Get the Facts: The SEC's Roadmap to Saving and Investing

Define Your Goals     Make a Financial Plan     Determine Your Risk Tolerance     Investment Products: Your Choices     Pick a Financial Professional     Avoid Problems     The Real Journey Begins...

Welcome to the SEC's Roadmap to saving and investing, which is brought to you by the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Knowing how to secure your financial well-being is one of the most important things you’ll ever need in life. You don’t have to be a genius to do it. You just need to know a few basics, form a plan, and be ready to stick to it. No matter how much or little money you have, the important thing is to educate yourself about your opportunities.

There is no guarantee that you’ll make money from investments you make. But if you get the facts about saving and investing and follow through with an intelligent plan, you should be able to gain financial security over the years and enjoy the benefits of managing your money.

No one is born knowing how to save or to invest. Every successful investor starts with the basics—the information you’re about to read. A few people may stumble into financial security—a wealthy relative may die, or a business may take off. But for most people, the only way to attain financial security is to save and invest over a long period of time. Time after time, people of even modest means who begin the journey reach financial security and all that it promises: buying a home, educational opportunities for their children, and a comfortable retirement. If they can do it, so can you. So let’s get started!