Key Takeaways
- You don’t need thousands to start: $100 invested monthly for 30 years becomes $207,000+ at 10% average returns
- Brokerages are free: No minimum balance, no account fees, no commission on trades with modern brokers
- Best for beginners: Low-cost index funds in a brokerage account, or automatic investing apps like Acorns
- Specific starting investments: VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF), VTI (Total Market), or target-date retirement funds
- Consistency beats perfection: Investing $100 monthly matters more than waiting to invest $10,000 perfectly
- Time advantage matters most: Starting at 25 vs 35 costs you $450,000+ by retirement due to compound growth
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