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Much like starting a business, investing has never been simpler than it is right now. You don’t have to go to your bank branch, sit down with an advisor and get set up with an investment account. These days, thanks to platforms, like Questrade, Wealthsimple and the various trading platforms offered by Scotiabank, TD, BMO, RBC and CIBC, anyone can set up an account and begin investing.
So, without further ado, let’s talk through some outlets where you can learn how you can start investing.
Before I get into the details, here’s my disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. Do not take anything outlined here as financial advice. Please do your own research. What I am going to do is point you to the resources that can help you make financial decisions. If you have a financial advisor already, you should absolutely consider talking to them about what you learn here.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s dive in.
How to get started as a self-directed investor
First, explore discount brokerages for the DIYer.
There are multiple discount brokerages out there where anyone can open an account and start investing. All of these brokerages charge a management fee, but it is typically much lower than the cost of an actively managed portfolio. This is because building the portfolio and asset allocation is up to you.
Then, there are robo-advisors.
These are great options if you don’t want to do your own trading. When you sign up for an account, you will be given a questionnaire that asks you your age, your goals, your retirement age and your risk tolerance. Then, it will build you a portfolio and asset allocation based on your answers.
Regardless of how involved you’d like to be in the management of your portfolio, there are some things you’ll want to learn along the way.
For one, you’re going to see a lot of terminology when you start investing, like margin, P/E ratio, rebalancing and limit. Chances are, some of it will make your head tilt. Before you dive into the world of DIY investing, get familiar with the terms you’re going to see.
On the other hand, you might also have some questions that, frankly, no one else can really answer.
What should you invest in?
One question people often ask when faced with investment decisions is how to know what they should be investing in. Maybe I could quote Warren Buffett for you here because I’m sure he has said something about what to invest in. But, again, because I am not a financial advisor, I won’t tell you what to buy. In reality, even Warren Buffett couldn’t tell you what to invest in. It’s entirely up to you to decide what’s important. I have friends who choose to invest in green tech, others who like the couch potato method, some who go in on Tesla and others who are in on cryptocurrencies.
Whatever you decide to buy, I can’t stress enough that it’s a good idea to do your research and talk to experts such as an advisor. You can read a company’s annual report or look at the company information on your brokerage’s website. Some resources, for example, have a quotes/research section where you can look up information on equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds and guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) and get analysis research, technical analysis, and earnings and revenue.
How much should beginners invest?
Another question people usually have a tough time answering is how much money they should start investing with. This is ultimately up to you, too. The great news is that a lot of brokerages and robo-advisors do not require you to have a lot of money to invest, so you can start at any level that’s comfortable for you. In fact, you could even open an account with no money. What’s more important is to understand your personal goals with investing.
Remember: This is an overview. I know it might be a lot to take in. But investing doesn’t have to be stressful, and you don’t need thousands of dollars to start. You may not be able to buy Amazon stock right now, but there are other options out there. If you’re committed, you’re more than capable of making it happen for yourself. All you have to do is start.
Excerpted from Money Myths: A Finance Guide for Solo Earners by Renée Sylvestre-Williams, available as an e-book and an audiobook. Published by Scribd Coach, an imprint of Scribd, Inc., June 14, 2022.
Read more from Renée Sylvestre-Williams:
- The piece of advice journalist Renée Sylvestre-Williams wished she had in her 20s and more
- Decorating with stuff you already own
- Buying home insurance in Canada: A beginner’s guide
- The real cost of being single
The post New to investing? Here’s how to open an investing account online appeared first on MoneySense.
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