Suze Orman's 5 Tips for Investing in the Stock Market
The financial expert helps you get in the investing game.
Photo: Sean Lee Davies
Only half of middle-class Americans own stocks. That's a drop of 24 percent since 2008, when the global financial crisis hit. But stocks are still the most lucrative investment: Since 1926, their average annualized rate of return has been nearly 10 percent, and they generate higher gains over time than cash or bonds. If you're feeling fearful or clueless (or both) about investing, that's understandable. But I want you to feel empowered—so let me address your concerns right now.
I say: Stocks are risky. They go up (in bull markets) and down (in bear markets). In 2008 one U.S. stock index (an indicator of how the market is doing) lost 39 percent of its value in one of the worst bear markets ever. But since early 2009, that same index has risen by more than 150 percent. If you compare all the ups and downs over the decades, the ups still win. That said, please don't invest money in the markets if you'll need access to it in less than ten years. Over the long term, stock returns should beat the inflation rate—but there's no telling how they'll do in the short term.
I say: No single stock—whether it's a great employer's or one a friend can't shut up about—should ever constitute more than 10 percent of your portfolio. (To determine the percentage of your investments that you should keep in stocks, I advise subtracting your age from 100.) You're better off with a mutual fund, a group of stocks or bonds selected and sold together by a fund company, or an exchange-traded fund (ETF), a fund that trades like a single stock in the market. These options can consist of thousands of securities, so if a few lose value, it's okay.
I say: Many employer plans offer index mutual funds. The portfolio of stocks in these funds is designed to mimic the performance of a market benchmark, like the S&P 500. Look for one that includes large, midsize, and small companies from a variety of industries and charges low annual fees (also known as the expense ratio; aim for less than 1 percent). Then choose a fund that requires no up-front fee, or "load," to buy shares. The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTSMX) no-load fund, for example, tracks an index of more than 3,500 U.S. companies and charges an expense ratio of 0.17 percent.
Next: What to do after you've chosen—plus advice for taking a more hands-on approach
You Ask: Stocks aren't safe, are they?
I say: Stocks are risky. They go up (in bull markets) and down (in bear markets). In 2008 one U.S. stock index (an indicator of how the market is doing) lost 39 percent of its value in one of the worst bear markets ever. But since early 2009, that same index has risen by more than 150 percent. If you compare all the ups and downs over the decades, the ups still win. That said, please don't invest money in the markets if you'll need access to it in less than ten years. Over the long term, stock returns should beat the inflation rate—but there's no telling how they'll do in the short term.
You Ask: Should I start investing by purchasing my company's stock?
I say: No single stock—whether it's a great employer's or one a friend can't shut up about—should ever constitute more than 10 percent of your portfolio. (To determine the percentage of your investments that you should keep in stocks, I advise subtracting your age from 100.) You're better off with a mutual fund, a group of stocks or bonds selected and sold together by a fund company, or an exchange-traded fund (ETF), a fund that trades like a single stock in the market. These options can consist of thousands of securities, so if a few lose value, it's okay.
You Ask: I'm investing in my 401(k). How do I know which funds to pick?
I say: Many employer plans offer index mutual funds. The portfolio of stocks in these funds is designed to mimic the performance of a market benchmark, like the S&P 500. Look for one that includes large, midsize, and small companies from a variety of industries and charges low annual fees (also known as the expense ratio; aim for less than 1 percent). Then choose a fund that requires no up-front fee, or "load," to buy shares. The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTSMX) no-load fund, for example, tracks an index of more than 3,500 U.S. companies and charges an expense ratio of 0.17 percent.
Next: What to do after you've chosen—plus advice for taking a more hands-on approach
You Ask: What if I want to invest on my own?
I say: Set up a Roth IRA at a discount brokerage or fund company. (You can schedule automatic monthly or quarterly bank transfers.) And stick to low-cost index mutual funds or ETFs, which typically require a smaller minimum investment. (Fidelity, TD Ameritrade and Vanguard offer a number of ETF options that you can buy or sell commission-free.) Always shop for products that give you a diversified portfolio. I'm also a fan of investing in dividend-paying stocks, like the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY); it tracks an index of companies that have increased their payouts every year for at least two decades.
You Ask: I've chosen my investments. Now what?
I say: Review your funds annually, paying close attention to their performance at the three-, five- and ten-year marks. Your statements should show if your portfolio is performing above or below average compared with a similar index. If you can't find this data, check out your fund's website or MorningStar.com, where you can see how your investment ranks against others in its category; consider selling any fund that isn't in the top half of its group.
Remember to keep buying shares even through bear markets, when a stock might be tanking. The cheaper the shares, the more you'll be able to purchase. That's critical to building long-term wealth.
Suze Orman's latest book is The Money Class: How to Stand in Your Truth and Create the Future You Deserve (Spiegel & Grau).
More Advice from Suze Orman
NEXT STORY
