How to start investing with $100 (the first 30 minutes)

Starting to invest used to mean phone calls with a broker and a $1,000 minimum. Today you can begin with $5 and your phone. This guide walks you through the first 30 minutes of investing — what to open, what to buy, and what to ignore.

Why invest at all?

Cash in a normal checking account loses value to inflation every year. A diversified portfolio has, on average, kept up with inflation and then some. The goal isn't to get rich quick — it's to not get poor slowly.

What to open first

Open one brokerage account. Pick one that's commission-free, supports fractional shares, and doesn't push you toward day trading. You want to buy, hold, and forget.

What to buy in the first 30 minutes

For most beginners, a low-cost total-market index fund is the right first purchase. It spreads your money across hundreds of companies in one click, so no single bad stock can wreck you.

• Set up automatic weekly deposits — even $20 a week works.
• Buy the same index fund every time. Boring is the point.
• Don't check it daily. Check it quarterly.

Mistakes that quietly cost you

Stock-picking, panic-selling when the market dips, and chasing whatever's on social media this week. The boring index fund beats almost everything over a decade.