Invest
6 secrets to becoming a successful investor
The investment world is prone to changing “dramatically from one month to the next” but there are steps investors can take to stay ahead of the crowd.
6 secrets to becoming a successful investor
The investment world is prone to changing “dramatically from one month to the next” but there are steps investors can take to stay ahead of the crowd.

According to wealth adviser at Leading Advice, Gerard Haskew, the “secrets of successful investors never go out of style” while poor investment strategies can leave investors wishing they had just left their money in the bank.
With this in mind, he identified six secrets to making investments achieve their goals.
1. Have a plan
“Smart investors don’t just look for ‘good’ investments. They look for investments that will help them achieve specific goals,” he explained.

For instance, investors may be looking for a better yield on their cash than with a term deposit.
Mr Haskew said that such an investor could consider a high-yield share fund. On the other hand: “Someone who is mainly looking for capital growth may be more interested in a growth-style share fund that doesn’t focus on dividends.”
2. Have a mix of assets
It’s not the first time investors will have heard this, but Mr Haskew emphasised that diversifying “widely” is a key in ensuring investors' survival should there be any market or sector-specific downturn.
He explained: “While many Australian investors are heavily exposed to Australian shares, a well-diversified portfolio will generally hold assets in each of the major asset classes (e.g. Australian and international shares, property, fixed income and cash).”
3. Keep an eye on costs
While it’s not hard to become fixated on returns, successful investors monitor and try to minimise the fees and taxes that accompany their investments.
“A ‘buy and hold’ strategy can help you avoid transaction costs like brokerage, or buy and sell spreads from managed funds,” he suggested.
“It can also help you reduce capital gains tax, which generally decreases by 50 per cent when you’ve held an asset for over 12 months.”
4. Take your time
“Attempting to time the market is a dangerous strategy that can increase the risks of investing, particularly if you invest all of your spare money at once,” he warned.
Investors should instead invest gradually in order to make the long-term costs more consistent and individual payments less painful.
5. No panicking
Noting that share markets “inevitably” retreat, Mr Haskew said “smart investors” avoid panicking and selling investments that are likely to recover.
“Instead, if you continue to invest during a market downturn, you may be able to buy high-quality investments at a lower price than you could if you waited for markets to recover.”
6. Your assets need protecting
Mr Haskew warned investors: “Even the best investment strategy can come unstuck if you need access to your money in an emergency.”
He said a smart investment strategy encompasses maintaining a “sizeable cash reserve” accompanied by appropriate income protection and life insurance.
“Having the right insurances in place can help prevent the need for a ‘fire sale’ of your investments if you suffer a serious illness or accident.”

Property
North platform adds household reporting feature to boost adviser efficiency
AMP's North platform has launched consolidated household reporting across multiple client accounts, helping financial advisers streamline their client review processes. Read more

Property
What Adds The Most Value To Properties?
Wondering how to up the value of your property? Properties are worth a lot of money in general, but there’s always a way to maximise value. The good news is that most of the things you can do to ...Read more

Property
Centuria reports strong growth in alternative real estate sectors for FY24
Centuria Capital Group has reported significant growth in alternative real estate sectors for the 2024 financial year, driving stable performance and increased guidance for FY25. Read more

Property
How to leverage equity in your home for investment or renovation
Home equity, the value of your property minus any debts owed, is a powerful financial resource many homeowners in Australia can utilize to further their financial goals. Whether you're looking to ...Read more

Property
Exploring REITs: Real estate investment without buying property
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) offer a compelling investment alternative for those interested in the real estate market but may not want to endure the complexities and capital requirements of ...Read more

Property
Retirement communities: a pivotal element in meeting Australia's housing targets
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has recommended that retirement communities should be considered a vital part in the Australian Government's initiative to fulfill the Housing Australia Future Fund ...Read more

Property
Australians adjust financial strategies amid changing property market dynamics
The 2023 calendar year saw Australian borrowers acquiring a total of $300.9 billion in new loans for property purchases, marking a 12.7% decrease from the previous year. Read more

Property
Split home loans unlocking doors for Aussie buyers
Australians are teaming up to dive into the real estate market and seize the advantages of home ownership, with the trend of split home loans surging as family and friends unite to buy properties ...Read more

Property
North platform adds household reporting feature to boost adviser efficiency
AMP's North platform has launched consolidated household reporting across multiple client accounts, helping financial advisers streamline their client review processes. Read more

Property
What Adds The Most Value To Properties?
Wondering how to up the value of your property? Properties are worth a lot of money in general, but there’s always a way to maximise value. The good news is that most of the things you can do to ...Read more

Property
Centuria reports strong growth in alternative real estate sectors for FY24
Centuria Capital Group has reported significant growth in alternative real estate sectors for the 2024 financial year, driving stable performance and increased guidance for FY25. Read more

Property
How to leverage equity in your home for investment or renovation
Home equity, the value of your property minus any debts owed, is a powerful financial resource many homeowners in Australia can utilize to further their financial goals. Whether you're looking to ...Read more

Property
Exploring REITs: Real estate investment without buying property
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) offer a compelling investment alternative for those interested in the real estate market but may not want to endure the complexities and capital requirements of ...Read more

Property
Retirement communities: a pivotal element in meeting Australia's housing targets
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has recommended that retirement communities should be considered a vital part in the Australian Government's initiative to fulfill the Housing Australia Future Fund ...Read more

Property
Australians adjust financial strategies amid changing property market dynamics
The 2023 calendar year saw Australian borrowers acquiring a total of $300.9 billion in new loans for property purchases, marking a 12.7% decrease from the previous year. Read more

Property
Split home loans unlocking doors for Aussie buyers
Australians are teaming up to dive into the real estate market and seize the advantages of home ownership, with the trend of split home loans surging as family and friends unite to buy properties ...Read more