“The Emeritus Wealth Team pictured at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ after donating over $15K to Cancer Research with their proceeds from their annual charity golf outing.”

As the global pandemic forced us inside and online, it also had some interesting side effects.  Being unable to spend our time on the pre-pandemic activities we were used to, people began turning their attention and focus to other at-home activities. Some took up DIY home renovations, others tried their hand at the culinary arts, but many began dipping their toes into the world of investing.

With easy access to online investing platforms such as  Robinhood, Acorns, Coinbase and more, investing became a part of everyday life for many. Wake up, put the coffee pot on, turn on your favorite investment channel and check your stock trading app. This seemed to be the daily routine for both greenhorn and seasoned investors alike.

Armed with freshly minted pandemic checks from Uncle Sam, it was time to start chasing those returns. When the stock market was down 30% during the height of the coronavirus, Robinhood opened nearly 3 million new accounts—and half of those accounts were opened by first-time investors.

Turning to online forums and word of mouth, the American public was infatuated with capturing the riches that the markets have to offer. It started with looking at companies that were fundamentally sound, but may have gotten caught up in the pandemic panic selling. Somewhere along the line, things changed.

Today’s online financial “gurus”, Tik Tokers and crypto fanatics have taken over the internet. The influence these talking heads have not only on the psychology of their followers, but on the markets themselves was unprecedented.

But at what risk?

Newer investors should be careful (the term “investor” is used very loosely here). No one should rely solely on a 30-second video to determine which stocks, funds, or index are best to invest in. Adding to market risk, there needs to be consideration when it comes to taxes, business risk of individual stocks, and other systematic risks. For example, you just sold AMC for a gain of $15,000 in your brokerage account. Time to go buy that Tesla!

It’s time to pump the brakes. You could have triggered a short-term capital gain. Do you know how that is taxed? Is there a way for you to offset this? What’s the difference between a short-term gain and long-term gain? Will my exposure to market volatility impact this at all? When are the taxes due? What is the “wash sale” rule?

I guess Reddit didn’t explain this part to you. Don’t worry, keep reading, we have you covered.

What are the next steps?

Get educated, do your research and don’t be afraid to ask for help. The internet is an amazing tool, but when looking for investment advice, every investor’s situation is so unique that you have to be careful what you are following on YouTube and Tik Tok. As a relatively new investor, it may benefit you to consult with a financial advisor to make sure you’re investing to meet your specific goals.

The right financial advisor understands the tax liabilities, risk levels and evaluations that come with investing. These are topics that shouldn’t be ignored when building a long-term investment strategy.

Working with a financial advisor means you won’t go into investing blind. You’ll have a stable strategy and feel secure in your financial future.

Invest the Right Way with Emeritus Wealth Group

The Emeritus Wealth Group, a financial advising and wealth management firm are licensed wealth managers with clients throughout the country.

Their passion stemmed from seeing many clients who were uneducated on how to build wealth. This led them to start Emeritus Wealth Group in 2019.

If you’re looking for financial advising and wealth management to protect your assets and build wealth, contact Emeritus Wealth Group.