Finance & economics | Personal finance

How the young should invest

Markets have dealt them a bad hand. They could be playing it better

A character holds a bond in one hand, but is giving her attention to the smartphone in her other hand, which showsa social media feed with a flat growth arrow, surrounded by some emojis.
Image: Vincent Kilbride

Young investors, as well as everyone starting to save, have no shortage of lessons to learn. The main ones are classics. Begin early to give the magic of compounding time to work. Cut costs to stop that magic from being undone. Diversify. Do not try to time the market unless it is your job to do so. Stick to your strategy even when prices plummet and the sky seems to be falling in. Do not ruin it by chasing hot assets when the market is soaring, others are getting rich and you are getting jealous.

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This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “How the young should invest”

From the November 18th 2023 edition

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