Because there are so many different investing options you can take, these are the most important points that can apply to just about anything you invest in. Full outline in the description. Enjoy! Add me on Snapchat/Instagram: GPStephan Free Coaching Call + $50 Off for those that join by Monday March 5th at 11:59pm: Learn how to start and grow your career as a Real Estate Agent to a Six-Figure Income, how to best build your network of clients, expand into luxury markets, and the exact steps I’ve used to grow my business from $0 to over $120 million in sales: $50 off with code Coaching50 for a limited time: https://goo.gl/UFpi4c Join the private Real Estate Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therealestatemillionairemastermind/ The first is to start as early as you can. As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now. This is one of the biggest advantages you have of being young is that you have the power of time, and the longer you invest - the more money you make. Consider this…if you invest $1000 per year at an 8% return beginning at the age of 16, you’ll have $616,000 by the time you’re 65. If you invest the same $1000 per year at an 8% interest but you started at 30 years old instead of 16…you’ll only have $200,800. That means that each year between the ages of 16 and 30 is worth over $29,000…for every $1000 you invested early on. The second is to re-invest often. This plays off the first point in terms of compounded interest. In fact, this point is so important that Albert Einstein called it “the 8th wonder of the world.” The whole premise here is that your money makes you more money, that then makes you more money. The third is to invest long term. This is my biggest philosophy when it comes to investing. Some people are traders - where their goal is to get in and out and make a profit. I’m not one of them, and I prefer to buy it once and forget about it. It’s statistically proven that overall, market timing doesn’t work and time in the market makes the biggest difference. And if you do that, this is crucial - having a short term outlook doesn’t really provide enough time to recover from a market downturn or correction. Overall, things will never move in a straight line up - it’s often up and down along the way, but the overall trend is increasing. This is why it’s important to have a long term outlook. For myself, I don’t care what prices are like 5 years from now - or 15 years from now. I just care that they’ll be much, much higher 30-40 years from now. If I’m not planning to touch that money or do anything with it, I pretend like it doesn’t exist and I’m packing it away for the future. The fourth is to diversify. Don’t have all of your eggs in one basket. This is less about maximizing your returns, and more about loss avoidance. In the small chance things don’t work out, you won’t be out of luck. Sure, you COULD possibly hit it big with one amazing investment, or you could risk it all if it fails. When it comes to investing, it’s important to diversify your holdings between investments and cash. The fifth is to do your research. Honestly the worst investment you do is the one you don’t understand. That’s how you end up losing money. It’s so important that you understand what you’re investing in, why you’ve invested in it, and have a strategy in place. Never invest blindly and do not take advice blindly or take random advice from people on the internet. For business inquiries or one-on-one real estate investing/real estate agent consulting or coaching, you can reach me at GrahamStephanBusiness@gmail.com Suggested reading: The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: http://goo.gl/TPTSVC Your money or your life: https://goo.gl/fmlaJR The Millionaire Real Estate Investor: https://goo.gl/sV9xtl How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://goo.gl/1f3Meq Think and grow rich: https://goo.gl/SSKlyu Awaken the giant within: https://goo.gl/niIAEI The Book on Rental Property Investing: https://goo.gl/qtJqFq Favorite Credit Cards: Chase Sapphire Reserve - https://goo.gl/sT68EC American Express Platinum - https://goo.gl/C9n4e3