Self-investing may be daunting, especially for novice traders. However, as you go along your trading journey and reach a certain mileage, it is not uncommon to begin to contemplate self-investing. Even though ‘self-investing’ may sound like you are completely on your own and have to take care of everything, it is in fact not a lonely path at all. Self-investing can be done with a broker, and it can be an extremely rewarding and lucrative endeavour if you play your cards right.
Below are a few factors to pay attention to when you begin your self-investing journey, to ensure you are making the most out of your time and energy.
What is self-investing?
Firstly, it is important to know what exactly self-investing is. Self-investing is also referred to as ‘direct investing’ or ‘self-directed investing’. Some others may call it ‘do-it-yourself’ investing. In essence, it is investing without the services and input of a financial advisor.
This is tempting to many and is widely practised. With the Internet becoming more and more accessible, there is an abundance of trading tips and investment strategies out there for traders to study in-depth. Traders also get a kick of making profits based on their own instinct and judgement, and many of them become lifelong self-investors.
Determining if self-investing is right for you
Though self-investing is a very popular endeavour, it may not be right for everyone. Below are a few factors to consider before moving into managing your portfolio completely on your own:
- Your lifestyle. Managing your own portfolio can be fun and even may be considered easy if you are a full-time trader or work in financial institutions. But before you decide to self-invest, you need to ask yourself if it is compatible with your lifestyle. Many financial advisors and professional traders spend most of their time executing trades and managing the wealth of others, leaving no time for them to focus on their own portfolios.
- Your experience and investment capacity. Next, you have to ask yourself honestly if you are up for the challenge of self-investing. Even though it does not mean that you will not receive any support from your broker, self-investing is a much more independent activity, and you must know much more than the basics of investing in order to continue making informed decisions on trades.
- Would you enjoy it? Finally, enjoyment in trading is also a factor. Self-investing can be a lonely journey sometimes, and if you are the type of trader who likes to participate in forums, chat with financial advisors, and develop close relationships with your portfolio manager, then self-investing may be less suitable for you.
How to make the most out of self-investing
Below are a few areas you may want to devote a bit of extra time and attention to in order to make the most out of your self-investing journey.
- Ensure your portfolio is exactly the way you want it.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but one of the greatest perks of self-investing is that you get to ensure that your portfolio is exactly the way you want it. Not one asset more, and not one less. With the right broker, you can choose from a range of financial products globally. Choose only the products that suit you and you are confident to invest in.
- Familiarise yourself with investment tools.
With an abundance of tutorials and guides out there on the Internet, it is always a good time to familiarise yourself with investment tools. From the basics to the niche, as long as you know what you are doing, you can apply your knowledge on the trading floor. The thing about self-investing is that you will become your own financial advisor, so it is best to understand exactly how trading works to make the most informed decisions, because you are also your own client.
- Select a user-friendly platform and stick with it.
The only way to make the most out of investing is to select a platform that you feel the most comfortable in and can navigate well. Whether you are a desktop or mobile investor, find a broker that can suit your needs.
- Learn from experts.
Just because you are steering the wheel of your own investment vehicle does not mean you should not seek guidance and advice from experts. Building an investment portfolio you will love may be simple at first glance but managing it long-term can certainly be complex and even at times pose challenges. Many brokers these days offer the option of self-investment and a hands-off approach for their clientele while still offering them a range of free investment ideas and guidance, which make perfect reading material for those who want to level-up.
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The bottom line
Self-investing offers traders much greater freedom when it comes to managing their own portfolio and their time. However, not everyone is suitable for this type of trading, and many may find it more enjoyable to trade the ‘traditional’ way. If you believe you would like to try out trading on your own, you can read more about how you can open an account and get started.