Dan Nastou, CFA
 
 
Let’s face it, we’ve all felt a little clueless about money at times.
 
And with good reason.
 
It’s a socially taboo topic, it’s rarely taught in schools, and it’s really hard to know what information you can trust. Sprinkle in a pinch of mathy goodness and you have a delicious recipe for financial confusion.
 
Long story short, it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit lost. However, that’s still no excuse to put off living your best financial life.
 
Yes, we know it might be a little embarrassing to feel left in the dark, making you hesitant to get started, but chances are your friends and colleagues feel the same way you do. Try to remind yourself there’s no shame in not knowing something, especially when it comes to your finances.
 
But what is a shame is if you let this confusion lead to helpless inaction.
 
Time is your friend when it comes to your finances, and the sooner you start making the right money moves, even small ones, the better. It’s especially important to start investing early to give your money time to grow. The last thing you want to do is perpetually procrastinate. You owe it to yourself to get to it now!
 

Ask questions and learn more

Alright, so what do you actually do? Well, the first thing is to stop worrying about what you don’t know and what you have (or haven’t) done in the past. It’s time to move on.
 
Next, start asking questions and learning more.
 
Now of course we’re a little biased, but we think we’ve built a pretty cool tool to help you understand the basics of personal finance. So if you want to give it a shot, we’d love to have you join (and we should mention it’s free!).
 
But we’ll also admit we aren’t the only game in town. There are actually a lot of other great websites and books out there to help you get a solid grasp of basic financial concepts. None of it is rocket science, but it does take a little work to get your bearings. So start your browsing.
 
You could also consider working with a professional, like an advisor or planner. Professionals can help you assess where you currently stand and help you figure out a plan for your money. You’ll want to do some research first and make sure you find someone you can trust and who can answer any questions you have. Don’t be afraid to ask away.
 
You’ll also want to make sure you don’t overpay for financial advice if you do decide to work with one. If you want to learn more about different kinds of professionals and what they offer, we cover them in our core content when you sign up.
 
If you do work with one, be sure to ask about anything you don’t understand, like why they are recommending certain investments or products and what fees are involved. If your advisor is reluctant to answer or can’t explain in a way you can understand, it’s time to find someone else to work with.
 
Remember, no matter where you stand today, you can and will make progress. Start small if you have to and keep moving in the right direction.
 

Anything else we can help you with?

Setting up your 401(k) account

How to open an IRA retirement account

Tackling student loan debt