One of my peeves with the educational system is why we don’t teach kids about money management and investments.  After all, if they taught it in school I’d have learned it and avoided mountains of debt while in college! The truth is we need to start investing at some point, and even though we didn’t learn about it in school there are free resources to learn all about smart investing.

According to a recent study, more than half of America isn’t investing in the stock market. Statistics have several reasons behind them, the biggest is fear. Usually fear is the one reason we don’t do what we should do – and it can be relieved by learning.  Below are the 5 most common excuses.  Which is yours?

I Can’t Spend The Money
The number one reason most don’t invest is because they (wrongly) believe it takes a lot of money to invest. You don’t need to have a lot to begin and there are numerous ways to invest with little money. Many online brokerages don’t require a balance, and these spare change free trading companies are great solutions.

There are options like Acorns or Robinhood that let you start investing with your spare change or allow for free trading. There are also a number of online brokerages that have $0 balance requirements.

Look at your budget to realize what you can cut to to start investing.  Often the best places to start are the areas we aren’t using, such as subscriptions, cable TV or magazines we don’t read.  One of my favorite things to do is go out to eat – and it’s a challenge to cut it out completely, but paring down is easier.

It’s Too Difficult For Me
Ignorance is a regular excuse. While it isn’t easy, the key is to learn by reading or doing.  There are online investing options which make it simpler than ever.
Even if you don’t have access to a 401(k), consider a virtual financial advisor managing your investments for you. Don’t let difficulty or lack of confidence hold you back. Just get started.

I Have No Time
One or two years of procrastination can easily turn into more. Time is on your side when it comes to investing.  The stock market has had a great run adding wealth to many who stayed in. Consider that in every decade over the past century the stock market has returned a positive result.

I Might Lose Money
It’s true – when you invest in the stock market, you will lose money. But if done wisely, investing in the stock market isn’t like gambling – you will lose money, but you also have the potential to make money – especially long-term view.  Make your money work for you and realize short-term losses can pale in comparison to long-term gains.

While investing in the stock market can be overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. If you need an outstanding financial advisor I’m happy to provide you a referral!