Investing Money

Investing money is not as simple as it used to be. There are many more products, laws, and choices than ever before. If you're like most people, you do not go home on a Friday night and start working on your financial plan.

Steps for Investing:

1. Set financial goals based on your budget and needs and wants
2. Make sure you have an emergency account
3. Put a price tag on each of these goals
4. Calculate the monthly savings for each of the goals
5. With short term goals (less than 4 years) you invest in more liquid investments. (saving accounts, CD's, treasuries)
6. Long Term Goals require you to determine your risk tolerance and where you are going to put the money
Remember you can lose money in equity investing, but it is the best place for long-term investment gains
Equity investing is for the long term - account performance will go up and down.
7. Do an asset allocation model, including different asset classes reduce your risk.
8. Do not try to 'time' the market, it never works.
9. Annually rebalance your account, the asset class that was up this year maybe down next year.
10. Ask questions
11. If you need help find an advisor, no matter how small your account. Knowledge is POWER!