Even the most seasoned investors had to begin somewhere when it comes to investing. If you’re just starting out with your first investment, you might have some questions and perhaps a bit of apprehension.

Ever wondered how experienced investors got their start? Fortunately, we’ve posed this question for you.

We’ve interviewed 10 finance experts to learn how they began investing, what specific actions they took, and whether they would approach things differently.

Here’s what the experts had to say about the best ways to start investing:

1. Discipline is Key

“When I entered the investment management industry, I began investing. The tech bubble burst, and I hesitated to invest outside of my 401k, so I continued to contribute to it.

“After the dust settled, I saw how sticking to it, tuning out the noise, could pay off. I did nothing, and my 401k kept growing. Then came the financial crisis. I saw some of the biggest hedge fund managers acquiring assets at deeply discounted prices.

“That’s when the light bulb went off; investing for the long term, staying calm amid volatility, and, if possible, trying to capitalize on market downturns by buying assets at low prices. Investing is a joke; it seems complicated, but you don’t need to be a finance expert to invest, just some discipline,” said Katherine from Lady’s Checklist.

2. Harnessing the Power of Compound Interest

“When I was 19, I met a millionaire mechanic. He told me that to become wealthy, I didn’t have to choose a high-paying profession. ‘Find something you enjoy doing,’ he said, ‘but learn how to manage and invest your money.’

“He showed me how compound interest worked. He convinced me to start investing $100 a month. That was in 1989, and I kept increasing my investments every year. Thanks to him, I achieved financial freedom today,” shared Andrew, the millionaire mentor.

3. Increase Investments Early On

“I started investing in 2006 when I was 22. I invested in mutual funds offered by an insurance company, putting in just $200. A few months later, I decided to switch from bond funds to stock funds for higher returns.

“Since then, I haven’t touched it, and now it’s more than doubled in value. If I could turn back time, I would put in more money,” revealed Thelon from Millionaire’s Blueprint.

4. Embrace Long-Term Strategies

“In my early post-college jobs, my employers didn’t offer workplace retirement plans, and I didn’t have enough time to open an IRA. I regretted it. It wasn’t until experiencing the financial crisis that I realized I needed to understand general money management and specific investing.

“Now, I write about money full-time, and I feel more knowledgeable and confident about investing. I take a long-term view of investments, acknowledge the occasional downturns, and commit to sticking with strategies I understand and fully believe in,” shared Matt Bell from Sound Mind Investing.

5. Take Control of Your Finances

“I’ve always been a saver, but suddenly, one year, my income was substantial, and my accountant advised me to invest a portion. I chose the person she recommended because I trusted her. For a long time, I felt good about it until one day I realized I hadn’t heard from him in a while.

“It turned out he had left the firm, they hadn’t appointed anyone to replace him, and because it was 2008-2009, not only did my portfolio lose all its gains, but it also went over half of what I started with. What I would do differently is schedule meetings to be in control of my investments. It’s a valuable lesson; when someone else manages your money, you can take control of your money,” advised Mickey from Top Financial Blogs.

6. Listen to Dad

“After graduating college, I landed a full-time job and started investing in a 401k. I didn’t want to invest in retirement accounts because retirement was still over 40 years away! However, my dad convinced me to start investing immediately, and he was right. Thanks, Dad!” shared Joe from Retire By 40.

7. Own Real Estate

“Not long after graduating high school, I started investing by purchasing a rental property. My father was passionate about real estate at the time, and he was more than happy to show me the ropes.

“I was immediately captivated; the allure of creating wealth simply by owning something was very powerful. It sparked a lifelong fascination with the topic that continues even after 15 years,” said Nelson from Financial Storm.

8. Embrace More Risk

“When I was in college, one of the courses was about derivatives. The theme of the course was the role derivatives play in portfolios and business transactions to hedge against adverse trends. But as a creative student like me, all I could see was the insane potential for daily volumes.

“I knew then, as I know now—it’s gambling, not investing—but I was young and eager to amass my wealth quickly. I had some decent wins and some frustrating losses.

“Was it a mistake? Absolutely not. I was young and gambling only with money I could afford to lose. Young people can afford to take more risks because if things go wrong, they have more time to recover,” stated Asaf from Best Price.

9. Utilize Free Money

“We started investing like many through employer-sponsored 401k plans. Investing this way was a no-brainer as it meant ‘free’ money. The only change I would make is starting earlier!” said Kelly from The Centsible Life.

10. Invest More After Debt

“I started my investment journey by contributing to a 401k retirement plan with my first employer. If I could do it over again, I’d contribute more after clearing debts! I’m so grateful for the 6% match my employer offered at the time. They don’t do that anymore!” concluded Madame Money from Ultimate Money Blogs.