We all need to save money for the future. But bank interests from saving accounts can barely beat inflation. As the future of social security becomes unknown and many companies' retirement plan becomes undependable, investing has become the most important way to insure our financial future.

Before you start investing, you should learn the basics of investment. At the same time, you need to have a good understanding of your risk tolerance and be clear about your investment goals. Ask yourself the following questions: What do you want to achieve through investments? Retiring? Buying a home? Funding college education? Will it be long term investing or short term investing? How much money can you invest? Knowing your goal will help you make better investment decisions.

There are different types of investments, such as stocks, bonds and cash. You need to learn about each type and should decide on which ways to invest based on your own situation. There are three types of investors: conservative investors, moderate investors and aggressive investors. Conservative investors invest in cash, including bank saving accounts, CDs, US treasury bills etc. Moderate investors invest in cash and bonds and may also invest in the stock market and low risk real estate. Aggressive investors do most of investing in the stock market and might also invest in business ventures and high risk estate.

How much many should you invest? To answer this question, you need to first determine how much you can afford to invest and what your financial goals are. It's important to always keep three to six months of living expenses ready in savings. Then, you can determine how much you can add to your investments in the future. Also, keep in mind that some types of investments require a certain initial investment amount.

When you start investing, you should try to avoid some common mistakes that people tend to make. First of all, don't put all your eggs into one basket. Diversification should be an important part of your investment strategy. Also, don't expect to get rich quickly. Don't put off investing until later, and don't invest aggressively until you are in the financial position to do so. When you invest, it's important to plan for the long-term because investors who focus on long-term gains benefit most.

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