If I Started Investing In 2025

This Is What I Would Do

🖥️ Reading time: 6 minutes

If you’ve got extra cash and no plan, inflation is already winning.

So, you’ve finally got some money set aside, and you’re thinking… “Should I invest this?”
 

Short answer: Yes — but only if you do it right.

Most people either over-complicate it or play guessing games with hot stocks. That’s not investing — that’s gambling. And it’s why so many beginners lose money.

This guide will show you exactly how to invest in 2025 — in plain English — even if you’ve never bought a stock in your life. If you prefer to watch the video, check out the video here.

🚀 Step 1: Why You Should Invest (And Not Just Save)

Saving alone won’t make you rich. Why? Inflation.
That caramel frappuccino that used to be $5? It’s $8 now. Inflation means your savings are shrinking while you sleep.

Investing lets your money grow in two key ways:

1. Stock Ownership – Own a piece of a business like NVIDIA or Apple. If they crush it, your slice gets more valuable.
   
   
2. Compound Interest – Money making money, on repeat. A $1,000 monthly investment with a 10% return grows to $100K in just over 6 years. And then it snowballs… fast.
   

Pro Tip: Join my free Beginners Investing Class to learn more about the basics of investing.

🧠 Step 2: What to Invest In (Hint: Not Just Tesla)

New investors love to chase the “stock of the year.” Don’t fall for it. Just ask anyone who held Kodak or Blackberry too long.

Instead, invest in ETFs.
They spread your money across hundreds of top companies, lowering risk and boosting long-term growth. Warren Buffett recommends them. So does Steve (me).

👉 My go-to pick? SPLG — a low-cost ETF that tracks the S&P 500. You instantly own a piece of Apple, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and 497 other giants.
👉 Want tech-heavy? Look into QQQ (NASDAQ 100).
👉 Prefer dividends? Check out SCHD.

Pro Tip: Keep the expense ratio under 0.5%.

Pro Tip Two: Watch my YouTube Short about the best ETFs for beginners.

⏱️ Step 3: When to Start (And How Much to Invest)

Don’t start investing until you’ve done these two critical tasks:

1. Eliminated your high-interest debt (7–12%+)
   Paying that off is like locking in a guaranteed return.
   Example: $10K in credit card debt at 25% = $2,500 in annual losses.
   
   
2. Funded your emergency fund (3–6 months of expenses)
   If your car breaks down and you’re forced to sell stocks, you could lose even more.
   
   

Opening a High-Yield Savings Account (HYSA) for your emergency fund keeps it accessible but not too accessible. My recommended HYSAs have an interest rate of 4% or more, meaning you're earning while saving.

Pro Tip: Once those are handled? Start now.  Only invest what you won’t need for a few years.

🛒 Step 4: How to Buy Your First Stock (Real Example)

Here’s how to invest in under 10 minutes:

1. Open an account at Fidelity, Vanguard, or Schwab.
2. Pick a stock or ETF (example: SCHD).
3. Search for it. Hit buy. Choose market price. Review. Place order.

Boom — you’re an investor.

Want to see what’s inside that ETF? Go to Yahoo Finance → type in the ETF → click Holdings.
You’ll see top names like Visa, Coca-Cola, and Home Depot.

Still unsure? Join my free Beginners Investing Class. I’ll walk you through it live.

📈 Step 5: Don’t Sell Just Because You’re Scared

The #1 way beginners lose money? Panic selling.

Let me give you a quick story. In 2007, if you bought 1 share of SPY for $154, the 2008 crash would’ve cut your investment in half. But if you held on? By 2013, you’d break even. By 2024, that same share would be worth $500+.

Moral of the story? You don’t lose until you sell.

And if you try to time the market? Bad move. Studies show that missing the 10 best days can cut your returns in half.

So instead of jumping in and out…
✅ Set it and forget it.
✅ Automate monthly contributions.
✅ Trust the long game.

💡Final Take: Invest Early. Stay Calm. Get Wealthy.

The market rewards people who are consistent — not perfect.

Don’t try to outsmart the market. Buy solid ETFs. Hold long-term. Keep showing up. That’s how wealth is built.

✅ Join my free Beginners Investing Class

✅ Take advantage of my FREE Financial Freedom Faster eBook

 ✅Get in touch

Play the long game.

- Steve

Disclaimer:

The following article is strictly the opinion of the author and is not to be considered financial/investment advice. CTL Community LLC and the author of this article do not claim to be a registered financial advisor (RIA) or financial advisor. Please visit our terms of service and privacy policy before reading this article.  "Call to Leap may earn affiliate commissions from the links mentioned. Call to Leap is part of an affiliate network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites such as ImpactRadius, CardRatings, MyBankTracker, and more."