{"id":11965,"date":"2026-04-20T10:31:55","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T00:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/investors-admin.raizinvest.com.au\/?p=11965"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:34:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T00:34:37","slug":"the-three-most-common-mistakes-investors-say-they-made-at-the-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raizinvest.com.au\/investors\/blog\/the-three-most-common-mistakes-investors-say-they-made-at-the-start\/","title":{"rendered":"The three most common mistakes investors say they made at the start"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ask almost any long-term investor what they would do differently, and you\u2019ll hear similar answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not complex strategies.
Not stock picking regrets.
Not fancy timing techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just three simple things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news? They\u2019re all avoidable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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1. Starting too late<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the one you hear the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wish I started earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people delay investing because they think they need to know more first. They want to understand every term, every risk, every possible outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But investing is not a university degree you complete before you begin. It\u2019s something you learn by doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The irony is that time is one of the most powerful tools in investing. The earlier you start, even with small amounts, the more time your money has to potentially<\/ins> grow and compound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waiting until you feel 100 per cent confident often <\/del>might <\/ins>means<\/del> missing out on years of growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to know everything. You need to start, stay curious, and keep learning along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Panic selling in bad years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Markets do not rise in a straight line. There will be negative years. There will be uncomfortable headlines. There will be moments when your app shows your returns in red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For new investors, that can feel alarming. The instinct is to protect yourself by selling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s what many experienced investors say when they look back: their biggest mistake wasn\u2019t a bad investment. It was selling during a downturn and missing the recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historically, markets have gone through cycles. Downturns have been followed by recoveries. The problem is, no one knows exactly when that recovery will begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selling in fear can lock in losses. Staying invested, if your timeframe allows, gives your money the opportunity to recover and grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time in the market has generally mattered more than trying to jump in and out at the \u201cright\u201d moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Not getting the foundations right first<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This one is less talked about, but just as important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you invest heavily, your basics matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n