How to Get Started Investing: A Step-by-Step Guide for Pastors Who Are New to the Market

I still remember the first time I powered up a table saw during a building project at our church. The blade spun loud enough to shake my chest. I had no idea what I was doing. I knew the tool could help me finish the work, but I also knew that if I approached it the wrong way I might go home bleeding.

So I just stood there, frozen.
The tool was right in front of me, but I did not trust myself to use it.

Then someone walked over and showed me how to set the guard. They explained how to line up the cut. They placed their hands on the board and guided me through the first pass. The moment I understood the right way to use the tool, the anxiety dropped.

Most pastors feel the same way when they open a brokerage account for the first time. You are staring at something powerful and helpful, but you do not want to hurt yourself or make a foolish mistake.

The good news is that investing becomes simple the moment someone shows you where to place your hands and how to make the first cut.

The Real Reason Getting Started Feels Overwhelming

Nobody taught us this.
Not in seminary.
Not in financial counseling.
Not in church leadership training.

We were told to save money, avoid greed, and be wise with resources. Those are good principles. The problem is that nobody showed us the practical steps of opening an investing account, choosing a strategy, or starting with small amounts in a responsible way.

So pastors delay.
They worry.
They assume they need more money, more knowledge, or more confidence.

You do not need any of those things to begin. You only need clarity and a simple starting point. Let me walk you through it.

Step One: Understand What Investing Actually Is

Investing is simply owning something that grows over time. It is not gambling. It is not guessing. It is not hoping for a miracle.

When you buy a stock, you own a small part of a real company. When the company grows and increases in value, your ownership grows with it. That is the foundation of building long-term wealth.

Trading is different. Trading focuses on shorter-term movements in price. You can learn both, but when you are first starting, you only need to focus on the simplest form of investing. Ownership that grows slowly and steadily.

Your first goal is not to become a trader.
Your first goal is to become an investor who understands the tool you are holding.

Step Two: Choose a Brokerage Account With Confidence

A brokerage account is simply the tool that lets you buy investments. It works like a bank account that holds your money and your stocks. Opening one is safe, regulated, and takes only a few minutes.

You have plenty of choices, but I want to save you from the confusion that comes with comparing twenty different platforms. After sixteen years of trading, the broker I trust and recommend is Tradier.

It is simple, clean, and beginner friendly. Their customer service is strong, and they give you access to everything you need without overwhelming you with features that do not matter.

If you want to make this step even easier, Tradier gives my community a special offer.
When you open an account using this link and deposit at least two thousand dollars, they will add a one hundred dollar bonus to your account:

https://trade.tradier.com/g6allies/

You can absolutely start smaller. You do not need two thousand dollars to learn the basics or begin your journey. The bonus is simply an incentive Tradier gives to my community as a thank you for joining through that link.

Here is what you should look for when choosing a broker, whether you use Tradier or not:

• A simple interface
• A clean mobile app
• Strong customer service
• Low or no trading fees
• Easy deposits and withdrawals

What matters most is that the platform feels steady and simple. You want a tool that helps you take your next step with confidence, not one that creates more questions than answers.

Step Three: Decide How Much to Invest at the Beginning

Start small.
Small enough that the number does not trigger fear or pressure.

Fifty to one hundred dollars each month is enough. You are not trying to change your retirement in the first month. You are building confidence through repetition. When I watch pastors start this way, they grow steadier with each step.

The goal is not big returns.
The goal is emotional control.
Confidence grows from doing the right things slowly and consistently.

Step Four: Pick a Simple Strategy You Can Actually Stick To

This is where most beginners get lost. They think investing means picking random stocks or trying to time the market. You do not need to do any of that.

The simplest starter strategy is the one I teach inside Bootcamp.
Seasonal setups.
Clear rules.
A predictable rhythm.

Everything is simplified.
You follow a checklist.
You learn how the market moves.
You make decisions with calm and clarity.

When you are ready for the next step, Foundations expands your options and teaches you how to add simple options strategies for consistent monthly income. Income Accelerator builds on that foundation and gives you more structured systems like CFC, SLM, DCS, and IPS, but you never begin there.

Start where your confidence is.
Add layers when you are ready.

Step Five: Place Your First Trade the Right Way

Your first investment does not need to be large or complicated. Keep it small. Keep it simple. Follow a clear setup with defined risk. Do not guess. Do not click out of fear. Use your checklist and enter calmly.

After you place your first trade, step away for a moment. Give yourself space to breathe. Then come back and write down what you learned.

This is how you become a thoughtful, steady investor. Not by rushing. Not by hoping for luck. By doing simple things the right way.

Step Six: Build a Rhythm You Can Maintain

Consistency matters more than excitement. If you build a simple rhythm, you will make better decisions than the person who jumps in and out of the market on impulse.

Consider doing this:

• One weekly review
• One monthly deposit
• One checklist-driven decision each time you trade
• One short reflection afterward

Your confidence will grow faster than you expect because you are building structure. Structure removes emotion. Emotion is where most beginners get hurt.

You Got This!

I think back to that table saw often. Not because of the noise, but because of how quickly fear turned into confidence once someone guided me through the process. The same thing happened when I placed my first trades. I was nervous at first, but the fear faded the moment I had a plan and knew the next step to take.

Confidence does not come from knowledge alone. It comes from action taken with the proper guidance.

If you have been hesitant to start investing, take a breath and give yourself permission to begin where you are. You do not need more money or more expertise. You need a plan you trust and a rhythm you can sustain. Start small. Learn the process. Let each step teach you something valuable.

If you want a simple way to learn these steps with clarity, my free Bootcamp will walk you through the exact setups I use. You can take your first steps with confidence and learn the right way to use the tools in front of you.