Am I ready to start investing?
Should I start investing? 10 questions about your debts, savings, goals and nerves tell you if you're ready to invest, and what to sort out first.
š Question 1 of 10
Do you have high-interest debt, like credit cards or payday loans?
How it works
Answer 10 quick questions about your situation. Each answer nudges the result one way or the other, and some are dealbreakers on their own. You get one of three verdicts, the reasons from your own answers, and practical tips. Everything is worked out in your browser: your answers are never sent to us.
What could the result be?
- š Yes, you're ready to start investing: Your foundations are in place: no expensive debt, a safety net and a long time frame. Regular amounts into a low-cost, diversified fund are a simple, proven start.
- š¤ Nearly: a few steps first: You're close. Sort out the points below first, such as building your emergency fund or clearing expensive debt, then start small and invest regularly.
- š§± Not yet: build your foundations first: Investing will work much better once the basics are in place. Pay off high-interest debt and build an emergency fund first: those are guaranteed wins.
Tips
- Get any employer pension match first: it's an instant return.
- Low-cost index funds spread your money across many companies.
- Invest a fixed amount every month, whatever the market is doing.
- Fees matter: a 1% yearly fee can eat a big part of your returns over decades.