How to Create an Investment Plan for Beginners

Develop a investment plan It can be a challenging task, but it is the first step in building a solid foundation for your financial future.

When I started studying investing, I realized that it wasn't just about numbers and complex graphs, but about strategy, patience and, most importantly, understanding my own goals.

The main challenge is aligning your life goals with the different types of investment available on the market.

Here, I share what I have learned over the years so that anyone, even without previous experience, can create a investment plan effective.

Understanding Your Financial Goals

When it comes to investing, many people think that you need to start with a lot of money. I myself initially thought that way.

However, the first step to setting up a investment plan It is not linked to the amount you have available, but rather to what you want to achieve.

A crucial question to ask yourself is: What are my main financial goals?

Goals can vary widely, from buying a new car in three years to ensuring a comfortable retirement in 30 years.

The important thing is to set clear goals. According to a study by Morningstar, investors who set clear goals are up to 42% more likely to succeed in their long-term plans.

The reason? Knowing exactly what you want to achieve helps you make more assertive investment decisions.

When thinking about your goals, it is essential to divide them into short, medium and long term. This makes it easier not only to organize your finances, but also to choose the most suitable assets for each goal.

When we think about short-term goals, such as buying a car or taking a trip, it is important to prioritize investments that offer liquidity, such as the Tesouro Selic.

For medium-term goals, such as buying a property, CDBs from solid banks can be interesting options, as they usually offer higher returns than savings accounts.

In the long term, investments in shares and real estate funds have greater potential for returns, although they require more patience and a willingness to face market volatility.

+ How to take advantage of market declines to invest safely

Identifying your investor profile

One of the first lessons I learned when I started investing was the importance of identifying my profile as an investor.

There are three basic profiles: conservative, moderate and aggressive. Determining which of these profiles best fits your financial behavior is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Conservative investors, as the name suggests, prefer to avoid risks, opting for safer products, such as fixed income.

Moderate investors, on the other hand, accept a little more risk in exchange for better returns. Aggressive investors are willing to face greater volatility in search of high returns.

A study by Brazilian Association of Financial and Capital Market Entities (ANBIMA) showed that 40% of Brazilian investors are conservative, which reflects the country's largely cautious profile.

To identify your profile, I recommend that you take a profile test with your broker. This will help you better understand how to react to market fluctuations.

Having this clarity prevents you from panicking when you see a sudden drop in the value of your assets and helps you stay focused on the long term.

+ Investor profile, do you know what yours is?

Diversification: the key to reducing risk

One of the biggest mistakes many people make when starting to invest is putting all their resources into a single type of investment.

I quickly learned that diversification is the key to protecting your wealth from large losses.

Diversification means spreading your investments across different asset classes, such as fixed income, stocks, real estate funds and even cryptocurrencies, if you are willing to take a higher risk.

Initially, I suggest that you keep a higher proportion of fixed income assets in your portfolio, such as bonds. Treasury Direct, CDBs and fixed income funds.

A practical example: in my first investment plan, I chose to allocate 80% in fixed income and 20% in variable income.

This division gave me confidence while I was still learning about the stock market.

According to a study by CFA Institute, adequate diversification can reduce the volatility of your portfolio by up to 30%. This is an important protection for beginners, as it smooths out sudden changes in the value of your assets, giving you time to learn and familiarize yourself with market behavior.

Emotional control: the element that makes all the difference

If I could give just one piece of advice to anyone starting out in investing, it would be: keep your emotions in check.

One investment plan A well-structured strategy will protect you from most market fluctuations, but the emotional factor is something you will have to train for.

When stocks fall or interest rates rise, the natural impulse is to sell your investments or change strategy.

However, patience and discipline are your greatest allies in the world of investments.

During the pandemic in 2020, many first-time investors were scared by the market crash.

However, those who held onto their investments, without selling at a low, saw a significant recovery in the following months.

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) points out that impulsive behavior is one of the biggest causes of failure among novice investors.

Therefore, following the plan you established at the beginning is essential.

One way to stay disciplined is to automate your contributions. If you know you're going to invest R$500 per month, schedule an automatic transfer to your brokerage or investment fund.

This prevents you from deviating from your investment plan for emotional reasons or even forgetfulness.

Review and Adjustments: Keeping Your Plan Up to Date

None investment plan is immutable. The economy changes, its objectives can evolve and the financial market is constantly changing.

Therefore, it is essential to review your plan regularly. At least every six months, I recommend that you do a complete analysis of your investments.

For example, in 2023, the Central Bank of Brazil gradually reduced the Selic rate, directly affecting fixed income yields.

Situations like this require you to evaluate whether it is worth keeping such a large percentage of your portfolio in assets linked to the Selic rate or whether it is time to consider new options, such as multimarket funds or shares.

Reviewing is also important to adjust your portfolio as you get closer to your goals.

If one of your short-term goals is coming up, it may be a good idea to shift some of your higher-risk investments into safer options, ensuring that the money is available when you need it.

Conclusion

Develop a investment plan is undoubtedly one of the best ways to ensure that your finances work in your favor.

Proper planning allows you to chart a clear path toward your goals, reducing risk and optimizing returns.

Setting clear goals, diversifying your assets, maintaining discipline and periodically reviewing your plan are the keys to success in the world of investing.

Relevant quote: "The first rule of investing is don't lose money. The second rule is don't forget the first one." — Warren Buffet.

Starting to invest may seem complicated, but with a investment plan well structured and adapted to your profile, you will have the necessary control to achieve your financial goals.

Over time, knowledge and experience will bring not only better returns, but also the security that your decisions are on the right track.