So, you find yourself with some extra capital, and you want to enter the "grown-up" world of investing. If you are like most Americans, you know little about this world of finance and investing, but you would like to get your hands on a little piece of the investment pie and see your efforts exponentially pay off.

Here are some tips for all of you first-time investors to make sure your efforts really do pay off:

1. Have a plan in place

Action without a plan is almost certain to be a failure in the world of finance. In order to make wise investment choices, you must ask and answer the following questions:

● How much can I afford to invest?

● How aggressively do I want my capital to grow?

● What can/can't I afford to lose?

● What are my overall financial goals?

● How can I become more familiar with terminology so that I understand my growth?

Knowing a bit more about the world of investing will be an essential part of your success. Don't hesitate to do some investigation to learn more about this world.

2. Enlist the help of professionals and platforms

While it would be nice to have complete control over all of your accounts, the reality is that a financial advisor can do much for you in the way of offering practical advice for consistent growth and success. They have the time to research market trends, analyze gains and losses, and provide you the best opportunities for growth. The role of deal sourcing in finding investment opportunities is an advantage to you, and it comes with the assistance of an experienced and knowledgeable financial advisor who can lead you through unfamiliar waters and provide you with valuable information that will empower you to make smart investment choices. The small percentage that you will pay this individual or firm will pay for itself in dividends as you take their practical advice and put it to good use.

3. Understand the risk involved

You must expect that there will be a little bit of risk involved in making investments. Generally speaking, the more aggressively you set up your portfolio, the greater the chance you have of losing some money. The key to long term gains is not to panic short term; there will be ebbs and flows in the market, and you must look at your overall trends to see what your success factor is.

4. Be tax-smart with your investments

While you may be starting with a small pot, making smart investment choices over several years will likely net you a significant amount of money. Protecting your investments in a tax-sheltered annuity will help you to keep your hard-earned money in your pocket when it's time to draw from the well.

5. Diversify

It's just smart business to spread your money across several different investments, rather than putting all of your eggs in one basket. A good balance of aggressive stocks and conservative ones will help to stabilize your portfolio and achieve consistent growth over time.

6. Don't fall for the hype

Wherever we look, there is propaganda on the "latest, greatest, fastest-growing" elements on the market. The truth is, there is plenty of flash in the pan opportunities that will quickly fade in popularity and in growth. Your best bet for consistent growth over time is a combination of consistently performing accounts that have proven themselves time and time again.

7. Invest regularly

Investing a little bit of each paycheck on a regular basis is more likely to net you favorable returns than investing a large amount once or twice over the course of your career. In doing so, you can also take advantage of compounding, which will allow your accounts to grow exponentially.

Have fun with the process!

You won't know everything as you dive in, but taking the time to build your portfolio and build relationships with financial advisors will put you on the road to consistent investment success. Be open to learning and have fun!