Having a savings account isn’t enough
Saving money is important, but it’s only part of the story. Smart savers start by building sufficient emergency savings within a savings account or through investment in a money market account. But after building three to six months of easy-to-access savings, investing in the financial markets offers many potential advantages.
Why is investing important?
Investing is an effective way to put your money to work and potentially build wealth. Smart investing may allow your money to outpace inflation and increase in value.
The greater growth potential of investing is primarily due to the power of compounding and the risk-return tradeoff.
The power of compounding
Compounding occurs when an investment generates earnings or dividends which are then reinvested. These earnings or dividends then generate their own earnings. So, in other words, compounding is when your investments generate earnings from previous earnings.
If you invest in a dividend-paying stock, for example, you might consider taking advantage of the potential power of compounding by choosing to reinvest the dividends. To help increase the potential benefits of compounding, start investing as soon as possible and automatically reinvest your dividends and other distributions. Read about the power of compounding and the cost of waiting.
The risk-return tradeoff
Different investments offer varying levels of potential return and market risk.
- Risk is an investment’s chance of producing a lower-than-expected return or even losing value.
- Return is the amount of money you earn on the assets you’ve invested, or the investment’s overall increase in value.
Investing in stocks, for example, has the potential to provide higher returns. In contrast, investing in a money market or a savings account likely won’t offer the same return potential but is considered less risky than investing in stocks.
The amount of risk you carry depends on your appetite — or tolerance — for risk. Only you can decide how much risk you’re willing to take for the potential of higher returns. But if you’re seeking to outpace inflation, taking on some risk may be necessary. An increase in risk may provide more potential for your money to grow.
Diversification can reduce risk
Learn the basic investing types
When it comes to investing, you have many options. Before deciding which investment vehicles are appropriate for you, it'll help if you know what they are, how they work, and why they may be a good fit for your needs.
Learn about investment types >
Stocks are subject to market risk, which means their value may fluctuate in response to general economic and market conditions, the prospects of individual companies, and industry sectors. Investments in equity securities are generally more volatile than other types of securities.
Investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal.
Dividends are not guaranteed and are subject to change or elimination.
Investment and Insurance Products are:
- Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency
- Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate
- Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested
Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (WFCS) and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members SIPC, separate registered broker-dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company.
Retirement Professionals are registered representatives of and offer brokerage products through Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (WFCS). Discussions with Retirement Professionals may lead to a referral to affiliates including Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. WFCS and its associates may receive a financial or other benefit for this referral. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a banking affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
Insurance products are offered through non-bank insurance agency affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company and are underwritten by unaffiliated insurance companies.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
CAR-0323-04277
LRC-0323
FAQs
Investing is an effective way to put your money to work and potentially build wealth. Smart investing may allow your money to outpace inflation and increase in value. The greater growth potential of investing is primarily due to the power of compounding and the risk-return tradeoff.
Why is investing important? ›
Investing can bring you many benefits, such as helping to give you more financial independence. As savings held in cash will tend to lose value because inflation reduces their buying power over time, investing can help to protect the value of your money as the cost of living rises.
Why should you invest in Wells Fargo? ›
Earnings Growth: Wells Fargo's earnings have witnessed a rise of 17.86% over the past three to five years, higher than the industry's growth of 6.17%. While the company's earnings are projected to decline 7.7% in 2024, it will likely rebound and grow 9.7% in 2025.
What is the idea of investing consistently Why is this important? ›
Consistency is the key to give yourself the chance to generate the best potential return on your investment. Automatic investing – setting up a regular transfer of funds into an investment – can help avoid taking the risk of timing the market or missing out on opportunities.
Why is investment important in the economy? ›
Investments create economic growth & prosperity
This will succeed if the goods or services produced to provide people with a benefit with which they can satisfy their needs. Thus, the additional social benefit generated by an investment is what increases people's quality of life and constitutes economic growth.
Why is investment important to us? ›
Investing is an effective way to put your money to work and potentially build wealth. Smart investing may allow your money to outpace inflation and increase in value. The greater growth potential of investing is primarily due to the power of compounding and the risk-return tradeoff.
What are the three main reasons for investing? ›
Why Consider Investing?
- Make Money on Your Money. You might not have a hundred million dollars to invest, but that doesn't mean your money can't share in the same opportunities available to others. ...
- Achieve Self-Determination and Independence. ...
- Leave a Legacy to Your Heirs. ...
- Support Causes Important to You.
About Wells Fargo
Today, Wells Fargo is a leading financial services company with approximately $1.9 trillion in assets. In the U.S., it serves one in three households and more than 10% of small businesses, and is a leading middle-market banking provider.
Is Wells Fargo good for investment banking? ›
Wells ranked eighth for global investment banking fees in January–March, the same position it had for full-year 2023 and 2022, up from 10th in 2021, according to LSEG data.
What is also an important aspect of investing? ›
Key Takeaways
In investing, risk and return are two sides of the same coin; low risk generally means low expected returns, while higher returns are usually accompanied by higher risk. Investors can take the do-it-yourself approach or employ the services of a professional money manager.
Investment definition is an asset acquired or invested in to build wealth and save money from the hard earned income or appreciation. Investment meaning is primarily to obtain an additional source of income or gain profit from the investment over a specific period of time.
Why is it important to invest regularly? ›
It reduces the risk of you making investment decisions based on your emotions and avoids delays in putting your money to work. The longer your money is in the market the greater the chance of you reaching your goals. Ideally you should remain invested for at least five years, but preferably longer.
What is the reason for value investing? ›
Practitioners of value investing identify stocks whose prices fall short of their intrinsic value and long-term growth potential. (More on how to gauge those things below.) Their hope is that when the market grasps these stocks' true value, they'll get a nice performance bump.
What is investment and its importance? ›
An investment is a plan to put money to work today to obtain a greater amount of money in the future. It is also the primary way people save for major purchases or retirement. With stocks, bonds, real estate, or commodities, individuals can create a diversified portfolio.
Why investment is the best? ›
Investing can provide you with another source of income, fund your retirement or even get you out of a financial jam. Above all, investing grows your wealth — helping you meet your financial goals and increasing your purchasing power over time.
How does investment boost the economy? ›
Investment and Economic Growth. Investment adds to the stock of capital, and the quantity of capital available to an economy is a crucial determinant of its productivity. Investment thus contributes to economic growth.
Is investing important in a person's life? ›
Saving and investing are both important components of a healthy financial plan. Saving provides a safety net and a way to achieve short-term goals, while investing has the potential for higher long-term returns and can help achieve long-term financial goals.
Is investing really worth it? ›
Investing provides the potential for (significantly) higher returns than saving. As your investments grow, they allow you to take advantage of compounding to accelerate gains. Investing offers many different access points and strategies, from individual stocks and bonds to mutual or exchange-traded funds.
Is investing an important skill? ›
Investing can help individuals become financially literate, understand the relationship between income, expenses, assets, and liabilities, and make informed financial decisions. Soft skills such as emotional control, self-discipline, and time management can be honed through investing.
