Are You Ready to Invest?
Before you even think of putting money in the stock market, get your financials zipped up. That means no credit card debt, a stocked-up savings account, and monthly contributions to a retirement account. (We know, easier said than done.)

How do you know if it's time to invest? “I can think of lots of women who have high earnings and some extra money after saving for retirement,” says Lauren Lyons Cole, a Certified Financial Planner from New York City. “And they don't know what to do with it — they don’t have kids and don't want to buy a home — so, they say, ‘Let's go shopping!’ That's the kind of woman who should start learning about investing.”