Think you’re not ready to invest? Think again.

Investing, especially at first, can feel intimidating. Hesitation comes from fears, or misunderstandings, that shouldn’t hold you back but do. Here’s how to move past four of the biggest mental blocks.

“I’m too young to worry about it.” Time is your greatest asset. Starting early allows compounding to do the heavy lifting, turning small contributions today into significant wealth later.

“I don’t have enough money.” You don’t need a fortune to get started. You can get started by investing as little as $5. It’s about the habit of consistency, and an early start, not the size of the check.

“What if I lose my job?” Your 401(k) is your personal property. Regardless of your employment status, your contributions (and vested matches) stay with you and can be rolled over into a new account to keep growing.

“I’m waiting for the market to dip.” “Time in the market” almost always beats “timing the market.” Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, use dollar-cost averaging to invest a set amount regularly. This smooths out fluctuations and removes the stress of picking the right day.

The best time to take control of your financial future isn’t “later”, it’s right now.