The Best Time to Start a Financial Plan is Now
Harvesting Wealth
Simple Investing for a Stronger Future
by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP®
CPA, CFP® Owner, AAA Advisory LLC
September always feels like a turning point. The air cools down, summer slows, and farmers markets are overflowing with apples, pumpkins, and everything in between. It’s harvest season—a time to enjoy the results of what was planted earlier in the year.
Your finances work a lot like that. What you “harvest” later depends on the seeds you plant now and how consistently you care for them. The good news? Investing doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t need to spend hours a week watching the market to be successful.
Why Simple Works
Some people think you need a special talent for picking the perfect stock or timing the market just right. In reality, most investors do better with a simpler approach—owning a mix of investments that track the overall market through low-cost index funds or ETFs (exchange-traded funds).
The goal is to build a portfolio that matches your personal balance between growth and stability. Stocks are like the “growth engine”, they have higher long-term return potential, but also bigger ups and downs in the short term. Bonds (and other fixed income investments) are the “stabilizers”, they don’t usually grow as fast, but they can help cushion your portfolio during market drops.
Here are a couple of examples to look at:
Long-Term Growth Focus: A younger investor who won’t need the money for decades might choose 80% stocks / 20% bonds. The higher stock percentage means more potential growth over the years, knowing there will be bumps along the way.
Balance and Stability: Someone closer to retirement might choose 60% stocks / 40% bonds. This still allows for growth but with less risk, so the portfolio is steadier and less likely to drop sharply in value right before they need it.
“Okay… But How Do I Actually Buy These?”
If you’ve never invested before, the best starting point is often right in front of you—your workplace retirement plan.
Contributing to a 401(k) or 403(b) (if your employer offers one) is one of the easiest ways to invest because the money comes straight out of your paycheck, often with an employer match that’s basically free money. You can then select from the investment funds available in your 401(k) plan to put together the stock/bond allocation that is right for you or pick a target date fund based on your desired retirement date.
If you don’t have a workplace plan, or you want to save more, opening a Roth IRA can be another great starting place. With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars now, and the money grows tax-free for retirement.
Once you’ve taken advantage of those options, you can look at opening an online brokerage account to invest extra savings. Some popular, beginner-friendly choices are:
Vanguard — Known for low-cost index funds and a straightforward approach.
Fidelity — Offers no-minimum accounts and a wide selection of low-cost ETFs.
Think of opening a brokerage account like opening a bank account—but instead of just holding your money, it allows you to buy investments like ETFs or mutual funds.
Tend to It Now and Then
Simple doesn’t mean “set it and forget it” forever. You’ll still want to check in from time to time.
One key maintenance step is rebalancing. Think of your portfolio as having different “buckets”—for example, one for stocks, one for bonds, maybe one for cash. When you first set up your investments, you might decide you want 70% stocks and 30% bonds. Over time, if the stock market does well, 70% could grow to 80% or more, meaning your portfolio has become riskier than you originally intended.
Rebalancing is simply the process of adjusting things back to your original mix. You might sell some stocks and buy more bonds or direct new contributions into the underweighted bucket until the balance is back where you want it. It’s not about chasing performance—it’s about keeping your risk level in check and your strategy consistent over time.
Other maintenance steps include:
Adding regularly — even small amounts each month help build momentum.
Watching for costs and taxes — investment fees and poorly timed trades can quietly shrink your returns. Be sure to review your fund selections for underlying fees.
Reviewing your goals — as your life changes, your investment approach might need to as well.
You Don’t Have to Go It Alone
Not everyone enjoys managing their own investments, and that’s okay. There are different levels of help available, and the “right” one depends on your comfort level and how much time you want to spend:
Do-It-Yourself: You pick and manage everything on your own. Works well for people who enjoy research and can stick with a plan.
Guided Help: You stay in control of your investments, with an hourly or project-based planner providing advice and guidance when you need it.
Full-Service Management: You hand over the day-to-day to an advisor who manages everything for you, often for a percentage of the assets they handle.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. The key is to find the level of support that helps you stay consistent and confident.
Your September Check-In
As the seasons change, take a moment to look at your financial “garden.” Are your investments aligned with your goals? Are you making things more complicated than they need to be? Do you have the right amount of help for where you are right now?
Small, steady steps add up. The sooner you plant your seeds—and keep them growing—the more you’ll have to harvest in the years ahead.
