New to Investing? Here’s How to Get Started

Are you waiting to build up a large amount of money before you start investing in the stock market? It may not take as much money as you think! Using different types of investments can make even the smallest start toward your financial goals worthwhile. Here’s what you need to know about the basics. 

How Much Money Do I Need to Start Investing?

If you have extra cash on hand after paying your bills, you can put it to good use by investing it for your future. Even if you only have an extra $500 to invest, that’s a great start! If you’re not quite there, though, there are ways to invest with smaller amounts. For example, Navy Federal Investment Services Digital Investor allows you to invest as little as $1 per individual stock or exchange traded fund (ETF). 

When Should I Start Investing? 

It’s never too late to start, but the sooner you begin, the better. With more time on your side, you’ll reap the rewards of dividends that can be reinvested for continued growth. 

The “Rule of 72” is one method people use to estimate how long it will take their money to double if they continuously reinvest. Here is a simple way to explain how this method works.

• If you’re using 6% as your sample rate of return, the formula would be: 72 / Rate of Return (6%) = Time to Double Your Money (12 years)¹

The chart below shows more examples. Periodically monitoring interest rates will help you stay on track. 

What Choices Do I Have for Investing My Money?

Where you invest your money makes a difference. If you’re investing for short-term goals, you might choose a certificate, money market account or short-term corporate bond funds. For long-term goals such as retirement, there are employer-sponsored retirement plans or you can open your own traditional IRA or Roth IRA. (Even if you have an employer-sponsored plan, you can open an IRA, too.) Check out our article on Understanding Retirement Savings Options for more details on how different types of retirement accounts work. For more long-term investment options, you can also invest in mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (EFTs), individual stocks, long-term bonds and annuities.

What Do I Need to Know About Investment Risk? 

Although investing money does involve some risk, not investing and keeping your money in a savings account could mean you'd miss out on opportunities to grow your money faster and keep up with inflation. If you have questions and are seeking investment advice, consider consulting a financial advisor. They can help you get started with the appropriate asset allocation, known as diversification, that matches your financial situation and risk tolerance. If you prefer managing your investment account on your own, you can always use our Digital Investor tool as a low-cost option.

What If I Don’t Have Much Time to Spend on Investing?

Even if you don’t have much time to manage your portfolio, you can keep your investment plan growing all year long by setting up automatic investing. An employer retirement plan is designed to do this for you through payroll deductions. You can also set up recurring transfers to automate your IRA or brokerage accounts.

What If I Need Help?

Not sure what to do next? Don’t worry—that’s why we’re here! If you have questions, a financial advisor with Navy Federal Investment Services can answer your questions and help you get started. Or, if you’re interested in a more do-it-yourself option, our Digital Investor is a powerful, but simple online investing tool that allows you to research, buy and track your investments. Visit our investment page to learn more about various investment vehicles; investment options; what a diversified portfolio consists of; and the investment goals you need to set for your own personal financial plan.