I made it through 12 years of public school, 4 years of college and 2 years of graduate college having never learned a thing about personal finance or investing. 

After landing my first full-time job in 2009, one of the first things my employer required was that I select a retirement savings plan. This was my introduction to 401k’s and retirement savings. And I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.

Does this sound familiar?

A beginner’s roadmap

I learned about investing and personal finance the hard way, which inspired me to create this roadmap for new investors and those looking to get started. Read these articles in order and shave 10 years off your learning curve. 

#1: Building wealth takes time in the market

You might think buying the next Tesla (TSLA) or Google (GOOGL) is what will make you wealthy. But the most important factor in investing is time. Yes, buying the next big thing while it’s in its infancy is important. But investors are lucky to have 1 or 2 of those in a lifetime.

Instead, Don’t Be Deterred From Getting Rich Slowly.

#2: Beat 90% of pros by doing this

Over a 15+ year period, 90% of professional money managers underperform the S&P 500 index. And pros get paid handsomely to lose. Fees on mutual funds and ETFs are usually 0.5% to well over 1%. A S&P 500 index fund performs better than the pros 90% of the time and sports a 0.02% management fee. 

Don’t listen to the pros. Here’s How To Get Started Investing In The Stock Market.

#3: Day trading is too good to be true

At some point in your investing career, you’re going to come across day trading. You’ll find some guru on YouTube making thousands within minutes and believe you can do the same. Save yourself the heartache (and cash) and don’t fall for the gimmick. Half of what you watch is probably fabricated. Or the trader is cherry-picking winners and not showing losers.

Need more evidence? Here are 5 Reasons Day Trading Is A Bad Idea.

#4: Good companies make for good stocks

Some will have you believe a stock represents nothing more than a sheet of paper. But you’re better off listening to billionaires like Warren Buffett. A stock represents an ownership piece in a real company. Buy stock in good companies. 

Exceptional Stocks Are A 4-Legged Stool.

#5: Tools of the trade

Every builder has a toolbox. You wouldn’t remodel a kitchen without the proper tools. Nor should you buy stocks without the proper tools. 

Here are 3 Tools Investors Need To Analyze A Stock.

#6: How to find stocks to buy

The foundation of a good investment portfolio is a S&P 500 index fund. But market-beating returns come from buying individual stocks. With thousands of options, how is someone to know which stocks to buy?

Here’s How To Find Stocks To Buy.

#7: How to screen for quality stocks

One of the tools in the investor’s toolbox is a stock screener. Stock screeners are powerful tools that allow you to narrow in on stocks meeting specific criteria. After all, it’s easier to analyze 20 stocks than it is 10,000.

Here’s How To Screen For Quality Stocks.

#8: How to analyze financial statements

Finding stocks is half the battle. Determining if the stock represents a good investment is part 2. And you can’t make this determination if you don’t know how to analyze financial statements.

Here’s how to analyze the Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement.

#9: Knowing when to sell

If you think finding stocks to buy is difficult, wait until you’re thinking about selling. You need to know when you’re getting out long before you get in.

Here are 4 Reasons To Sell A Stock.

#10: The world of international markets

There will be times in your investing career when you can’t find anything to buy in US markets. Prices may be too high or there’s simply nothing offering market-beating potential. Fortunately, international markets open a whole new world of opportunity.

US Vs International Stocks: Where Are The Hidden Gems?