How to be a better investor

One of the first things that a successful investor will mention, when they are asked about how to succeed with investing, is the amount of research and planning that they took the time to do, before they made any type of investment purchase. Whether you are buying stocks or investing in a small business, the amount of research that you do is directly connected with the ultimate success of the business. Investors who overlook this crucial step often find themselves with an investment that isn't what they want, and worse yet, isn't making them any money.

It is crucial to become educated about every aspect of the world of investing. This is really the one way to clearly determine whether you are choosing investments that will help you to achieve your financial goals. Studies have shown that the most successful investors are those who make both educated and strategic investing moves. If you feel that you don't have the time or simply don't want to make the effort to do the research, then it is unlikely that you will be a long term successful investor. So if you are looking for way to not waste your time, money and effort, here is what you need to know about how to be a better investor-
- Keep in mind what investing can really do-Investing is not a get rich quick scheme. If you are looking to make fast money, then investing is not the right arena to do that. There is a time value that is attached to every kind of investing. Successful investors realize that this time value must be understood and respected. You need to be able to put your money into your investment and then leave it alone and wait for it to grow. If you feel that you won't be able to do this, then investing may not be the right choice. You should also make sure that you never use money that you need for something else, such as paying the bills, In addition, any funds that you will need in the next 5 years for buying a house, funding an education or making another large purchase, should not be used either.
- Keep in mind that you should never invest in something you don't fully understand-Many people are surprised to learn that some of the world's best known investors have walked away from investments. If you don't fully understand the investment, there is to much risk, for your money. You should never let your pride dictate what you will invest in. You want to make sure that you are taking the time to ask lots of question do the necessary research and read all of the literature that you are given. Then only when you feel totally comfortable with the investment, should you put your money into it. Even after taking all of these steps, you still feel that the investment is overly complicated or you simply don't understand it, then you take this a red flag to move onto a different investment opportunity.
- Keep in mind that investing is not a popularity contest-Many times investors allows themselves to make the decision to purchase an investment because it seems like it is the next "hot thing". It is crucial to remember that every investment is not going to fit your investment goals and strategies. You should never allow yourself to purchase an investment, simply because everyone else around you is doing so. You want to make sure that any investment that you are considering will fit your goals and strategies. The majority of the time that investors give in and purchase an investment that everyone else is, they are usually unhappy with the ultimate results.