can be of two kinds, short and long-term investments. While short-term investments provide greater returns, they are riskier. Give long-term investments adequate time to maximise your returns. Bailing out before an asset has matured because of fear is one of the most common mistakes you should avoid.
4. Inadequate diversification:
Don't put all your eggs in one basket, even if it seems like the safest basket in the world. Often, investors make the mistake of putting all their money into one investment they believe will be secure for quick returns. This may be disastrous if the market moves another way. Diversify your portfolio to get consistent returns. Ensure you diligently research various asset classes and associated risk levels to identify the best returns at your risk appetite.
5. Letting emotions get in the way of your investments:
Too often, investors will fall in love with a particular company due to its value proposition or its past performance. However, it is essential to understand that the stock is only here to make you money. So, when the company's fundamentals no longer align with your interests, consider selling the stock.
Fear and greed are the greatest adversaries of an investor. They should not come in the way of your financial decisions. Market returns vary significantly in the short term but are generally predictable in the long run. To be more tension free, buy general insurance online after adequate research.
Investing sooner than later is one of the best decisions you can make. This gives you time to learn how the market functions. Most people fail to enter the stock market because they believe they don't possess the basic knowledge it requires. But this is a skill learned on the job. Start by investing significantly less money and increase it as your confidence increases. Happy investing!
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Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.