The longer you wait to invest or prioritize your financial wellness, the more expensive it will be for you. As an investor, time is your greatest asset and best friend. The more time you give your money to be invested, the more the opportunity you give it to grow. The longer you give your money the time to grow, the less money you will need to contribute for the same eventual outcome. Waiting to invest will be an expensive choice!

There is never going to be a perfect time to invest. No perfect time to set your money aside and invest for your future. Life is always changing, and life gets more expensive as time goes on. And the more you can prioritize your financial wellness today, the better off you will be.

Keep in mind, I’m not only talking about beginner investors who haven’t started investing.

I’m also addressing those individuals who are investing up to the employer match and could likely do more. Those individuals who are making multiple six figure incomes and aren’t maxing out any of their retirement accounts. I’m talking to you too, friend!

Waiting to invest is expensive. Prioritize investing in income producing assets now and make it easier on yourself later.

Here are a few examples of how your choice of waiting to invest may require more from you in the future.

Assumptions:

1. 3 individuals have a goal of reaching $1,000,000 by age 60.
2. They invest in the stock market and get an average annual rate of return of 8%.
3. Not taking into consideration any tax as a result of earnings.

Example 1:

• Sadie is 25 years old and starts contributing to her employer provided 401K. With the assumptions noted above, she will have to contribute roughly $484 per month for the next 35 years in order to reach her $1,000,000 goal.
• Total Contributions (money Sadie put in): $203,280
• Total Growth: $796,720

Example 2:

• John is 33 years old and starts contributing to his employer provided 401K. With the assumptions noted above, he will have to contribute roughly $954 per month for the next 27 years in order to reach his $1,000,000 goal.
• Total Contributions: $309,096
• Total Growth: $690,904

Example 3:

• Maya is 40 years old and starts contributing to her employer provided 401K. With the assumptions noted above, she will have to contribute roughly $1,821 per month for the next 20 years in order to reach her $1,000,000 goal.
• Total Contributions: $437,040
• Total Growth: $562,960

What you see here is the exact same outcome. Each of these individuals have an investment portfolio of $1,000,000 by age 60. But it took a lot more effort, likely more sacrifice, and MORE MONEY contributed the longer the individual waited to invest. Which is why you’ll hear me say, investing is more expensive the longer you wait.

The goal of investing is to provide your assets the ability to grow in excess of what they would have had you done nothing or simply kept your assets in a savings account. It will be imperative for you to give your money the chance to grow – no matter how much or how little you have to work with.

Here are 4 Ways to Easily Invest More of Your Cash- Consider the following….

1. Increasing your percentage contribution in your employer provided retirement accounts
2. Contributing to a Roth IRA or Consider the Backdoor Roth Method
3. Opening a Taxable Brokerage Account
4. Contributing to a Health Savings Account, if eligible

And of course, you have the option to invest in other income producing assets like Real Estate or Business Ownership.

And 4 Strategies to Help You Stay Consistent as An Investor in the Stock Market:

1. Automate your contributions
2. Dollar Cost Average into the market – invest a specified amount at specified time periods.
3. Leave your emotions OUT of your investment strategy
4. Create an appropriate investment strategy and allocation for yourself that will help you remain an investor despite the volatility in the market

There is simply no time like the present. If you’re a long-term investor, the more time you have on your side, the more opportunity you have for your assets to grow and likely the more cash flow you’ll have during retirement.

Resources:

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