[ad_1] Most people are well aware that investing is the key to building long-term wealth, yet that doesn’t mean that getting started is easy. In fact, all new investors face a huge learning curve when it comes to figuring out how to invest and where to invest their extra money. It doesn’t help that there are so many different kinds of investments out there, as well as various apps and platforms that all claim to be the best. So, how do you start investing exactly? And what steps can you take to ensure your investments have the chance to reach their full potential? I wholeheartedly believe that investing for beginners should start with the core principles of personal finance. After all, you really do need to get your money straight in order to have extra cash to invest in the first place, and you need to clearly outline your goals, or what you’re trying to accomplish, before you dive in. If you are hoping to begin building wealth but you’re not sure how to get started, it helps to break down investing tips for beginners into several smaller steps. The sections below explain exactly what you should do to start your investing journey, and in the exact order you should do it, so read on to learn more. #ap38693-ww{padding-top:20px;position:relative;text-align:center;font-size:12px;font-family:Archivo, sans-serif}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-indicator{text-align:right;color:#4a4a4a}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-indicator-wrapper{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin-bottom:8px}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap38693-ww-text{display:block}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap38693-ww-label{display:none}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-text{margin:auto 3px auto auto}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-label{margin-left:4px;margin-right:3px}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-icon{margin:auto;display:inline-block;width:16px;height:16px;min-width:16px;min-height:16px;cursor:pointer}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-icon img{vertical-align:middle;width:16px;height:16px;min-width:16px;min-height:16px}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-text-bottom{margin:5px}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-text{display:none}#ap38693-ww #ap38693-ww-icon img{text-indent:-9999px;color:transparent} Ads by Money. 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Public.com lets you invest in stocks, ETFs, and crypto with any amount of money. Share insights in a community and access a wealth of educational content. HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas Join Today Offer valid for U.S. residents 18+ and subject to account approval. There may be other fees associated with trading. See Public.com/disclosures. Ready to Start Investing? Whether you are hoping to start investing small amounts of money or you have a lump sum of cash to get started, you should know that investing isn’t necessarily a “set it and forget it” activity. Even if you are investing for the long haul or retirement, you’ll still need to reassess and potentially update your investment plan from time to time. Also remember that, like it or not, there is a real risk of losing some of your investment over the short-term. With that in mind, you’ll want to consider your timeline, your goals, and your tolerance for risk as you read over these steps. Build an Emergency Fund Before you start investing, it’s crucial to have an emergency fund in place. This is based on the fact that, if you don’t have any emergency savings to draw from, you may have to sell your investments at an inopportune time, or even at a loss. Most experts suggest having three to six months of expenses in emergency savings where it is easily accessible. If you are currently spending $4,000 per month on your rent or mortgage and your other bills, for example, you would try to build an emergency fund of $12,000 to $24,000 over time. What is an emergency fund for, exactly? For the most part, your e-fund is there to cover surprise expenses you don’t actually expect — things like a sudden and unexpected car repair bill, a new HVAC system when your air conditioning goes out, or emergency medical bills. While you can keep your emergency fund in any account you want, it’s smart to look for online banks that pay high rates on savings, money markets, and certificates of deposit (CDs). Some examples of banks that fit the bill include: CIT Bank Synchrony Bank BBVA (formerly BBVA Compass) Any of these banks keep your money safe, completely liquid, and pay interest rates that are well above local banks. In the meantime, a high-yield savings account can keep your e-fund easily accessible when you need it. #ap54301-ww{padding-top:20px;position:relative;text-align:center;font-size:12px;font-family:Archivo, sans-serif}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-indicator{text-align:right;color:#4a4a4a}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-indicator-wrapper{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin-bottom:8px}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap54301-ww-text{display:block}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap54301-ww-label{display:none}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-text{margin:auto 3px auto auto}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-label{margin-left:4px;margin-right:3px}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-icon{margin:auto;display:inline-block;width:16px;height:16px;min-width:16px;min-height:16px;cursor:pointer}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-icon img{vertical-align:middle;width:16px;height:16px;min-width:16px;min-height:16px}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-text-bottom{margin:5px}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-text{display:none}#ap54301-ww #ap54301-ww-icon img{text-indent:-9999px;color:transparent} Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad #ap54301-w-text{padding:20px 0 10px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center;font-family:”Lato”, Arial, Roboto, sans-serif}#ap54301-w-text #ap54301-w-text-title{color:#212529;font-size:20px;font-weight:700;line-height:30px}#ap54301-w-text #ap54301-w-text-subtitle{color:#9b9b9b;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;line-height:24px}#ap54301-w-text #ap54301-w-disclosure{color:#9b9b9b;margin-top:10px;font-size:12px}#ap54301-w-text #ap54301-w-text-btn{margin-top:25px;padding:9px 13px;display:inline-block;color:#fff;font-size:16px;line-height:20px;text-decoration:none;background-color:#1261c9;border-radius:2px}#ap54301-w-text #ap54301-w-text-btn:hover{color:#fff;background-color:#508fc9} An emergency fund is an essential part of everyone's financial plan Using a High-Yield Savings Account means you’re earning more than you would in a typical savings account. Click below to open an account today! Open an Account Today Define Your Goals Next up, you’ll want to clearly define your investment goals before you start putting your money at risk. For example, you’ll need to know your investment timeline, or how long you want to keep your money invested before you need to access it. You’ll also need to decide how much risk you’re willing to take, and if you’re willing to take on more risk in order to have a chance at better returns. Let’s say you want to invest some money you plan to use for the down payment on a home in a few years. In that case, you would want to choose among the best short-term investments that are unlikely to have any losses over that short of a timeline. If you’re trying to invest for retirement and you have several decades of work ahead of you, on the other hand, you can choose among the best long-term investments that have a history of higher returns. Examples of the best low-risk investments that can help your money grow