"Lock in, lock in" That seems to be the words on everyone's lips, and sometimes you are there thinking, "Well, time has gone, let me just wait till another cycle begins". The people who keep talking about locking in and doing it now know why they say so.
Now, like life itself, investing is often represented as a game where starting early is the ultimate advantage. And yes, compound interest working its magic on your investment can become a barricade for anyone who feels they have missed the starting gun.
If you are in your 30s, 40s, 50s, or beyond and hold the regret of not starting sooner, this is your much-needed permission slip to begin now. Because the truth is that when it comes to securing your financial future, the best time to start investing was yesterday, but the second-best time is today.
As the year draws to a close, it is time to embrace the "11th Hour Miracle" mindset. That seemingly late hour is still an incredible window of opportunity. Financial wins can still happen before the year ends. This is why it is never too late to start your investment journey with Credlanche.
1. The Missed Train
What has made many people delay the beginning of their investment journey is the thought that the starting capital is too high and they cannot afford to scrape together such an amount at once. Some believe that so much time has already gone by, and they do not think they can still get a meaningful result.
These are all powerful psychological hurdles, but they are just that: hurdles to be jumped over or dismantled, not brick walls. The goal of investing is not solely about maximising decades of compounding, but about ensuring that your money is working for you, rather than sitting idle and losing value to inflation.
If there is something to note here, the key takeaway is that every minute your money is not invested, it is effectively losing purchasing power. You cannot afford to delay any longer. The safety margin is reduced, but the growth potential is still very real.
2. Your Unconventional Friend
Do you know what that is? It is time. This might get you a bit confused because why are we saying time is your friend when you already believe that it might just be too late? Here it is: while a 20-year-old has time as a big padi, a later starter can be friends with time and have a different kind of advantage: focused, intentional action, driven by greater income and clarity. This means you can contribute a larger amount of money to your investments on a monthly basis. A ₦5,000,000 monthly contribution for 15 years can potentially outgrow a ₦500 thousand monthly contribution for years.
Also, the time it has taken you to realise that you need to start investing has naturally improved your money-handling knowledge. You likely have a clearer understanding of your spending habits, debt situation, and future goals, leverage it.
The "never too late" mantra is not just a saying. This November, seize the 11th hour and initiate your investment journey.