Beginner's Guide to Investing

The simplest investing strategy that beats 90% of professionals: invest regularly in a total stock market index fund (VTI or VTSAX) and never sell. This is called passive index investing, and decades of data prove it outperforms actively managed funds after fees. Start with your employer 401(k) up to the match (free money), then max a Roth IRA ($7,000/year in 2026), then back to the 401(k) or a taxable brokerage account. You do not need to pick stocks, time the market, or understand complex financial instruments. You need three things: a brokerage account (Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard — all free), one index fund (VTI for stocks, BND for bonds), and automatic monthly contributions. The power of compound interest: $500/month at 8% average return grows to $745,000 in 25 years. $595,000 of that is pure compound growth — money your money earned. Start now, even with $50/month. Time in the market beats timing the market. The best time to start investing was 10 years ago. The second best time is today.