The First 5 Investments to Make in 2026!
The first five investments that every investor should make in the new year.
Hey there,
The start of a new year does something to you. Doesn’t it?
You look back at what you did with your money…
What you meant to do with your money…
What you almost did…
And for some reason, the new year brings a surge of energy to get everything right.
So let’s make this simple in 2026: If you want this year to finally feel different, pick at least one topic from this article, then give it everything you’ve got this year!
Here are five investments I believe every new investor should prioritize this year.
1️⃣ Enroll in Your Company’s 401(k) Plan
If you don’t know what this is, let me explain:
A 401(k) is an investment account that helps you save for retirement. Each paycheck, before taxes are deducted, a portion of your money is automatically invested in stocks, bonds, and other assets. Sometimes, companies offer to help by matching the amount you invest.
If your company offers a match, they’re offering you free money. Accept it. Always!
There are tons of details we can cover about 401(k) accounts, and I’m happy to do that another time. Today, all you need to know is that if your company offers one, it might be wise to enroll and start. Immediately.
2️⃣ Open a Roth IRA
I opened a Roth IRA at age 27, and I have never been happier with an investment decision. These accounts change lives. Here’s why:
At age 59½, you can withdraw every dollar you’ve ever made in the account and pay $0 in taxes.
Your eyebrows jumped off your forehead, didn’t they?
Even small, consistent contributions can go a long way!
Open one. Today.
3️⃣ Build an Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is about stability, and too many people overlook it.
Let me tell you a story:
Eighteen months after ChatGPT was released, my wife lost her job. No big deal. But two weeks later, I lost my job. All that happened while my wife was two months pregnant.
Do you know how we funded our lives for the first 12 months? Our emergency fund!
If 12 months feels difficult, aim for 3–6 months of essential expenses and deposit it in a high-yield savings account.
An emergency fund isn’t meant to make you rich. It’s meant to keep your finances stable when life gets bumpy and protect all the progress you’re working so hard to build.
4️⃣ Open a Taxable Brokerage Account
Retirement accounts are important, but there’s a lot of life to live between now and then. So open an individual (taxable) brokerage account.
These accounts give you a lot of flexibility:
Money you can access before 59½
An opportunity to take advantage of what you learn in Earn Out Loud newsletters
A way to invest for shorter-term goals: 2 years, 5 years, etc.
You don’t need much to start. You just need a place to begin.
Start here:
5️⃣ Automate One Simple, Boring Investment
Follow me…
Pick at least one broad and diversified investment like SPY, VTI, or another fund you like.
Set a monthly contribution
Same amount. Same day.
Is it boring? Yes.
Does it work? Also yes.
Consistency is what you’re going for here. After more than a decade of investing, I haven’t found a single strategy that beats it.
A Thought to Start 2026
Let’s make this the year investing stops feeling confusing.
We’re going to cover many investing topics this year:
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Space and Defense
Energy
Medical
Long-term vs Short-term
Trading
Options, and much more…
But you don’t have to become a market expert this year. You just need to start and stay consistent with me.
Happy New Year,
✍️ Isaiah from Earn Out Loud
P.S. If you’re going all-in this year, join Earn Out Loud PRO for access to courses, stock tips, investment comparisons, trading education, and much more.
This is solid foundation-building advice, especially the sequencing of tax-advantaged accounts before taxable. I've seen too many people skip the employer 401k match and go straight to individual stock picking, which is basically leaving a guaranteed 50-100% return on the table. The emergency fund positioning is spot on because without that buffer, people get forced to liquidate investments at the worst possible times, which wipes out years of compounding. I got burned on this early in my career, had to sell during 2020 crash to cover an unexpected expense. The automation point resonates bc behavioral finance research shows most people underperform their own portfolios by trying to time entryand exit, dollar cost averaging removes that friction entirely.