Rookie Mistakes

The biggest beginner errors are predictable and avoidable. The people who master these fundamentals consistently outperform those chasing complex strategies and hot tips.

First: checking your portfolio daily. Frequency of checking correlates with frequency of panic-selling.

Second: chasing hot stocks after they have already surged — by the time it is on TikTok, you are late.

Third: ignoring tax-advantaged accounts. A 401(k) or IRA can save you thousands in taxes annually.

Fourth: investing money you might need within five years. Short-term money belongs in a high-yield savings account, not the stock market.