A lot of people naturally have an interest in investing. In today’s world, though, it can seem like the economy is in constant tumult, so it’s never a good idea to invest. Within the past year alone, the stock market has seen ridiculous highs and lows.
The perpetual chaos might make it seem like it’s the wrong time to invest. But the truth might surprise you. Commercial Real Estate Investor Mike Eisenga is here to explain when it’s a good time to invest and why that time might be right now.
Reason 1. History is on Your Side
It is always a good time to invest. True, the stock market goes through periods of expansion and contraction, and in some cases, these changes can be pretty significant, and some people lose money. However, overall, the general trajectory of the stock market is upward growth. Historical data dating back to the 1920s indicate that the average stock market return for the past century has been 10%. So even if you have a terrible year in the market, as long as your investments are diversified, you are essentially guaranteed to make money over time.
Reason 2. Investing is Easy
You might think that investing is difficult and only something that a handful of rich people do. This is not true. About half of Americans own stock in some form, either through a work-sponsored 401(k), IRA, or standard brokerage account. The internet has made investing more accessible than ever for the average person. Online brokerages like Wealthfront, Robinhood, or Charles Schwabb have low-cost investment platforms with low minimum deposits and commission-free trades. You can get started investing with as little as $20 if you want.
Additionally, there are tons of places where you can get free educational resources to learn more about investing. Most online brokerages have a vast library of articles, videos, and guides on how to hone your investment skills and build your wealth. With a little bit of motivation, anyone can learn the basics of investing.
Reason 3: Always Better to Start Early
It is never the wrong time to start investing, but getting started earlier is always better than later. Getting started with investing early allows you to maximize the growth of your assets. Even a few years of growth from compounding interest can make a massive difference in your total wealth.
For example, say you invested $50,000 at a 5% interest rate compounded monthly while adding $1,000 a month. In 16 years, your wealth will have accrued to $372,974. Now imagine you get started investing five years earlier. Over 20 years, your wealth will be worth nearly $550,000. That’s almost $200,000 more from 5 extra years of investing.
Long story short, it’s always a good time to invest because investing is easy, history is on your side, and getting started early is the best thing you can do for your financial health.
About Mike Eisenga
Mike Eisenga is a successful commercial real estate investor with a banking and finance background and is the former mayor of the City of Columbus. As a President of both American Lending Solutions, a mortgage lending company (he founded and operated from 2000 to 2018), and First American Properties, he has a track record of creating and operating successful businesses. Mr. Eisenga is also devoted to property development and construction, primarily serving smaller local communities.
