A Beginner’s Guide on How to Start Investing

As a doctor or healthcare professional, you dedicate your days to caring for others—which may leave you with limited time for considering your own financial well-being. Investing can be a powerful tool to secure your future and achieve financial freedom. Despite its potential, many healthcare professionals avoid investing due to busy schedules or a lack of clear guidance. This article aims to demystify investing and provide a roadmap so you can make informed financial decisions. Whether your goal is a comfortable retirement, paying off student loans, or funding your children’s education, starting your investment journey today can empower you to build a secure and prosperous future.

Why Start Investing?

It’s important to start investing early because it allows your money to grow significantly over time, thanks to compound interest. Compound interest is calculated based on both the amount invested and the accumulated interest from previous periods. The sooner you begin investing, the more you can benefit from this snowball effect.

For instance, if you put $200 into investments each month starting at 25 years old and earn a return of 6%, you could potentially have around $198,000 by the time you reach 55. On the other hand, if you wait until age 35 to start investing this same amount, your investment might only grow to about $99,000 by age 55.

Furthermore, investing can also help protect your money against inflation, which gradually reduces its purchasing power over time. Inflation rates in the U.S. fluctuate from year to year, and by putting your money into assets that provide returns that outpace inflation, you can maintain its value and ensure it retains its buying power in the future.

Setting Financial Goals

Before diving into the world of investing, it’s essential to define your financial goals. Clear goals provide direction and help you choose the right investment strategy. Generally, financial goals can be categorized into short-term and long-term.

Short-Term Goals (1-5 years): These might include saving for a vacation, a down payment on a house, or an emergency fund.
Long-Term Goals (5+ years): Common long-term goals include retirement, funding a child’s future education, or building a substantial investment portfolio.

Your goals will influence the type of investments you choose and the level of risk you’re willing to take. For instance, if you’re saving for a down payment on a house within the next few years, you might opt for lower-risk investments like bonds or a high-yield savings account. Conversely, if you’re investing for retirement 30 years down the line, you might consider higher-risk investments like stocks for their potential higher returns, since you have more time to recover from market fluctuations.

Understanding Different Types of Investment Accounts

Selecting the right investment account is crucial for achieving your financial goals. It’s important to consider factors like tax benefits, contribution limits, penalties for early withdrawal, and required minimum distributions (RMDs) rules.

Here are the most common types of investment accounts:

Brokerage Account: A brokerage account is a standard investment option that allows you to buy and sell a wide range of investments, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. It offers flexibility but is subject to capital gains taxes on profits. Though brokerage accounts don’t have contribution limits, they may have minimum investment requirements depending on the brokerage firm.
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs): IRAs provide tax advantages for retirement savings. There are two main types:
- Traditional IRA: Contributions may be tax-deductible, and investments grow tax-deferred. You pay taxes on withdrawals during retirement.
- Roth IRA: Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, but withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. You can withdraw your original contributions without penalty at any time, but earnings are subject to taxes and penalties if withdrawn before age 59½ (with certain exceptions).
401(k) & Other Employer-Sponsored Accounts: These are retirement accounts offered by employers. Contributions are made pre-tax, and many employers offer matching contributions, essentially providing free money to employees who participate. Investment growth is tax-deferred, and withdrawals are taxed as income during retirement. Be aware that some employers may have contribution limits lower than the IRS maximum.

Account Type	Tax Benefits	Contribution Limits (2024)	Withdrawal Rules
Brokerage	None	None	No restrictions
Traditional IRA	Tax-deferred	$7,000 (under 50), $8,000 (50+)	Penalties before 59½, RMDs at 73
Roth IRA	Tax-free withdrawals	$7,000 (under 50), $8,000 (50+)	Penalties before 59½ on earnings only
401(k)	Tax-deferred, potential employer match	$23,000 (under 50), $30,500 (50+)	Penalties before 59½, RMDs at 73

Choosing Your Investment Strategy

Your investment strategy will depend on your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Here are some basic strategies to consider:

Stocks: Individual stocks represent ownership in a company and have the potential for high returns but also come with higher risk.
Bonds: As fixed-income debt securities, bonds pay interest over time and are generally considered lower risk than stocks.
Mutual Funds & ETFs: These options are pools of investments that offer diversification and professional management. ETFs and mutual funds are suitable for beginners due to their simplicity and lower risk compared to individual stocks.
Real Estate: Investing in property can provide rental income and potential appreciation, though it requires more capital and management, and provides less liquidity than other investment options.

Diversification is key to managing risk. By spreading your investments across different asset classes, industries, and geographies, you reduce the impact of any single investment’s poor performance on your overall portfolio.

Getting Started with Your First Investment

Once you’ve decided on your investment strategy, it’s time to open an investment account. Here are the steps to get started:

Choose a Brokerage Firm: Look for a brokerage firm that offers low fees, a user-friendly platform, and the types of investments you want to make. The largest U.S. brokerage firms are Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard, and JP Morgan.
Gather Required Documentation: You’ll need personal identification, bank account information, and possibly employment details.
Fund Your Account: Transfer money from your bank account to your brokerage account. Start with an amount you’re comfortable with, even if it’s small—but note that some brokers have minimum deposit requirements.
Make Your First Investment: Select your first investment based on your strategy. Consider starting with a diversified fund like an S&P 500 ETF to gain broad market exposure.

Building & Managing Your Portfolio

Regular contributions are essential for building wealth over time. Set up automatic transfers to your investment account to ensure consistent investing. Monitor your portfolio periodically to ensure it aligns with your goals and risk tolerance.

Rebalancing your portfolio involves adjusting your investments to maintain your desired asset allocation. For example, if one asset class has grown significantly, you might sell some of those investments and buy more of another to keep your portfolio balanced.

Maintaining a long-term perspective is crucial. Avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations. Instead, focus on your long-term goals and stick to your investment plan.

The Bottom Line: Start Investing Today

Investing can seem daunting, but by following these steps and staying informed, you can build a solid financial foundation. Now that you have a roadmap for getting started, take the first step towards your financial future by opening an investment account today! Remember to define your goals, choose the right investment accounts, and develop a strategy that suits your risk tolerance and time horizon. With regular contributions and a disciplined approach, you can achieve your financial objectives, unlock the power of compound interest, and secure a prosperous future.

Additional Investing Resources

Want to continue learning about investing? Check out the articles below for more information!

The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. For specific financial counsel on investments, we strongly recommend seeking the guidance of a qualified expert.

Published on Jun 7, 2024

Written by The Influent Staff