3 Essential Money Moves to Make Before You Start Investing

Welcome to the Wiggs CPA Blog – Let’s Build Wealth the Smart Way

What’s up y’all,

Welcome to the official first blog of Wiggs CPA Tax and Accounting. I’m Darion Wiggs, a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and the CEO and founder of Wiggs CPA. I created this platform to share my personal insights on taxes, credit, saving, and building wealth with real-life advice you can actually use.

I grew up in some of the most underserved communities in the Midwest and was nowhere near the wealthiest kid on the block, so these posts are coming from a place of love and understanding. My goal is to help you take control of your finances, build smarter habits, and elevate your life.

3 Things I Tell Every New Investor (or Anyone Ready to Build Wealth)

If you're just getting started on your financial journey or even if you're already making moves, these three things are nonnegotiable. They’re simple, but they get overlooked way too often. If you follow these steps, I promise you’ll build a strong foundation without regrets.

1. Emergency Savings: Stack Before You Stretch

It’s wild how many Americans don’t even have $1,000 saved for an emergency. That’s a real stat, and after working with hundreds of people, I can say it’s true.

I hear all the time:

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“I want to open a food truck… buy real estate… launch a business… invest in stocks…”

And all of those goals are great, but before anything, make sure your personal savings is solid. If you’re stretched thin and one surprise expense takes you out, the dream dies early.

Tip: Aim to save at least 3 to 6 months of living expenses. That safety net gives you peace of mind and space to breathe while you focus on growing your business or next investment.

2. Build Your Credit ASAP

I’m not a credit expert, but I’ve been blessed to keep an 800-plus score for a few years now and trust me, it matters. A lot of business owners are shocked to find out their personal credit holds them back when trying to scale, get funding, or apply for a business credit card.

If your credit’s not where you want it to be, start simple:

• Get a secured card (Capital One is a solid option)
  
• Build a relationship with stores like Amazon or Best Buy if you frequently buy equipment
  
• Always pay on time and keep your utilization low
  
  

Credit is a tool, not just for emergencies, but for leveraging opportunities the same way wealthy individuals do.

3. Start Investing (But Do It Strategically)

Once your savings and credit are in a good place, look into long-term investments like a Roth IRA. This account lets you grow your money tax free and gives you serious flexibility during retirement.

You don’t have to wait until everything is perfect, but laying the right foundation first makes sure your investments work for you, not against you.

Final Thoughts

These three moves — saving, building credit, and investing — work hand in hand. They’re not always easy, but they’re worth it.

You don’t have to do everything at once, but if you asked me where to start, I’d follow these steps every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

And don’t worry, this is just the beginning. In future blogs, I’ll go deeper into specific strategies for credit building, emergency savings, retirement planning, and more. But in the meantime, let’s start saving and strategically planning to accomplish our financial goals.

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