Globally women are paid 23% less than men for the same work done. Suffice to say, gender pay gap challenges continue to prevail and until women and men reach parity it is essential that they make healthy investments in their lives by ensuring they have ample savings accounts that will not just help them grow financially but also share in the burden of any emergencies that may arise.

The natural question on most women’s minds is when should I start investing?

At what age should a woman start investing? Is it when you land your first job? Perhaps it is when you first start making a bit of money? Could it be after a promotion?

The answer, fortunately, is not complex and summarized perfectly by the classic proverb, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Truth be told, if women were influenced to financially plan their lives earlier, there is no doubt that not only would they be more empowered today but would also have more representation in business environments. While many women are more than fortunate to have found high-growth investment tools when they did, they will tell you that they would be much further ahead if they had pulled the trigger earlier.

With that said, not all forms of investment are indeed ideal for someone starting new.