Watching their friends earn big through the stock market investment, there are many rookie investors out there who get attracted to the world of investing without any knowledge about where they are landing. Rookie investors are those who want to invest in a stock market or any other investment but do not know where to start from.

More than often, rookie investors face difficulties when they do not time the markets properly, and at times, they just follow the herd.

Whether you are a rookie or a seasoned investor, the basic knowledge and understanding of investment can save you from incurring losses. Here are some questions every rookie investor must ask before they decide to invest.

Why is investment necessary?
When you are young, you will not realize the importance of investing. However, as you age, you realize that in order to survive retirement, the same investment comes to your rescue. You need to seek a proper guidance of an investor officer, as to where you want your money to be invested, that can come in handy by the time you are 65 or nearing retirement.

Is it beneficial to contribute to 401(k) and IRA?
Your employer may be contributing six percent of your pay to 401(k). When you and your employer match the 401(k), it amounts to 100% returns. Sometimes employers do not match; in that case, you can decide what investment options your 401(k) offers. Hence, even with 401(k), you still have the option of using IRA (individual retirement account). Contributing to both 401 (k) and IRA can give you a better advantage for retirement.

What are the different investment options?
If your only objective of investing is to save for retirement, then target-date funds are apt for you. They provide diverse fund options under a single mutual fund. You will have the mixture of stock, bonds, and other asset classes in your portfolio. There are funds such as Vanguard index funds or Fidelity Freedom 2040 fund that become more conservative and give some stability as you age.

How much is it advisable to invest?
You can use retirement score calculator to arrive at an estimated figure about the amount you can invest. Using that score, you can change your allocation priorities so that you have some assured amount for your retirement.

When is the right age to start?
There is no right age for investing. Although it is preferred that earlier is better, you can start investing as soon as you start earning. When you start at 25 years, you will have 45 years to accumulate all the wealth, by the time you retire at 70.

What would be the returns on investment?
Once you invest, it is better if you keep your expectations low. Returns on investments are subject to market conditions. Sometimes the markets will reward you with high returns and other times, you will be deprived. Try to invest keeping long-term goals in mind for good returns.

While starting, rookies need to be aware because if they are not diligent and well informed, they can get confused when it comes to investments.