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If you want to achieve financial independence and success, you need to learn how to set investment goals. Learning how to set achievable and specific goals will help you make a precise plan, stay focused, and be motivated in the process of reaching your aims.
What makes a good investment goal? Keep on reading to find out how to set investment goals and measure your progress along the way.
How Investment Goals are Connected with Our Lives
We start learning about money at an early age. The authority and power of money grow when we get our first paid chore or allowance. As we grow up, we encounter financial challenges and face the need to take out no-refusal installment loans in Canada or student loans to pay for college.
Many parents teach their kids about investment when they tell you can have a piggy bank and save money for new clothes or video games.
Investments are connected with our lifestyle and this connection becomes even bigger when we are adults.
Once you start working and have a regular income, this is the time you may begin thinking about investments. You need to make smart decisions about bank accounts, savings funds, and 401(k) contributions while also paying existing debts off.
If you are willing to become financially free, setting investment goals is what you need. It’s never too late to start investing. Having some funds set aside and working for you is beneficial if you worry about health issues, future pregnancies, comfortable retirement, and unforeseen monetary disruptions. People can start investing at any age. The only thing you need is a purpose and investment objective.
What Makes a Good Investment Objective?
Financial experts advise people to use SMART goals for their investment opportunities.
This format was introduced by the Australian Investors Association and it includes 5 elements:
- Specific. The first key element to set an investment objective is to determine the purpose of your investment and the amount you want to save. Why are you willing to become an investor? What are you saving for?
- Measurable. The second element is making your objective measurable. You need to clearly view how far or how close you are to achieving your aims. Thus, it’s usually rather easy to measure your goals as there is a certain dollar sum attached to them.
- Achievable. This is an important element of the investment objective. If it’s too lofty, your motivation may go away. Achievable and realistic goals help you remain concentrated on what needs to be done.
- Relevant. Make sure the investment objective you set is aligned with your values and other aims you may set. This objective should be relevant.
- Time-bound. Remember that your objective needs to be attached to a final date. It will help you compute exactly the amount you have to save weekly or monthly and work your way toward reaching this goal.
Ways to Overcome Obstacles
Studies show that putting your financial goals down on paper and giving reports about your milestones and progress to friends or family can be beneficial for your goal setting and achieving these goals.
You can start investing or setting aside your funds at any age. Realistic and achievable investment goals can be accomplished at any time.
Of course, it may be challenging to remain on track when you face one curveball of life after another. Financial issues, sickness, divorce, or job loss can easily unsettle people and have negative outcomes when it comes to financial stability. Besides, the market is quite volatile and you risk losing your savings or investments.
How to Set Achievable Investment Objectives
Now that you know why setting investment objectives are significant and what elements should be included, here are what steps you need to take to achieve your investment aims.
Determine Your Goal
This is your first step. Define what exactly you would like to accomplish. Do you dream about saving for your dream house? Is it a college degree you are planning to get? Would you like to save for a comfortable retirement? Whatever your aim is, make sure you know it and follow SMART elements to help you create a solid investment plan.
Seek Support and Help
Don’t hesitate to search for support and advice especially as you are just about to start investing. You may set your objectives but lack of skills or knowledge to avoid pitfalls and reach your aims.
There are numerous investing websites and platforms sharing educational materials and resources for beginners. Multiple social media pages may help you for free. Certified professionals, networking options, and various programs may also be useful.
Choose Your Investment Strategy
Think about your short-term and long-term goals. Are you planning to accomplish your investment objective within a few years? Do you need a decade or more to reach your goal? Liquid investments such as Treasury bills, cash, or money market accounts are more suitable for short-term goals. They can be accomplished within a few years.
Stocks and other types of investment with fixed income may be useful for your mid-term objectives as they can be accomplished within five to ten years. If you are willing to invest in exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, or stocks – you are thinking about a long-term objective that will probably take over ten years to accomplish.
Invest Small Sums
It’s better to start investing a smaller amount as you can’t predict what may happen with the market in several years. It is too volatile to risk losing all your savings at once. Start small if you are a new investor.
You will gain experience along the way and have a better understanding of investment options while your objective will be easier to achieve.
The Bottom Line
You need to be determined and disciplined to set investment objectives and accomplish them. It’s never too late to begin investing and figure out what you want to achieve in the future. Set realistic, achievable, and time-bound goals and begin investing small sums until you understand how the market works. If this process seems overwhelming, you may seek support and assistance.
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