Imagine climbing into the cockpit of a supersonic fighter jet waiting on the runway. The jet, full of highly combustible fuel, is then flung into the night by a giant catapult housed below the deck. You move from zero to over 100s of miles an hour in under a few seconds.

On your return, you must find a tiny moving runway that is floating on the ocean and land by snagging a wire with a tail hook you can’t see. If you let fear take over, the result could be one that we don’t want to imagine.

Sounds terrifying, right?

And yet one of the first female combat pilots in the Indian Air Force, might have regularly performed this feat during her career.

Controlling fear in the cockpit is what we feel might have helped her achieve her goal. Not being afraid drove her to earn the title — even though in India, there were no women flying combat aircraft when she might have started training.

Why this story?

To illustrate two points: first, that overcoming fear is powerful, and second, that the world has changed — and continues to evolve — especially for women.

The same applies to the world of finance. If you’ve never invested your money, taking the plunge can seem like an insurmountable task. That’s perfectly understandable. Start by debunking many of the money lies you may have been told.

Although taking the plunge might seem intimidating, doing your research and being willing to reach out for help are great first steps to achieving more financial confidence.

And who knows? Maybe you’ll love investing so much that you decide to pursue it as a career.

Women are transforming the financial industry simply by bringing their unique perspectives and strengths into the mix. In addition to the cut-and-dry upside, women bring to the world of investing, a number of new initiatives like #BeOnTheSamePage are emerging with one goal in mind: ensuring that more and more women attain financial independence.

The Real Risk Women Face

As we step into 2023, the gender pay gap does not seem to inch any closer together. As per a press release by International Labour Organization (ILO), women are paid about 20 per cent less than men globally. At that rate, it’s not going anywhere until near future. We can’t change this, but what is in our hands is how we manage the money that we earn. We have it in our power to save our money, spend it more wisely, and, most importantly, invest in a diversified investment portfolio to build wealth.

A trait we notice among women is entrusting their partner to manage money and underestimating their financial management capability. Many women continue to leave investment decisions to their partner, putting them at a massive disadvantage of being unaware of family assets or investments. If you want to be truly independent, you must have an investment portfolio of your own. The truth is women are incredibly holistic in their thinking, are sufficiently risk-aware, and make informed decisions with their money.

So, whether or not you have that confidence to invest, here’s how to invest and, over time, build wealth:

Educate yourself for investment basics:

According to a 2022 study conducted by Bank of America, nearly one-third of women who don’t invest claim it’s because of a lack of knowledge on the subject. But those who invest gain confidence by acting to improve their investment knowledge. The most critical method to develop confidence is to continue learning about investing. Although the world of investing is large, there is no shortage of materials to assist you in getting started. You may enhance your knowledge by regularly reading blogs, investment books, and listening to industry experts.

Determine your investment goals:

Before investing, it is important to identify your investment goals, which may include short-term goals, such as saving for a down payment on a house, or long-term goals, such as retirement planning.

Assess your risk tolerance:

It is important to assess your risk tolerance to determine the types of investments that are suitable for you. Risk tolerance refers to how much risk you are willing to take on in pursuit of investment returns.

Create a budget:

Creating a budget can help you identify how much money you have available to invest each month. This can help you make informed investment decisions and avoid overcommitting to investments that may not be suitable for your financial situation.

Diversify your investments:

Diversification is a key component of any investment strategy, as it helps to spread risk across different asset classes and investment types.

Monitor your investments:

Once you have made investments, it is important to monitor them regularly to ensure they are performing as expected and to make adjustments as needed.

Seek advice from professionals:

If you are unsure about any aspect of investing, seek advice from a financial professional, such as a financial advisor, accountant, or lawyer. They can provide valuable insights and guidance to help you make informed investment decisions.

Practice patience:

Exercising patience can be beneficial, as disciplined patient investing has the potential to generate relatively better returns. By leaving your money invested for a longer period, it has more time to grow through the benefits of compounding interest and the recovery from inevitable market fluctuations.

 In conclusion, investing is an excellent way to achieve financial growth and create opportunities for yourself. As a woman, it is essential to recognize your power to invest your money smartly and efficiently. It may seem overwhelming at first, but with the right resources and guidance, you can start your investing journey confidently. Remember, there are no stupid questions, and seeking help is a wise decision. So, take the first step towards investing and watch your money grow over time. Start today and enjoy the benefits of a financially secure future.

Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. The information in this document alone is not sufficient and should not be used for the development or implementation of an investment strategy. The recipients of this material should rely on their investigations and take their own professional advice.