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💸 10 Steps to Start Investing
(Even If You're a Total Beginner)
Kyaw Saw
June 30, 2025
A few years ago, when I was still deep in GP training, I had more than a few friends and colleagues approach me with the same question:
“Hey Joe (that’s how my name — Kyaw — is pronounced in the UK)… how do I start investing?”
If you know me, you’ll know that once I get talking about finance, I don’t stop. 😅
What started as casual chats eventually turned into something bigger — a personal mission to share everything I’ve learned. I’m now working on a book (coming late 2025!) titled:
Beyond the Stethoscope: Smart Finance for Junior Doctors
This newsletter is part of that journey. It's the exact kind of guide I wish I had when I was just getting started.
Let’s break it down into 10 clear, practical steps — no jargon, no overwhelm 👇
1. Prepare Your Finances
Before investing, build your financial base.
✅ List all income & expenses
✅ Work out how much you can invest monthly
✅ Set aside 3 months of expenses as an emergency fund
💡 Budgeting apps like Emma, Snoop or Plum can help track everything and free up spare cash.
2. Choose an Investment Platform
This is your portal to the investing world. Choose what suits your style:
Passive: Use a robo-advisor like Wealthify – hands-off and automatic
Semi-passive: Pick a ready-made portfolio like those offered by Vanguard, Plum, or Moneybox
Active: Pick your own stocks/funds via InvestEngine or Trading 212 or similar DIY platforms
🎯 My favourites? InvestEngine and Plum – low fees, beginner-friendly, and easy to automate.
A tax-efficient wrapper that protects your gains.
✅ Invest up to £20,000/year tax-free
✅ Sign up online in minutes
✅ You’ll usually need your National Insurance number
🔐 No stress – it’s as easy as opening a bank account.
4. Fund Your Account
Add your first money into your new ISA.
💸 Start with whatever amount fits your budget
💰 Some platforms let you start from £1 (like Plum or InvestEngine)
📈 You don’t need to invest everything at once — consistency matters more
✅ Don’t wait to have thousands. Just begin.
5. Choose Your Investments
For beginners, broad market index funds are a smart bet.
🧾 They’re diversified, low-fee, and beginner-friendly
🔎 Pick 1–3 funds you understand
🖥️ Use tools like Yahoo Finance, Morningstar, or YouTube to compare options
📚 Look up funds like the Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap Index Fund to start.
6. Make Your First Investment
Yes, it’s exciting — but stay calm and think long term.
🛒 Log into your platform
💼 Choose your fund(s)
📉 Enter the amount and confirm
🕒 If it’s outside market hours, your trade might complete when the market opens.
7. Set Up Regular Investments
This is your wealth-building autopilot.
🔁 Enable monthly auto-invest
📆 Time it right after payday
🧠 This removes emotion and builds discipline
🔂 If it’s manual, you'll likely forget. Automate = win.
8. Establish a Review Schedule
Avoid emotional investing. Less checking = better decisions.
📅 Check every 6–12 months
🔄 Rebalance only if needed
🧠 Remember: a bad year doesn't mean it’s a bad investment — think long term
🔍 Investing is like growing a tree. Water it, don’t dig it up every day.
9. Stay Informed
Keep learning — just don’t overwhelm yourself.
📖 Read one investing book every 6 months
📘 A great underrated start: Personal Finance, Simplified by Investeo (my personal bible)
📰 Follow blogs from platforms like Wealthify, Moneybox, or Nutmeg
🎧 Not into books? Try podcasts or platform newsletters instead.
10. Increase Contributions & Diversify
Once you're feeling more confident…
📈 Review your budget every 6–12 months
💰 Increase your monthly amount if finances allow
🌱 Add new funds or diversify once you understand your first investment
🔀 Start simple, grow smart. Small steps lead to big change.
✅ Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start.
📉 Ignore the noise
📈 Stay consistent
🧠 Let time and compounding do the magic
Here’s to your investing journey — slow, steady, and smart.
— Kyaw