How to Improve Investing Acumen for a Better Retired Life

Retirement forms a significant portion of your life and can amount to 30 to 35 years, depending on when to choose to retire. If you believe in the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement, you may have even more years in retirement. All of these years need to be backed with financial adequacy. In the absence of enough funds, you can experience financial anxiety, frustration, and sometimes may even be compelled to go back to work. However, this can be avoided with prior financial planning. When you talk about retirement planning, knowing how and where to invest is crucial. This knowledge comes when you improve your investing acumen.

Here’s how you can improve your investing acumen for a better retirement life.

1. Read financial books to improve your knowledge and make better investment decisions:

   By reading financial books, journals, newsletters, newspapers, magazine, etc., you can build up on your understanding of how the world of finance and investing works. The more you read, the more aware you would be on the benefits and disadvantages of your investment choices. Financial blogs often compare different investment tools and present the pros and cons of each in a comparative format, making it easier for you to make a decision. In addition to this, these blogs explain the tax liabilities and benefits of common retirement accounts, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, etc. This information not only helps you in investing your money the first time but also gives you an idea about how to monitor your investments for the long run and how to react in case of a market downfall. With a pool of knowledge on your side, you are less likely to feel stressed when things do not go your way.

2. Talk to your financial advisor about investing your money wisely:

   A lot of people like to leave things entirely up to their financial advisors. While it is true that you pay a fee to your financial advisor or wealth manager to take care of your investment decisions, it may help you to be a little involved. The role of a financial advisor is indispensable, but spending time with your advisor can educate you about the various investments you have at your disposal. This can equip you to invest your money wisely. Moreover, you will also be able to point out a genuine recommendation and one that is being suggested to you because of a personal interest. Financial advisors are skilled and experienced professionals with many years of work to support their name and reputation. Spending some time with them and engaging in honest and open communication will not only benefit you with a balanced and diversified portfolio but will also open your mind to newer and more useful avenues of investing.

3. Be open to learning more about making better financial decisions:

   Unfortunately, finance is always considered to be a complex subject. Financial jargons can be intimidating and often lead people to believe that they are beyond their comprehension. This sometimes creates a mental block. However, having an open mind to learn can go a long way. Instead of shying away from learning about taxes, contributions and withdrawals rules, interest rates, expenses ratios, etc., be forthcoming to learn what these are and how they can eat into your returns. The more you know, the more empowered you will feel. You can start by reading self-help books. Many successful businesspersons, financial experts, and professionals have penned down their journeys in books. You can also consider talking to your peers, family members, or seniors at work. Learn from their mistakes so that you can make better decisions for yourself. Also, remember that it is never too late to start learning. Regardless of your age, improving your investment acumen is essential for everyone. Moreover, since the world of finance is constantly evolving and growing, learning is a constant continuing process here.

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4. Do not be afraid to practice by starting with small investments:

   Practical knowledge can supersede theoretical knowhow. This is why it is important to practice what you learn. Since you are dealing with your hard earned money, it can seem challenging to take the first step. However, there are ways to get over this fear. You can start with small investments. Stocks, even with a higher level of risk, are a good place to start. You can first invest small amounts of money to see how the market functions. As you gain confidence and understanding, you can place bigger bets. Remember to always cross check your moves with your financial advisor to be entirely sure of your choice. Remember also that there is a big difference in being reckless and acting with confidence. Try to aim for the latter.

5. Understand your goals and risk tolerance to make better investment choices:

   In order to understand your investments better, it may be advised to have a clear idea of your financial goals and risk appetite. Not all investments would be suitable for you, and you can pick the right ones only if you know your goals clearly. With every life stage and change in your personal relationships, the short term and long term view of your finances is also bound to change. It helps to take cognizance of these aspects, as they allow you to set a suitable plan in action. It is also important to learn investment acumen that aligns with your unique needs and requirements. For instance, if you prefer risk averse investments, fixed income investments, such as a certificate of deposit (CD), life annuity plan, or a bond may be a good option. In this case, learning about the different types of bonds like government, municipal, and corporate bonds can help you. Alternatively, if you are open to adding more risk to your portfolio, you can invest in stocks, exchange traded funds, mutual funds, etc., as per your risk taking capacity at a given time.

To sum it up

Improving your investment acumen can drastically alter your retirement. This way, not only will you lead a comfortable life post-retirement but will also have a more stress free life pre-retirement. When you know you are on the right track, your mind can be at ease and concentrate on the more important things like your professional growth, personal development, and physical and mental well-being. Hence, it helps not to ignore the relevance of learning about investing and saving.

Talking with a financial advisor can assist you to improve your investment acumen and help you to invest your money wisely and enjoy financial freedom for life. You can use our free tool to compare up to 3 financial advisors and find the best advisor for you that meets your needs.