Successful investing is a journey not a one-time occurrence. And it takes planning.

In fact, you might say that successful investing is a journey. A journey that lasts decades, or even longer.

But how do you begin?

You start with a destination. Where do you want to go? What does success look like to you?

Then you map out your path.

How much money will you need? When will you reach your goal?

After you know what you're trying to achieve, it's time to think about where you want to go.

If you want to start investing, there are a few things you'll need to know before diving into the world of stocks. One thing you'll need is a good broker. You don't necessarily have to use one though; many people prefer to do everything themselves. But if you decide to go with a broker, make sure you find one that offers low fees and commission rates. They won't cost you anything unless you earn profits.

Another important factor is how much money you want to invest. If you're just starting out, you might want to limit yourself to $1,000-$5,000. Your goal here isn't to beat the stock market, but rather to build up some experience in trading. Once you've gained enough knowledge, you can increase your investment amounts.

The third important aspect is your risk tolerance. Some people love to take risks, while others aren't willing to put their entire portfolio on the line based on a single trade. This is where diversification comes in handy. Diversify your portfolio across different types of securities such as bonds, stocks, real estate, and commodities.

Finally, you'll need to set aside some time each week to monitor your portfolio. Make sure you check your account once per month and keep track of your performance. You'll soon realize that learning about the market takes time, but stick with it and you'll see great returns in no time.

Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors in history, the other person is Ray Dalio. His track record speaks for itself. But the Oracle of Omaha isn't known for his investment acumen. He's famous for saying "The best way to invest is to buy a great company at a fair price." This quote is often used to justify investing in stocks rather than bonds. And it makes sense. If you're buying a house, why go for a cheap mortgage? You want to pay less interest and save some cash.

But what about investments like stocks? Shouldn't you take out a loan to acquire them? Wouldn't you want to pay less interest? Well, yes, but there are better ways to achieve this goal than trying to predict where the stock market is headed.

He recently got into tech stocks too.

Investors who attempt to time the market tend to make poor decisions because they don't understand how markets work. They think that they can predict short-term movements in the stock market based on macroeconomic factors such as unemployment rates, inflation expectations, etc. So, they look at the big picture and decide whether to invest now or later.

They believe that they'll know the direction of the economy and the stock market better than anyone else. However, they fail to realize that the economy is driven by many different forces, including consumer confidence and spending habits, corporate earnings growth, monetary policy, and government fiscal policies.

In addition, the stock market is composed of thousands of companies, each with its own unique characteristics. Some companies are growing rapidly while others are struggling. Some industries are booming while others are declining. These differences mean that no single factor drives the overall direction of the economy and stock market.

And finally, the stock market is a dynamic environment that constantly changes. Companies change CEOs, merge with competitors, launch new products, and undergo major restructuring. All of these events influence the value of a company and ultimately determine whether it goes up or down.

As a result, timing the market is extremely difficult. Even Warren Buffett admits that he tries to time the market, but fails miserably every time.