How to build your confidence in investment in 2024

Investing is a scary process and can be a daunting process, especially if you’ve suffered from financial losses and setbacks, or are new to the world of finance and investing. In this guide, we’ll explore practical and accessible steps that anyone can take to navigate the complex world of investments with confidence.

What do we mean by confidence in investment, and what does a confident investor look like? Confidence usually manifests as a deep understanding of one’s goals, limits, tolerance to risk and a sound understanding of the market dynamics that could influence one’s decisions. It is a concept beyond the willingness to invest, it runs deeper. Confidence, both in everyday life and in the world of investment, is the belief in one’s ability to navigate the world successfully. By itself, confidence is a psychological and emotional state, more than a personality trait, and that is great news, as dynamic qualities and traits can be developed and influenced by various factors.

Having a clear and realistic set of achievable goals should be one of your goals. These goals you set yourself should act as guiding principles, and will help you shape your investment strategy and give you a benchmark against which to measure success. What are you looking forward to? Do you want to go back to school, get a master’s, retire comfortably or create a little security fund for your future? A confident investor must have a quick answer to this question and be committed to his or her goals.

Confidence is also closely tied to the concept of risk tolerance. Understanding how much you’re willing to lose if everything goes south. A confident investor recognises that risk is a part of the process, and makes thoughtful considerations taking into the picture factors such as age, financial obligations and the ability to endure short-term market fluctuations.

So how to get started?

1. Understanding the basics

As I’ve mentioned above, confidence is mostly based on knowledge. If you’re completely new to investing, and you’re looking for a new challenge in 2024, it is essential to understand and learn the basics. Ask yourself how much you know about investing, does it all revolve around movies such as The Wolf of Wall Street and TikTok memes? Might not be enough. Start with simple concepts such as risk and return, diversification and compound interest. You’ll find many online resources on our blog and learning platform, our articles are beginner-friendly and will guide you in the right direction. You don’t necessarily need a huge time commitment, community workshops and online courses can provide a solid foundation to your investment endeavours.

2. Embrace a long-term mindset

Investing takes time, and it will take time to see the results of the choices you choose to make today. It’s not a sprint but a very slow marathon. This has to be kept in mind, especially for people who have experienced financial failures and people who have limited resources. Making quick money is alluring, the temptation of getting rich fast is often just a temptation, as successful investing requires patience and time. Focus on building a diversified portfolio and give yourself and your investment the time it needs to grow and develop.

3. Start small and gradually increase

If you’re at a point in your life when your financial means are limited but you don’t want to let that stop you from investing, then starting small might be the most practical approach. Beewise allows you to begin with a €10 commitment, making investments and savings accessible to people with modest resources. As your confidence grows and your financial situation improves and develops, consider upping your investment contributions to fully capitalise on compound interest.

4. Explore low-cost investment options

Index funds and ETFs are a great option for people with financial constraints. Lower fees mean a lower entry barrier, and a lower entry barrier allows you to participate in the market little by little, learning as you go and getting to know yourself and your adversity to risk. Lower costs will also provide you with more sense of control over your investment outcomes, shifting the power dynamic in your favour.

5. Seek professional advice

If time is a constraint, seeking professional advice can be a game-changer. A skilled advisor can embody the saying “less is more”, by tailoring your investment strategies to your unique and personal situation. A skilled financial advisor will take into account your goals, risk tolerance and time requirements. It probably won’t be cheap, but it can help you save time, money and make more informed investment decisions down the line.

6. Learn from past mistakes

Learning from your past mistakes will build your confidence by helping you self-reflect and grow. Confronting your own mistakes and analysing the errors and misjudgments will help you gain insight and to identify the underlying factors that led to those outcomes. Admitting to your mistakes will build resilience and foster a sense of competence and self-efficacy. Missteps are not the end of the world, and if you’re looking into getting started in the world of finance you’ll have to get used to failure. Embracing yourself fully, accepting your rights and your wrongs will instill the belief in you that challenges are only opportunities for learning and growth.

7. Build a supportive community

Creating a community of friends and peers will make you feel less alone, in life, work and when it comes to investing. Finding peers who encourage, understand and share your same experiences within a community will create a stimulating and nurturing environment, fostering personal growth and self-improvement. You’ll be able to give and receive feedback, and witness each other’s successes and challenges, while developing a collective feeling of resilience and building a safety net.

Disclaimer: This article has been distributed for educational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed.