In an interview for the Financial Times over 20 years ago, Warren Buffett mentioned the importance of being “ready for a handful of good investments each year”.   Here are some ideas for you to be “ready” to invest successfully –

• Be sufficiently equipped and knowledgeable about stocks and stock investing, that you know how to safely engage the market.  (Consider reading Stock Market Companion (SMC) Books, work through the SMC Investor’s Tool Kit, or read other books on stock investing).
• Develop a short, dependable, repeatable process for reviewing the markets and individual company stocks that fits your strengths, lifestyle, and schedule. (Available in the SMC Investor’s Tool Kit – Power Tools Notebook)
• Have a brokerage account built and funded.  At the SMC, we strongly recommend simulating investing first, before using real money.  It’s easier to wait for another opportunity, than to recover lost money.
• Implement your process for reviewing the markets and individual company stocks, regularly.  (Consider learning the SMC S.I.M.P.L.E Stock Investing Method)
• Do not be rushed emotionally or mentally to “have to” invest.  Warren Buffett mentioned in the same interview over 20 years ago that there were some years when he did not have any good ideas.
• Establish goals that you can achieve each week or so, related to investing. (Available in the SMC Investor’s Tool Kit – Power Tools Notebook)

Onward to successful investing…