Investing 101
By Copper Financial | Investment Education
September 1, 2025
Investing can be a powerful tool to help you with building wealth, achieving financial goals, and securing a brighter future. Whether you are brand new to investing, or simply looking to refresh your knowledge, let’s go back to the basics of investing to provide you with a solid foundation for a successful investing journey.
Understanding the Basics: What is Investing?
At its core, investing involves allocating money with the expectation of generating a return or profit over time. Rather than letting your money sit idle, investing gives it the potential to grow through various avenues, from stock and bonds, mutual funds, and more.
Define Your Financial Goals
Before diving into the world of investing, clearly define your financial goals. Whether it’s saving for a home, funding education, or building a retirement nest egg, having well-defined objectives will help guide your investment strategy.
What is Risk Tolerance?
Assessing your risk tolerance is crucial to the investment journey. Understand how comfortable you are with the possibility of fluctuations in the value of your investments. Typically, higher potential returns come with higher risk. It is important to carefully consider your risk tolerance when you are crafting your investment portfolio.
Building a Diversified Portfolio
Diversification is a fundamental principle in investing. Spread your investments across different asset classes (stocks, bonds, ETFs, etc.) to reduce risk. A diversified portfolio can help mitigate the impact of poor-performing assets on your overall investment.
Explore Investment Options
Explore various investment options based on your goals and risk tolerance. Common investment vehicles include:
Stocks: Represent ownership in a company.
Bonds: Debt securities that pay interest over time.
Mutual Funds: Pooled funds managed by professionals.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Similar to mutual funds but traded on stock exchanges.
Start Early and Stay Consistent
Time is a powerful ally in investing. The earlier you start, the more time your investments have to grow. Consistency is key, so aim to contribute regularly to your investment accounts, even if it’s a modest amount.
Understanding Fees
Understand the fees associated with your investments. Fees can impact your overall returns. Choose cost-effective investment vehicles and platforms that are aligned with our investment objectives.
Stay Informed and Adapt
The financial landscape is frequently changing, so staying informed is essential. Regularly review your investment portfolio, reassess your goals, and be willing to adapt your strategy based on changing circumstances.
Long-Term Perspective
Investing is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep a long-term perspective and avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations. Patience is a virtue in the world of investing.
Seek Professional Guidance
If you’re unsure on where to begin or have complex financial goals, consider seeking advice from a Wealth Advisor. A skilled professional can provide personalized guidance based on your unique situation.
By embracing these fundamental principles of investing, you’re well on your way to navigating the basics and setting the stage for success on your investment journey. Remember, investing is a process, and each step you take brings you closer to a financial peace of mind.
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Disclosures
Securities and advisory services offered through Copper Financial Network, LLC (“Copper Financial”), a broker-dealer and SEC registered investment adviser. Member FINRA/SIPC. United Nations Federal Credit Union (“UNFCU”) has contracted with Copper Financial to make non-deposit investment products and services available to its members. Representatives are registered with Copper Financial. UNFCU is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and is not affiliated with Copper Financial. UNFCU Advisors, LLC (“UNFCUA”) is also not affiliated with Copper Financial. All Copper Financial written communications, forms, and literature are required to be in English.
For important disclosures from Copper Financial, including our Customer Relationship Summary, please visit here.
Copper Financial accounts are subject to the fees outlined in the applicable Advisory Brochure, Regulation Best Interest Disclosure and/or Brokerage Fee Schedule available on our website.
*Not all Copper Financial products and services are available in all locations. You may be referred by UNFCU to an unaffiliated independent financial advisor outside of the United States based on your location and the type of account you are interested in.
Are Not Deposits | Are Not NCUA or otherwise Federally Insured | Are Not Credit Union Guaranteed | May Lose Value |
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Copper Financial Network, LLC (“Copper Financial”) has an agreement with United Nations Federal Credit Union (“UNFCU”) whereby Copper Financial offers investment products and services to members of UNFCU that are referred to Copper Financial by UNFCU or its affiliates. UNFCU and its affiliates are not clients of Copper Financial. In exchange for the referrals from UNFCU and its affiliates, Copper Financial pays UNFCU a referral fee, which represents a portion of the commissions and fees generated from investment advisory accounts, brokerage accounts, and insurance contracts opened and maintained by members of UNFCU. The referral fee is paid to UNFCU as long as your accounts are open with Copper Financial and UNFCU and Copper Financial maintain their agreement. Contact compliance@cu.financial to obtain the specific range of the referral fee paid by Copper Financial to UNFCU. The financial professional who recommends investment products and services to you is an employee of Copper Financial and the amount of compensation the financial professional receives is determined by Copper Financial.
The payment of referral fees by Copper Financial to UNFCU creates a conflict of interest by incentivizing UNFCU and its affiliates to make referrals to Copper Financial. UNFCU receives the same referral fee from Copper Financial regardless of the type of account or investment you hold with Copper Financial.
UNFCU does not provide investment services. Please note that representatives are employees of Copper Financial and not affiliated with or employed by UNFCU or UNFCUA. Copper Financial pays a fee to UNFCU for referring UNFCU members to Copper Financial for investment products and services.
Investments are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of UNFCU, and may involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal.
