Tips for successful investing

While the world of investing can be overwhelming and confusing, the good news is that there are tip that can improve your chances of becoming a more successful investors. Best of all these tips have been shown to work, no matter what kind of investment you are making. Whether you are investing in stocks, bonds, or real estate, if you follow these guidelines, they can make a huge difference between wasting time and losing money, and adding successfully to your investment portfolio. In addition, these guidelines can be helpful to everyone, from the newest investor, to the seasoned investing pro. It is important to keep in mind that each of these guidelines follows the general basics of investing which is plan and research before purchasing. Here are some tips for successful investing-

- Only invest in what you understand-Even the most experienced investors understand that they have limitations. You may be surprised to learn that some of the world's most famous investors have walked away, from certain investments. The bottom line is that if an investment scheme seems overly complicated or you just don't understand what it is all about, then you need to take your money somewhere else. You should never let your pride dictate what you invest in. Your common sense should indicate that if you are unable to fully grasp the investment (after reading and researching all the applicable literature), then it most likely is not for you. Keep in mind that if you can't keep track of what the investment is doing, then you may not even know if it is a good investment! You should invest in areas where you are familiar with the economics of the business, and can keep track of what your money is really doing. You should not feel pressured to invest in something because "everyone is doing it" or it's the "next hot thing". Investment decisions should only be made from a standpoint of facts and reason, never emotions.
- Leave yourself a margin of safety-It is important to understand that while there is risk in every investment, that still does not mean that you need to assume too much of it. You should always make sure that you have left yourself with some margin of safety in every investment. This means that you will need to be somewhat conservative inyour valuation of every investment purchase. You need to be clearly realistic as to what every investment can really do. If you are not realistic about the potential of your investments, you will most likely lose money, rather then gain a return. In addition, if you are not realistic, you are much more likely to pay too much, for any particular investment. Finally, you should never pay for hope. If an investment has to yield a higher then average rate of return, for a sustained period of time, in order for you to make money, this is a red flag that you should move onto another investment.
- Always be looking for the next investment-If you are serious about investing, then you need to train yourself to always be looking, for the next investment. While you may not be able to spend as much time doing this as a financial professional, successful investors will understand that this is part of making their investment portfolio grow. Simple things like noticing the success or failure of new products, talking to friends and family, and even staying up with current events can all lead to new and exciting investment opportunities. You need to keep in mind that you have no idea where the next great investing opportunity will show up.