Five Mistakes New Investors Repeat and How to Sidestep Them

1. Switching funds every time a new leaderboard publishes.
2. Investing without an emergency buffer, then redeeming at the worst time.
3. Choosing equity for goals due within 2 to 3 years.
4. Ignoring costs and tax treatment when comparing options.
5. Skipping basic documentation because a tip sounded exciting.

Gentle fixes

Write down your goal, your timeline, and the maximum loss you could stomach before you pick a category. Review your investments once or twice a year instead of daily app checking. Use calculators to anchor expectations, not to predict your exact future wealth.