Comments on: Reasons You Should Get Started Investing While Still A Graduate Student

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:09:34 +0000

@Jessica, I wouldn’t worry about that. From what I know, they won’t affect it at all. Most programs (good programs?) will offer you a fellowship or other form of funding if they’re going to accept you at all, and they won’t be asking you about investments. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. If you’re applying for a loan at some point – then at that point, perhaps, investments might be an issue. Good question to raise. I’d say just do whatever you can to avoid taking out loans for graduate school. Go somewhere that will fund you.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:06:44 +0000

Thank you for this article! I do have a question for you. I am about to start a masters program, and I want to start investing whatever I can scrape together every month. My only concern now is how will investments made in the next two years (the duration of my masters) affect my chances of receiving financial aid if/when I apply for my PhD. I am unlikely to have saved a whole between now and in two years, but Im still a bit worried. Thanks in advance.

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:35:21 +0000

@Cammy – I’d find a DRIP program with no fees for purchasing or reinvesting in stock – and I’d pick a stock with good growth, defensive position (consumer staples, etc.) and a history of raising dividends… it contains more risk than a savings account, but it could help you catch up a bit for lost time. And of course, get your debts paid off first if you have credit card debt.

By: Cammy

Cammy — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:16:58 +0000

What do you think is the most important think to know about saving? What do you do first if you haven’t even started to save? What can I do now?? Thanks in advance for all the tips :)

By: Christina

Christina — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:23:29 +0000

I just wish I thought of that while I was still taking my MBA … no remorse though…great article.

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:33:32 +0000

@MillionaireActs – good job. I also started at around the age of 22, although I wasn’t bringing in all that much and wasn’t investing all that much. But every bit helps. If you bought a stock yielding 4% that year, and held onto it, taking all the dividends as cash, your effective “yield” would rise by another 4% each year, so that after ten years you would be making an effective 40% yield on your original stock purchase. That’s why it can pay to invest as much as possible up front. And that’s not even factoring in all the possible dividend increases that investment might have seen on the way!

By: Millionaire Acts

Millionaire Acts — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:30:05 +0000

Nice tips! As for me I started investing when I had my first job at the age of 22. I did not go to graduate school though.

The earlier we start our financial education and put it into action, the less time we need to devote and the less money we need to save. As they say: “The Early Bird Catches The Worm”

By: Retirement Savior

Retirement Savior — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:30:32 +0000

I remember one of the first things we were taught in finance class was that if you saved $2k per year for 5 years when you were 22, and never made another contribution, then you would have more money at retirement than someone who started at age 27 and saved $2k per year every year until retirement, assuming the same rate of return.

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:48:06 +0000

That’s great – getting it started is so important, and getting the habit started is part of that. Once you learn how, and all the other basics, it can become just a matter of habit and you don’t have to think about it! I started just by saving $25 from each pay before I had enough to meet the minimum to get an RRSP started, way back when.

By: Miranda

Miranda — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:34:31 +0000

Time is one of the most important things. We started a Roth IRA a few years ago. Even though we were struggling students, we thought it was important. We put in what we could, and set up a regular transfer from our checking account. We can afford to put in more now, but the habit was started shortly after we married. And we’ll soon open another one in my husband’s name. And we’re not even 30 yet.