April Showers Bring May Flowers: Plant Seeds and Watch Them Grow By Creating a Saving and Investing Plan for Your Financial Future
By Lori Schock, Director of the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy
There’s a saying ‒ April showers bring May flowers. But what do showers and flowers have to do with the SEC and investors?
You can plant seeds of your own and watch them grow by creating a saving and investing plan for your financial future. A great place to start is to check out the free tools and resources available on Investor.gov.
Here are some things to consider on your investing journey:
First, think about your financial goals and create a plan that can help you achieve those goals.
Create a budget that includes your necessities, like living expenses, and discretionary expenses, like entertainment. Then, include your financial goals, whether it’s buying a house, paying off debt, putting money into a rainy-day fund, or planning for retirement.
Second, think about how long you need to invest to reach your financial goals. Consider your risk tolerance. Your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance can give you an idea of the best investment products for you.
Third, consider an investment portfolio that includes a diverse set of assets, which can better prepare you for market changes. Avoid unsolicited investment advice and be sure to conduct your own research on investment opportunities. Avoid “too good to be true” opportunities and beware of investments in anything you don’t understand.
Our savings goal calculator on Investor.gov can help you determine what you need to save each month to help you achieve your goals. And our compound interest calculator can show you how much your money can grow using the power of compounding.
A great strategy is to create a long-term investing plan and stick to it—investing in products that help you achieve your financial goals.
Keep coming back to Investor.gov. We’re always updating the website with new Investor Alerts, Bulletins and educational materials.
And remember, by planting those saving and investing seeds, you’ll be putting a plan in place for a strong financial future.
Note: Director’s Take articles are written in a short, non-legalese format intended to provide you with tips and information on timely investment topics that are important to you. You can subscribe to receive Director’s Take articles or find our latest article on the Director’s Take spotlight page.
