Stop Making These 4 Excuses for Not Investing

Mike Baker
02/01/2019

For many people, procrastination is a part of life. Delaying unpleasant projects at work, waiting until April 14th to do your taxes, or shopping for gifts at the last minute because you were planning on it “last week” and never got around to it are just a few examples. Seriously: stop blowing off saving, investing and growing your money. You risk not just missing your financial goals, but you could potentially make your life harder at the worst possible time (when you’re old).

As a Financial Advisor, I hear objections to getting invested every day. You need to ignore your inner procrastinator and get your money working harder for you, not tomorrow; but now. Let’s take a look at some common excuses for why people don’t invest.

1. I don’t have enough money to invest

You might not have money because you aren’t budgeting your money correctly. Budgeting is the most important task to start investing as it allows you to visualize the flow of your income. It’s imperative to live within your means and create a balanced budget for yourself. Changing habits that are a hamper to your monthly budget is one of the simplest ways to find money to invest (i.e. not buying that Starbucks drink each morning).

2. I will do it later

The longer you wait to start investing, the less money you will have to accumulate and the harder it will be to achieve your goals. Do you dream about not working one day and living the lifestyle you want to during retirement? Better start investing…because the longer you wait, the more expensive it becomes! Investing $3,000 a year from 25 to 35 will generate more than investing $3,000 a year from age 35 to 60. You can thank the 8th wonder of the world for this, compounding interest! Take an hour and get yourself set-up. Do it now, not later.

3. I’m too old and close to retirement - “It’s too late”

Better late than never. It doesn’t matter how close you are to retirement, 5 years or 40 years, any money you start saving and investing will help you achieve your goals. The good news is, if you are close to retirement, there are “catch-up” contributions to help you get back on track.

4. It’s overwhelming, complicated and I don’t know where to begin

From opening your first brokerage account to choosing what investments are best for your situation, investing can be complicated. Luckily there are plenty of resources out there so you don’t have to go at it alone.

If you have questions about how to start investing, I can help you design an investment plan to fit your goals and time horizon. We have the resources and knowledge to help you put together a plan and invest appropriately. Whether you have $1,000 or $100,000 it is always important to invest!

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA(http://www.finra.org/)/SIPC (https://www.sipc.org/).

Investment advice offered through Gerber Kawasaki Inc, a registered investment advisor. Gerber Kawasaki and Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management are separate entities from LPL Financial.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which course of action may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.

Gerber Kawasaki, 2716 Ocean Park Blvd. #2022 Santa Monica, CA 90405. Contact us at (310) 441-9393