Have you heard of the term, but still don't quite understand what investments are? Don't worry! Our content aims to explain the main topics of this subject in a didactic way so that you stay on top of this topic and learn other ways to take care of your income.
Regardless of your financial condition, it's perfectly possible to start saving to reach your goals.
Understand here what investments are, where to start investing and how you can apply this knowledge to your reality. Good reading!
We understand by investments any amount capable of generating a profit, whether in a short, medium, or long term period.
Many people do not invest because they think that it is something very complex and that it needs a large amount of money to start, but that is not true.
There are different opportunities capable of yielding more than savings. You can start by investing your money in a digital account that earns 100% of the CDI or by buying a Treasury Direct bond starting at R$30.00, for example.
At first, this may bring small returns, but if you persist in studying more about the subject and getting deeper and deeper into understanding what investments are, you will reap long-term rewards.
Understanding what investments are is very important for a financial freedom strategy.
Now that you understand the concept of the term and what investments are, where to start investing? There are different ways to organize yourself for this. Check out some recommendations we selected for you:
It's no use investing without a defined purpose. In this sense, it is worth considering factors such as amount and time.
Let's go a little deeper into what short, medium and long-term investments are:
Short-term — Emergency reserve
It is essential to have a reserve to deal with unforeseen circumstances. The emergency reserve is nothing more than money saved only for unplanned situations.
Those who prepare for emergency situations can get out of difficulties more easily, as they are already prepared. That way, you don't have to interrupt your studies or cancel your medical insurance, for example.
The goal is to have an amount referring to the total of your expenses for three to six months. The more financial expenses you have, the greater your emergency reserve should be
.
Medium-term — Life goals
Medium-term goals. They vary according to your objective. It could be paying for graduate school, buying a car, taking a trip with the family, celebrating a birthday, wedding, etc. These are goals or investments that can complement your financial journey and give you more comfort.
Long term — Retirement
Retirement is a long-term goal. The total paid by Social Security may be insufficient to have a peaceful financial life.
Therefore, if you want to stop working at age 65, you need to have money to support yourself for another 20 or 30 years. Building wealth that guarantees long-term income requires a lot of discipline, so the sooner you start, the better.
Be focused and committed. You must save a specific amount of your budget to invest. This percentage will depend on your financial goals. The secret is to get involved with the cause.
For example, when you receive your money, separate a portion and invest afterwards. It doesn't matter the amount, with R$50.00, R$70.00 or R$100.00 it is possible to start.
As important as understanding what investments are is understanding your investor profile. This is because each person has their own characteristics, behaviors and needs. When we relate this context to the universe of investments, we are talking about the way each one deals with risks. Therefore, the profiles are classified into three categories:
- Conservative: does not compromise on security, even if this leads to reduced profitability;
- Moderate: usually put part of the money in risky applications, in order to obtain a higher yield. However, it still prioritizes security for most of its wallets;
- Aggressive (bold): values long-term profitability and understands that process variations are part of the normal flow of the market.
Important! The same investor can switch profiles over time. He can acquire more knowledge about investments and be more confident in the face of risks - or the opposite.
What are your financial goals? This is the first question to understand where to start investing!
When looking for what investments are, many people find the terms “fixed income” and “variable income”. To succeed in this endeavor, it's important to vary your savings. That's because daily events impact finances in different ways.
Therefore, diversifying where you keep or invest your money is a prudent way to reduce risks and increase the probability of gains.
Fixed income represents public or private securities, which act as a “loan” of your money to a given institution. As the name implies, the amount that this investment will yield for you is already fixed.
Here are some examples of fixed income:
- Certificate of Bank Deposit (CDB);
- Debentures ;
- Investment Funds ;
- Real Estate Letters of Credit (LCI) and Agribusiness Letters of Credit (LCA);
- Treasury Direct.
Variable income, on the other hand, consists of investments in the stock exchange. With it, there is no fixed income, that is, it is a risky maneuver that does not guarantee future profitability, being indicated for aggressive and experienced investors.
Variable income options are:
- Actions;
- Exchange;
- Commodities;
- Derivatives;
- ETF;
- Real Estate Investment Fund (FII);
- Operation Day Trade.
To invest in some options, you need to open an account at a financial institution. Prioritize a trusted brand to make your moves. Some offer attractive rates of return.
