Property & Finance
The best way to learn is to start

By Michael O’Connor
While I advocate education as a fast-track to becoming a confident investor, the idea that you need to know everything can be a major deterrent for would-be investors.
Breaking News: nobody has all the answers to this game, and nobody ever will, no matter how many hours they dedicate to it.
The feeling that you don't know enough is often used as a procrastination tool regardless of your knowledge. I've also seen firsthand how people can get stuck in a learning loop without ever buying a stock.
Across so many aspects of life, the best way to learn is to start, and investing is no different. Just put one foot in front of the other. The learning curve may be steep, you will undoubtedly make some mistakes along the way, but practical experience trumps academic theory every time.
Your first step? Set up a brokerage account
Your second step? Create a watchlist
Create a list of stocks and Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) you would like to invest in. This watchlist will change and grow over time, but here is a solid base from which to start. Focus on companies you like, companies you use every day, products that you use today that you believe you will still be using 10 years from now.
And finally, it's time to whittle down your watchlist to just one stock. We're not talking about your life savings here; you can put as little as €10 down. Take your time and pick a company you are a customer of or one you interact with regularly; maybe it's an App on your phone that you can't live without or a service that you think more and more people will need in the future. Your first pick doesn't have to be perfect, but I promise you it will pique your interest in that company and everything about it. This newfound interest may lead to further investments within the company or act as a knowledge base for comparison against other similar businesses going forward.
Start small but start now.
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