Hey Ryan,

When it comes to investing, there are a number of considerations. 

When should you start? What do you need to do beforehand? How can you access the money?

But when it comes actually investing, this involves 3 steps - or what I refer to as the 'The Three-step Blueprint'.

If you're already investing then you will already be implementing these 3 steps, even if you don't realise.  

Let's break it all down. 

(There's also a couple of pictures of my mug in this email, so you're welcome in advance...)

The 3 steps to invest are:

1. Platform
2. Account
3. Investment

• The platform (or broker) is the website or app we use to invest on.
• The account is the 'wrapper' that holds our investments in and each wrapper has different pros and cons.
• The investment is what we actually put our money into and hope it will grow, such as a stock or index fund.

The most common way that many people will follow this is through their workplace pension (yes, if you have a pension then that is your money and you are an investor!).

It would look something like this: 

1. Platform - whoever your employer elects to use (my UK employer uses Legal & General)
2. Account - this would be the workplace pension
3. Investment - usually some sort of diversified fund that your money will automatically be invested into

This may be one way that you follow the three-step blueprint already.

This approach isn't as sexy as flashy high tech stocks and brand new AI funds, but this approach is a great way to invest for the long term. And it works. 

Pension contributions come out of our gross pay, so we avoid tax (and that is the 'tax relief' that we get) and we will get an employer match to top up how much we're investing per month.

Arguably the best and easiest way to build your wealth over the long term.

Don't underestimate the power of long term investing using your workplace pension.

But - we can then invest further money each month, of our own accord.

Once again, we can follow these 3 easy steps to set up our investment approach.

I personally have done this over the years through by following this approach: 

1. Vanguard as my platform
2. Stocks & Shares ISA and SIPP (personal pension) as my accounts
3. Global index fund as my actual investment

This is what works for me. 

I like it because it is low fee, diversified and I'm investing using accounts with tax advantages. 

Of course, you can tweak the 3 steps to work for you. 

Maybe you want to use Trading 212 instead of Vanguard? No problem.

Maybe you want to invest into a S&P 500 fund instead of a global fund? Go ahead.

That's the beauty of this approach and of investing. You can flex it to suit your preferences.

That most important things are that:

1. You are investing
2. You understand your approach

Don't overlook the understanding aspect. This is your money, so make sure you know and understand where it's going, what it's being invested into and so on.

In my most recent Youtube video, I go through the exact approach I mentioned above.

I thought I would share this video here, as people seem to like my portfolio update videos so you can see the Three-step Blueprint in action.

As well as see how much I have and exactly what I invest into (or maybe just people are nosey... 😂)

Other News

You may have seen this already if you follow me on social media, but I finally have a physical copy of Stop Waiting, Start Investing!

My book that really has been years in the making for years and it is being released in just under 1 month on 26 November 2024.

You can preorder on by clicking here - it’s available on Amazon and at other large bookstores like Waterstones and WHSmiths.

I am absolutely buzzing for it to finally come out!

Investing really hasn't got to be complicated and this book helps to demystify that and make investing easy to understand. 

Thanks to anyone who has already preordered it ❤️

As always, if you have any questions on anything at all please feel free to reach out to me anytime.  

All the best,

Ryan