The expert named the main steps for the first investments

It is important for a novice investor to build a clear and realistic action plan before entering the financial markets. About the steps to start capital formation. Mikhail Kostromin, co-owner of AKTIVO, told Izvestia about this on January 29.

According to him, first of all it is necessary to assess the personal financial situation: analyze income and expenses, take into account future large expenses and determine the amount that can be invested regularly without prejudice to the usual standard of living. In parallel, goals and deadlines for savings should be formulated. The expert stressed that different tasks, such as creating retirement capital and raising funds for the purchase of real estate, require separate strategies and accounts, and the minimum investment horizon should be at least three to five years to smooth out market fluctuations.

"Do not forget about the financial safety cushion. The financial reserve should cover expenses for three to six months of living without other sources of income (to account for irregular expenses, take the average for 12 months). It is important to understand that these funds will not be used for investments, but will serve as insurance," Kostromin said.

Another important step is to determine your own risk profile. An investor should understand in advance what losses he is willing to accept psychologically and financially, as well as take into account age and long-term goals. According to the expert, a simple strategy with a small number of assets and a minimum number of solutions is optimal for a start.

The interlocutor noted that the long-term approach makes it possible to increase capital through regular investments and the compound interest effect. In the real estate segment, the investment horizon is usually even longer: for example, closed-end mutual funds can operate for up to 15 years with the possibility of extension, providing rental income and a potential increase in the value of properties.

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The expert warned newcomers against typical mistakes — impulsive decisions, following other people's advice and chasing high returns in questionable projects. He also called the practice of investing with funds from the financial reserve dangerous, which often leads to the forced withdrawal of money from assets at an unfavorable moment.

Kostromin considers portfolio diversification to be the most important principle. To begin with, the distribution of investments between different sectors of the economy is suitable, which reduces the risk of losses. Among the most popular protective assets among Russians, he singled out real estate, including commercial facilities, available to private investors through the purchase of mutual fund shares, which allows them to enter projects with moderate amounts and not directly manage them.

According to the expert, it is worthwhile to complicate the portfolio structure as experience and capital grow, focusing on the stability of profitability during periods of market volatility. He does not recommend drawing conclusions about the results of investing earlier than six months later, urging newcomers to act consistently and without haste.

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On January 19, representatives of the Direct Dialogue Center Gleb Slobin and Natalia Shchankina, talking about the causes of financial anxiety, called analyzing their own condition and financial situation one of the ways to combat this feeling. They recommended that if the feelings of personal insecurity described by them become obsessive, contact specialists.

The information in the material is not an investment recommendation.

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