in our free newsletter.

Thousands benefit from our email every week.

1. Don't sell stocks when markets are bad

When stocks are hurtling lower, investors tend to drop investments fast. That's a bad idea, says Orman.

Instead of dumping stock, she advises that you just keep investing the same amount of money each month, regardless of what the market is doing. Using this strategy, a bad month for the market becomes a good month to invest.

"I wish for 2008 again," she told Yahoo Finance, referring to a big market meltdown. "That’s when the fortune was made. That’s when you could buy stocks for pennies on the dollar."

If you train yourself to hold on tight through market dips, you’ll continue to build a solid portfolio with long-term earning potential.

Contemporary art has outperformed the S&P 500 by 131% for the past 26 years. Join the exclusive platform to invest in million-dollar works by artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and more. Get started today and diversify your portfolio with art.

Learn More

2. Don't put blind faith in a financial adviser

It's important to have a financial adviser you can trust.

"Don’t think that they’re always going to have your best interest at heart, because probably they have their own best interest at heart,” Orman says.

When selecting a financial professional, make sure he or she is a "fiduciary," which means your adviser has a legal duty to act in your best interest.

During your vetting process, ask prospective advisers about how they'll be compensated for working with you, and about other services they can offer. This will give you a good idea of their motivations when they invest your money.

More: Best investment apps

3. Don't invest for the wrong reasons

Orman says too many people — especially young people — make investment choices purely because a stock seems cool or trendy.

"They decide, 'This company is great, I'm going to invest in that,'" she told CNBC in 2018. If that's your strategy, "maybe you'll hit it right, maybe you'll hit it wrong."

It's less risky to diversify your investing, by putting your money into index funds and exchange-traded funds, or ETFs.

Acorns rounds your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and invests your spare change. That means any spare change from your daily spending – gas, coffee or groceries – will go towards building your wealth. Get up to $20 when you sign up with this special link.

Get Started

4. Don't be too quick to buy a home

Homeownership is a big part of the American dream, but today's mortgage rates might make some people think twice.

"Sometimes it makes sense to own a home," Orman told CNBC. "And sometimes, depending on where you live, it makes sense to simply rent."

If you're in an expensive city, Orman says why not invest in the stock market instead of pouring a lot of money into property?

That way, you can grow your savings — maybe into a down payment on the home of your dreams.

More: What is a robo advisor?

5. Just don’t sell stocks — period

Orman speaks from personal experience. In 1997, she invested around $5,000 in Amazon. She sold the stock a few years later and quadrupled her money.

However, the shares would be worth millions today. "It makes me sick to even tabulate it," she told CNBC.

Investing in individual stocks isn’t her favorite game plan, but she says people who play the market should at least do extensive research on the companies they’re interested in. She says Google, Facebook and others are expected to retain their competitive edge for years to come.

“If you do buy, though, make sure to hold," Orman advises. "You keep a great stock forever."

Meet Your Retirement Goals Effortlessly

The road to retirement may seem long, but with WiserAdvisor, you can find a trusted partner to guide you every step of the way

WiserAdvisor matches you with vetted financial advisors that offer personalized advice to help you to make the right choices, invest wisely, and secure the retirement you've always dreamed of. Start planning early, and get your retirement mapped out today.

About the Author

Esther Trattner

Esther Trattner

Freelance Contributor

Esther was formerly a freelance contributor to Moneywise.

What to Read Next

Disclaimer

The content provided on Moneywise is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter.