Where Do I Start Investing? A Guide for Young Professionals

2 days ago
7 min read

Short answer: before you pick an account, a fund, or a ticker, get clear on who you are, what you actually want, and how you work. Personal finance is personal. For most young professionals with a few thousand dollars saved and no plan, the highest return move is not a fund. It is investing in yourself first, so every money decision after it is the right one for your life.

Here is why, and here is the math.

The question almost nobody asks out loud

One of the most common questions I come across with our generation comes from someone who has done well. They have been told to do all the "right things." Don't spend all your money. Save. Invest for the future. All of that.

The problem is that nobody really tells them any more than that. And it feels sort of taboo to ask.

So maybe you are in that spot right now. You graduated. You are at a job. You have a little bit of money saved. You feel like you are doing it right, and you still have no idea what you are doing.

You are not behind. You are just starting.

What happens when you search for the answer

You make a quick search. "Where should I keep my money." "How do I invest."

Immediately you are inundated with the opinions of thousands of people. Do this. Don't do that. Put it in a savings account, but which one. Don't put it in savings, you are wasting your money's potential. Buy stocks. Buy Bitcoin. But which one. Day trade. What even is that?

It is all too much. So you decide you are good. You have money in the bank, that is better than most, and you don't want to worry about it anymore.

Here is the thing. Every one of those answers is trying to help. But personal finance is personal. Without knowing who you are, what you want, and how you work, there is no right answer sitting out there for you to find.

So where do you actually start investing?

You start with you.

I won't be the only person to say that. But I will explain it.

Others will tell you to read a business book, bet on yourself, launch a business. Those can absolutely be ways of investing in yourself.

My answer is to take a step back and understand who you are, what you want, and how you can use your finances to get there.

You can do that on your own. Spend hours listening to personal finance podcasts, reading books, and learning about different investing methods until you find what is right for you and your situation. That is what I did.

But you are not me.

You probably aren't excited when you think about finances. You are probably stressed. Maybe a little scared to open your bank app and look at your spending. That is normal, and it is okay.

The good news is that you do not have to be the expert in everything. Make the investment in yourself and find someone who has been there to guide you.

I am a financial coach who was in your shoes not long ago, and I love helping people. Not an advisor. I don't sell products, I don't manage anyone's money, and I don't earn a commission on anything you do.

Book a free 30 minute consultation and we will figure out together whether this is the right next step for you.

Compounding is not just for money

This one sounds strange at first, because the very first thing everyone learns about is compound interest. (Don't get me started on compound interest.)

But compounding also works on your time. Your effort. Your knowledge. And most importantly, your habits.

You are doing good. If you keep this pace on your own, you will probably crack $100k before you are 30, and that is awesome.

Invest in a coach and in yourself and you will see just how fast life can change. Less stress. More confidence. More time to do what you love.

Together we work to understand your values and find your goals so we can reach them and go beyond your dreams, with someone who understands the finances guiding you into alignment. So you can build the life you always wanted but never thought was possible.

"That's a lot of money. Shouldn't I be investing it in something?"

That is what most people say next.

You are investing it in something. And it will be the best return you ever get.

You might be saving $500 a month right now. Again, that is no small feat. We can work together to optimize your income earning potential and your spending and turn that into $1,000 or $1,500 a month, even after the cost of coaching. I have already done exactly that with others in as little as 4 months.

Now you are saving two or three times what you were before. Not to mention you have an expert to go to when you are unsure. You are less stressed. You are more confident in your decisions. And every decision you make is because you decided where you want to be in 5 years, and you are going to get there.

There are two ways to work with me, and both of them are priced up front so you know exactly what you are deciding on.

Kickstarter Budget Package is $1,999 for six 60 minute calls over four months. We find your values, set real goals, and build the budget that actually fits your life. This is the one for "I have money saved and no idea what comes next."

6 Month Value Bundle is $2,999 for twelve calls over six months, two a month, plus every worksheet I use. This is the one for building the habit and staying on it long enough that it sticks.

Run the numbers

Path A. You keep going on your own. You have $5,000 today, you save $500 a month, and you invest it at a 10% return for 20 years. You end with $377,287.

Not bad at all.

Path B. You make the investment in yourself. You spend $3,000 on the 6 Month Value Bundle (it is $2,999, I am rounding for clean math). You keep the other $2,000 plus your $500 a month across those 6 months and hold it as a $5,000 emergency fund, just to have. Then we build a plan for you to live with more joy and still save $1,000 a month, which is what I have already done with others. In 20 years you end with $649,730.

Path A, on your own: $5,000 invested, $500 a month, $377,287 after 20 years.
Path B, invest in yourself: $5,000 emergency fund, $3,000 into coaching, $1,000 a month after month 6, $649,730 after 20 years.

That is 172% of where you would have been.

And that does not include the new goals you hit along the way, or how your life evolves once you actually have a plan.

These figures are an illustration using a 10% annual return. Returns are not guaranteed and your results will look different from anyone else's.

So you tell me. Are you going to invest in yourself?

You already did the hard part. You earned it, and you didn't spend it.

The next part is not about finding the one right account. It is about deciding where you want to be in five years and building the plan that gets you there.

Schedule your complimentary consultation. Thirty minutes, no pitch, no product. We will talk about where you are and what you want, and you will leave with a clearer next step whether we work together or not.

Already know you want to start? Go straight to the Kickstarter Budget Package, $1,999 for six calls over four months, or the 6 Month Value Bundle, $2,999 for twelve calls over six months.

Common questions

Where should I start investing if I have never invested before?

Start before the account. Know your monthly cash flow, hold a real emergency fund, and know what you are actually saving for. Once those are in place, the account you open matters far less than most of the internet will tell you. Most young professionals with a 401(k) match at work are leaving free money on the table before they ever get to picking investments. (Here is the match math in plain numbers.)

How much does financial coaching cost?

At Value Driven Finance there are two packages, both priced up front. The Kickstarter Budget Package is $1,999 for six 60 minute calls over four months. The 6 Month Value Bundle is $2,999 for twelve calls over six months plus all worksheets. Additional 45 minute sessions are $99. The first consultation is free.

Is a financial coach worth it if I only have a few thousand dollars saved?

That is exactly when it is worth the most, because every habit you build now compounds for the next forty years. Most financial advisors have asset minimums and will turn you away at this stage. A coach does not manage your money, so there is no minimum to meet.

What is the difference between a financial coach and a financial advisor?

An advisor manages investments and is usually paid on assets or commission. A coach works on the behavior, the habits, the cash flow, and the plan behind the money, and is paid directly by you. I am a coach. I don't sell products, manage money, or earn commission.

How long does financial coaching take to make a difference?

Clients typically see their savings rate move within the first few months. The bigger shift, feeling calm and confident about money instead of avoiding it, tends to land inside a 6 month engagement.