The story of how I couldn't start investing just by studying

Hello, I’m Michiru.

This is sudden, but I have a question.

For those of you who invest, what was your trigger for starting?
For those who don’t, what is the reason you don’t?

In my case, it was the introduction of the new NISA while I was studying for my Financial Planner certification.
If I hadn’t been studying for the certification, I probably wouldn’t have invested, and even if I had been studying, I might not have done it if the new NISA hadn’t existed.

The reason is that when I was studying for the Level 3 exam, I still thought of investing as someone else’s business.
Since I was studying from zero financial knowledge, I might have been so desperate to memorize things that I didn’t really understand the content.

After a while, I started studying for the Level 2 exam and learned about investing and NISA in more depth, which led me to realize “Couldn’t I do this myself?” and I was finally able to get moving.
I think I was quite saved by the era and the timing.

Looking back on myself, I feel like there aren’t many triggers for money beginners to start investing spontaneously.
“Investing has the risk of losing money,” “It’s something for people who have money,” “You have to spend a lot of time studying”—aren’t these views still deeply rooted?

Even if you were to hear someone else’s experience or be recommended to do it and were able to see it as your own business, I don’t think it’s that simple.

If you are someone who lacks confidence, you might belittle yourself, thinking, “Even if someone like me does it, I’ll probably fail…” or “What’s the point of someone like me who doesn’t earn much doing it…?” And if you do have confidence, you might end up dabbling in high-risk products like individual stocks or margin trading.

My current view is that “If you have a stable income and savings as an emergency fund, anyone can start,” and “Continuing steadily with the new NISA and index investing is the hope for ordinary people.” I believe this.

However, if you list technical terms to someone with zero investment knowledge, no matter how much you appeal to the benefits, I think they will reflexively have an allergic reaction, thinking, “It looks difficult!” or “It’s impossible for me!”
For beginners, it’s a hassle to go out of their way to study to understand it, and they will likely feel that the various procedures required are troublesome.

I was exactly like that, after all.
It is natural to fear what you don’t know, and even more so when it is your precious money.

It took me nearly a year from the time I became interested in investing until I actually started, and as I mentioned earlier, if it weren’t for my FP studies and the arrival of the new NISA, I don’t think I would be doing it even now.

In order for beginners to spontaneously become interested in investing and start managing their assets, isn’t the only way for them to correctly catch information that makes them think, “I can do this too!”?

The reason I was able to narrow my focus to index investing and start managing it after becoming interested in investing is because I was able to reach information on the internet that strongly recommended All Country or S&P 500.
For a cautious person like me, index investing was truly a ray of hope.

I think it’s fine to have many entrances.
If I could be one of those entrances, even if it’s presumptuous, I would be happy.

I am facing asset formation every day while working in order to overcome the difficulties of living and anxiety about the future.
I try to post content that can encourage those who have similar worries, so please take a look at my other articles!