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Do you think of yourself as an investor? In considering names for an investing course I have been writing recently, it occurred to me that most women don’t think of themselves as investors based on what they’ve been telling me when I have money conversations with them. I think to feel comfortable calling yourself an investor you have to actually be involved with investing with your money, and even then, it may feel awkward.
Somehow I think the word investor seems big and intimidating for a lot of people, especially for women. It seems like there is almost shame around it. I understand; It took me a long time to say that I am an investor.
An investor is anyone who has money in an account. If you have money sitting in the bank, then you are an investor, even though that money is invested in cash. If your husband’s brother manages your money for you and your husband, then you are an investor. If you have a joint account that your husband has invested in stock mutual funds, you are an investor, even if you did not have any involvement in the mutual fund decision. None of these circumstances mean that you don’t need to be smart about how your money is invested.
You are an investor because the money is in your name in each of these situations. Your name is almost certainly on the account, not the person managing your money, and not the bank. If the investment drops in value and you sell it, you have lost the money, not the bank, the financial advisor, or the fund manager. You are the one the IRS will look to for tax payments when you sell your securities at a gain.
Own this role; you are an investor. Feel the gratitude for your financial assets and then learn about investing your money. Now step into the empowerment that comes with the ownership of that role. It feels pretty good, doesn’t it?
RT @Financial_Woman: Does the Word Investor Feel Scary? http://bit.ly/b9ohpL