Start when you can
It’s all about starting small. The sooner you start investing, the better, no matter how much you’re setting aside. That’s because one of Buffett’s core principles, compounding, ensures you earn returns on both your initial investment and the growth it generates. For instance, investing $100 per month at a 5% annual compound rate would grow to $15,593 over 10 years.
If you’re struggling to find the extra cash to invest, platforms like Acorns can simplify investing by building a long-term portfolio for you using your spare change.
Acorns automatically rounds up purchases on your linked debit and credit cards to the nearest dollar and invest the difference into a smart portfolio. This way, even everyday spending can contribute to your financial goals.
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Invest for the long-run
Instead of trying to beat the market and constantly changing your investments, another tried-and-true Buffett approach is to pick solid investments and then leave them alone.
In 1998, Buffett shared his belief that investors should “only buy something that you'd be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for ten years.” Data from Finimize also proves that in general, the longer your investment horizon is, the less likely you are to suffer a loss.
If you have a long-term goal in mind for your investments, working with a financial advisor can help you make a concrete plan to get there.
Vanguard offers a hybrid advisory service that combines professional advice and automated portfolio management to ensure your investments are working toward your long-term objectives.
With a minimum portfolio size of $50,000, Vanguard caters to investors with established portfolios who want to grow their wealth with a mix of strategies.
Research, but don’t copy
Another issue with trying to follow Buffett’s trades is that the stock market moves quickly. In the 1960s, when Buffett was in his 20s (and perhaps still copy trading), the average stock-holding period was between seven and eight years. Now, it’s less than a year long, on average. And given the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) only requires institutional investors to disclose their holdings quarterly, you’d often be several months behind his actual trades.
This delay can lead to serious risks. That’s why it’s important you stick to industries or businesses you understand rather than following blindly.
Tools like Public allow you to invest while learning from a community of fellow investors who post their insights on a wide range of stocks.
Public’s social investing platform democratizes access to investing by offering commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs, treasuries, and alternative assets. They also offer a high-yield cash account with a competitive interest rate for any of your uninvested funds.
