The Basics of Investing

Let’s start by answering a basic but powerful question: what is investing?

At its core, investing is putting your money to work to earn more money over time. It’s about exchanging immediate spending power for the possibility of greater future wealth. You invest in assets — like stocks, bonds, real estate, or businesses — with the expectation that they’ll generate income, appreciate in value, or both.

The goal isn’t to “get rich quick.” It’s to grow wealth gradually, consistently, and intelligently — ideally outpacing inflation and giving you more financial freedom down the road.