It's the easiest and trickiest question to answer. Tricky, because no one can read the future or tell you which stocks are going to perform the best. Easy because there are some simple strategies you can use to help empower you to make that decision.
Investing tips
1. Investigate the companies you know. Warren Buffet was a fan of this philosophy. Look at the companies you interact with every day and maybe even give a chunk of your salary to. At a very basic level you know what they do, how their business works and may even know a bit about the leadership.
2. Geek out on research. If you like getting stuck into the details visit our research portal. You'll find the analysis of stocks that are topical, new, or noteworthy.
3. Engage with your community. Follow reputable financial journalists and publications on social media, subscribe to their content, and maybe even strike up a thread on Twitter with your peers. It can't do any harm to get different perspectives and insights to help inform your choices.
4. If you're not investing because you're scared that you're going to pick the wrong share, here's something for you to think about. Imagine the risk of not investing at all and having the value of your money get eaten away by inflation year after year. Stick to the basic principles of being diversified and staying invested for the long term. Start with small amounts and as you grow your confidence and understanding you can increase them. Believe in yourself. There is no reason why you can't create a successful portfolio using your own smarts, a little research, and an initial $10.
