"If a man does not know to what port he is steering, no wind is favorable to him." ~ Seneca
A point to note. Mentors need not be people. Books, websites, newsletters, these all are packed with info on how to start. Again, the amount of info you'll be facing may be tremendous but the more you understand and learn, the more invaluable this knowledge gained becomes in making a decision and coming up with a "plan of action". The idea here is just to get yourself familiar with the investment types, the jargon, the pros and cons, the risks. This becomes important once you do decide to seek help from experts. Knowing the jargon & technical terms can help you communicate better with advisers and can help you understand and focus your aim. At the end of this post, I'll leave a couple of recommendations as a starting point for those searching for your own financial independence.
In mid last year began my first glimpse into learning the importance of financial security. The welfare department at my workplace organized a full day seminar entitled How to Plan Wisely to Reach Financial Freedom held by Mr. Dennis Ng, who runs a training company, Master Your Finance.com. Unfortunately, as my eyes weren't opened then, I had not been able to take full advantage of the information given on investing. However, that one talk made me realize the importance of saving for my future and aiming to be financially free. Life changed from that day onwards.
That said, I would advise you to attend a talk on financial independence, investment and/or savings. If it's free, so much the better. But if it's not, the amount you put down could very well be the best investment you would ever make if it helps set you straight and plunks your feet onto your path towards financial freedom. No matter where you are, there should be companies which hold free talks ever so often. One such place to check would be your country's department in charge of the retirement account, 401K (in US), CPF (in Singapore), etc. Some brokerages too like POEMS hold talks but these tend to be more towards stocks, options, forex and other investment vehicles that might be too risky for the beginner investor. Nonetheless, these provide good exposure and knowledge for future use.
So lastly, the recommendations.
Books:
1. Napolean Hill - Think & Grow Rich
2. Robert Kiyosaki - Rich Dad, Poor Dad
3. Adam Khoo - Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires
Wesbites:
3. Also, sign up at 21st century investing for free videos for beginner investors.
4. You Tube is a treasure trove of free information. Don't let it go to waste.
So best of luck and good journeying. I'll see you all soon.
Cheers,
~K
