Mutual funds

Pakistan Investing 101: Your First 90 Days

Your first 90 days should focus on system design, not on maximizing returns. Beginners who start with process discipline usually avoid expensive mistakes later. This roadmap keeps the first quarter practical and manageable. Days 1 to 30: Stabilize your financial base Step 1: Track cash flow honestly Record every major spending category for one month. This converts assumptions into real numbers. Step 2: Build emergency liquidity Set a minimum cash reserve target based on core monthly expenses. Keep this reserve separate from investing accounts. Step 3: Clean high-cost debt High interest consumer debt can neutralize investment gains. Prioritize debt cleanup before aggressive risk assets. Days 31 to 60: Set up your investing operating system Step 1: Choose regulated channels only Use verified market participants and documented account processes. Step 2: Pick an initial allocation policy Start simple with a written split across growth and stability assets. Clarity is more important than complexity. Step 3: Define contribution date Invest on the same date each month. Scheduled execution reduces emotional timing decisions. Days 61 to 90: Scale and protect the process Step 1: Introduce review cadence Use one monthly operational review and one quarterly strategic review. Step 2: Add contribution growth rule Increase monthly contribution when income increases, using a pre-decided formula. Step 3: Document risk rules Write down what events justify selling, rebalancing, or pausing contributions. Simple policy table for beginnersPolicy area Default rule Review frequencyContribution Fixed monthly date and amount MonthlyAllocation Pre-defined growth and stability split QuarterlyRebalancing Rebalance to target weights SemiannualEmergency reserve Maintain minimum threshold MonthlyCommon traps in month oneOpening multiple strategies at once. Copying social media trades without primary research. Changing allocation after every headline. Treating short-term losses as strategy failure.Next step after day 90 Once the base system is stable, move to deeper optimization through FIRE for Pakistanis: The 3 Levers That Matter Most and FIRE Calculators in PKR: 4 Numbers You Actually Need. Final takeaway A new investor does not need speed in the first quarter. A new investor needs a system that can run reliably for many years. Further readingPSX Financial Literacy Initiative PSX Investor Awareness Guide SECP investor education portal JamaPunji SECP scams and fraud alerts Investor.gov on building wealth over time

Read article