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Old 12-03-2015, 11:34 AM
 
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Does anyone have any advice for a 20 year old who has $800 available to invest?I'm interested for a
long-term investment.
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Old 12-03-2015, 11:37 AM
 
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Open a Vanguard account online. Connect your Bank. Bring in money from bank on a schedule (weekly/monthly/etc.). purchase mutual funds (such as VOO which tracks S&P500 and has a very low expense ratio (.05% annually))

purchase 1 (or more) shares weekly with your $800, and then on a schedule to purchase 1 or more a week afterwards depending on how much you have available.

then....(important part!)....don't touch it. :-)
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Old 12-03-2015, 01:29 PM
 
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Find mutual funds that allow minimum initial investment of $800 or less. They're usually found if you search for low minimum initial investment mutual funds. It's equally important to know how much you can put in each year. Some like American Century funds will accept any subsequent deposit (no minimum).
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Old 12-03-2015, 01:52 PM
 
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Stay long and start with index funds or etfs that track the S&P 500. The people that get burned are the one's that sell after the market dives and wait until a year or two into a rally to buy back in. The people that continue to sink money in and possibly even put more in during bear markets are the one's that retire at 33.

Zero To Millionaire in Ten Years | Root of Good
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Old 12-03-2015, 02:34 PM
 
Location: Arizona
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Do whatever it takes to get started. Don't even try to make money at first, just try to learn and build some tolerance for markets swings. If you lose it all (even a small $800) but you learn some things, the loss will be more than worth it. A "tuition" of sorts.

DO NOT get caught up in finding the "perfect" method, just get in!

Starting at age 20 as you're wishing to do is the single best thing a small investor can do. Having merely average success will put you so far ahead of anyone else who starts later because of the compounding effect.
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Old 12-03-2015, 09:01 PM
 
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Wait until you've saved up $1300 and can afford to save up at least $1300 per year. Then start contributing to a total stock market (all world) ETF with $25 a week and forget about it for ten years. Bull or bear, you make money.
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Old 12-04-2015, 05:24 AM
 
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With $800 buy a business license, domain name, business cards. Then develop a business network. You're not making any money with $800, might as well make relationships.
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Old 12-04-2015, 07:38 AM
 
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It is good your starting to invest early. I would invest in a broad based fund and make sure the fees are very low. Stay away from losing your gains to unnecessary fees. Easiest way to avoid those fees is with a Vanguard fund, as someone else mentioned.
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Old 12-05-2015, 11:14 AM
 
Location: Los Angeles
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Invest in VOO through AmeriTrade or E Trade.
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Old 12-05-2015, 01:11 PM
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$800 won't get you very far on the stock market. I wouldn't invest at all, honestly.
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