The first payment of the thirteenth installment will enter your account today. Do you want to invest money? Experts point out the options

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Instead of leaving that money in a bank account or spending it unplanned, there are some ways and strategies to invest, depending on your goal: creating an emergency fund, accumulating assets, or even starting to save for next year’s vacation trip.

The first thing: paying off debts

Before beginning any investment planning, Rachel De Sa, investment strategist at XP, cautions that the first step is to assess your financial situation and determine if you have debt. If they are, the best way is to prioritize their resolution. Even more so in the current Brazilian scenario of rising interest rates.

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“If you have debt, the best thing you can do, first, is pay it off,” says Rachel. — The return on a minimally safe investment will never be greater than the growth rate of your debt.

For independent financial advisor Carol Stange, the 13th day is not an “extra,” but should be viewed as part of a worker’s annual wage and entitlement — and, therefore, should not be treated as a bonus or luck.

“I often say that the 13th was not meant to be spent in year-end celebrations,” he says. – Its use has become strategic.

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Carol states that before choosing any application, it is necessary to answer three simple questions:

1. How much should your emergency fund be, one that you can count on at any time and that avoids debt in unexpected scenarios?
2. Do you have a financial surplus that you can invest without having to change it? And for how long?
3. What level of risk are you willing to take?

– I know that when we talk about planning, we take some emotions out of the process, but this is what provides security and enables the realization of assets for life – says the advisor.

For those who want to build an emergency fund

Rachel explains that creating an emergency fund requires an organizational step in advance. The first step is to identify fixed costs—those expenses that, if not paid for, “make everything fall apart,” such as housing, food, and basic bills.

With these values ​​determined, the next step is a reserve account that covers six to 12 months of these expenses, ensuring protection in the event of unexpected events.

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– This varies a lot from person to person – he says. — There are people who are comfortable with 12 months, and there are people who prefer two years. It also depends on the employment relationship: a public employee is less likely to be fired than a government employee, for example.

After setting a budget, Rachel says it’s time to look for investments with liquidity, safety and low volatility:

— Since it is not possible to predict when an emergency will arise, it is necessary to choose applications that allow immediate rescue. It is also helpful to prioritize strong institutions and pay attention to volatility: understanding when it makes sense to contribute more or wait, depending on the scenario.

For Carroll, the reserve is the “umbrella” of financial life. She highlights three beginner-friendly options:

• Commercial development banks with daily liquidity from strong banks: Recommended for those who need quick access to funds. They operate like a loan to a bank and generally yield a percentage of CDI, which is the average interest rate on interbank loans. The more solid the bank, the greater the security. The expert highlights that daily liquidity allows for immediate recovery, which is essential in emergency situations.
• DI funds with low management fees: Invest mainly in very short-term public bonds and pursue CDI. It is practical and ideal for those who prefer to delegate management. But it is important that management fees are low so as not to erode profitability. The advantage is simplicity, as Stange points out: Just apply and let the foundation do the work.
• Celik Treasury: It is considered the safest investment in the country. It follows the Selik price, maintains purchasing power, and enjoys daily liquidity. This type of general security is especially recommended for those who are starting to build a reserve and want to avoid volatility, as volatility is low.

If the goal is to build up capital that can be used at that unexpected moment, it is better to choose conservative and liquid investments, that is, investments that can be converted into cash in hand in a short time.

– Reservation is not a place for boldness, but rather a place for stability. No investment portfolio can afford not to have a good reserve, says Carol Stange.

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For those planning a trip next year

According to Rachel De Sa, a trip scheduled to take place within the next six months, for example, requires short-term planning.

— Since it is an amount that must be recovered quickly, the indications are the same as for the emergency reserve — says the XP specialist. — But it is important to separate requests, because the purpose of the reservation is not the same trip.

Carol Stange emphasizes that in plans lasting less than 12 months, the focus should be on safety and predictability.

“The goal is to avoid volatility,” he says. – In such short time frames, even moderate risk assets can put your holiday budget at risk.

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For those who want to accumulate wealth

For those who want to accumulate wealth, and how to prepare for a more peaceful retirement, Rachel De Sa says the best solution is diversification:

— Everything will depend on the investor’s profile. If he were more moderate, for example, he might choose to take on more risk, but always ensure the value of his emergency fund and not give up fixed income.

From Carol Stang’s perspective, it is useful to consider a combination of three approaches:

• Fixed income with longer maturities (Tesouro IPCA, CDBs with longer maturities): Suitable for those who already have an emergency fund and are looking to start building assets with an eye toward the future. Bonds like the IPCA Treasury pay real interest rates above inflation, protecting purchasing power over the years. Commercial development banks with longer tenors tend to offer higher returns than daily liquidity, as long as the investor agrees to leave the funds “locked up” for a longer period.
• “Carry” ETFs: These index funds — which replicate diversified portfolios, such as global fixed income or broad-based stocks — can be useful for those who think long-term and seek exposure to assets that gradually generate returns, often by reinvesting dividends or interest. Because their fees are low and accessible, ETFs help diversify a portfolio without requiring active management from the investor.
• Stocks of evergreen and resilient companies: It is only targeted at those who accept the typical ups and downs of variable income and can leave the money invested for many years. Consolidated companies, with a history of stable profits and relevant participation in their sectors, tend to go through crises with greater stability. In the long term, they can contribute to building wealth – as long as the investor tolerates volatility along the way.

— The logic is simple: heritage is not built with a single building block — sums up Carole Stang. — Sustainably accumulating assets into a cohesive portfolio requires considering which securities combine with each other and allocating a significant portion of the portfolio to fixed income.