Investing in the Stock Market: Perception vs Reality TV

Investing in the Stock Market: A Smart Financial Move

Are you afraid to invest in stocks? Read on to see why you shouldn't be. There are certain things in life you may be tempted to do that you consider risky. Taking a chance on a new job in a city you've never lived in? That's a risk. So is agreeing to let your coworker set you up on a blind date with their neighbor's daughter's friend. If your date turns out to be a dud, you might have a pretty painful evening ahead of you.

But if you're someone who considers investing in the stock market risky, you may want to change your line of thinking. Not only can investing in stocks be a smart thing to do for your future, but it could also end up being less risky than you imagined.

Americans' Perception: Reality TV vs Stock Market

In a recent survey by Fidelity, 28% of respondents said they'd rather take their chances finding love on a reality TV show than take their chances in the stock market. But if you don't put your money into the stock market, you run another risk: not growing your money at a strong enough pace to meet your long-term financial goals.

Minimizing Risks as a Stock Market Investor

You can't completely remove the risk that comes with investing in stocks. But there are steps you can take to lower it. For one thing, give yourself many years to invest. Plus, you can minimize your risk by maintaining a diversified portfolio at all times.

With the right approach, stock market investing can be a less risky prospect than you'd expect it to be. And it can certainly be less risky than putting yourself out there on TV for all of the world to see in the hopes of finding your soulmate.