I heard I should start investing in my mid 20s. How do you even get started? I still have some student loans left. It seems so complicated.

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

That counts as investing. You have been investing. Beyond that, paying off your loans is important. But it sounds like you don’t have money to lose, so if you decide to dabble in the markets aside from your 401k, just slip it into an SP500 index. This past year the returns on that alone were insane.

like

Open an Etrade account and start buying index funds, a little each month. You don’t have to pick individual stocks if that scares you. Or use an app like Acorns that rounds up your debit card purchases and buys stocks.

like

Do you contribute to a 401k?

like

Vanguard total stock market index fund ftw! Auto invest $75 twice a month and increase amount as your income increases.

like

If your in Chicago I have a great financial advisor that specializes in creative folks and it’s free to just sit down and chat with her. Her name is Courtney Blenner with Northwestern Mutual. Office is downtown. Drop my name as she prefers referrals.

like

Start simple.
Step 1: max 401k match
Step 2: open betterment or vanguard account, deposit whatever feels comfortable each month
Step 3: app like qapital that rounds up purchases, youll never miss the $. Take the money at end of each month/quarter and put toward loan or betterment.

That gets you started and in a habit.

Also, dont waste your tax return on bullshit. Immediatedly put it toward student loan or betterment. You lived without it for a year, put it to work for you vs throwing it away.

like

I have a Betterment account and saw crazy returns this year. Its super easy. You just select on a dial how much risk you want to take and it allocates the funds for you

like

Yes I do, have been working for three years and contributed since day 1.

like

@Creative Director 1 - Thanks! Don’t know why I never thought of my 401k as an investment. I’ll have to check out SP500 index as well.

like

Wealthfront or Betterment are great for automated, passive investing. I’ve made a nice amount over the past year

like

Don’t ignore crypto currencies, either.

like

Copywriter OP, no, not at all. Perhaps on Bitcoin itself, but there are a whole host of second gen coins that are much better and will replace it. I put money into one called Ripple (XRP) a few weeks ago when it was 70 cents. Today it hit $1.90. That’s crazy. I believe it will keep going up. Take a look at what’s out there. The underlying blockchain technology of crypto is the future, and Bitcoin was probably just the first step in making it popular to the masses.

like

There’s also a new real estate platform called Fundrise. You can get started with as little as 1000 dollars.

like

Open Wealthfront or Betterment account (don’t do Stash, high fees long term), simple robo-advisor investing in ETFs. Once you learn the difference, you can buy single stocks or ETFs yourself using Robinhood.

like

These are all super helpful, thank you! Any thoughts on Stash as an app to get started? Betterment sounds similar

like

@Kelly Butler I’m in DC but thanks for the tip! I can try to look for someone else around here who specializes in the same thing? Or give her a call...

like

@Director1 This is great, thank you. Especially putting my tax return toward loans & investment. I feel like I always waste it on stupid stuff.

like

@Copywriter OP call her anyway... tell her I suggested you do so and ask her if she can give you a DC name. I bet she has one.

like

@Copywriter OP Also HUGE props for thinking aged at this stage in your life. I didn’t get my shot together on this until a few years ago so I’m way behind. You’re gonna be great if you start now!

like

*ahead

like

Related Posts

Just looked at my pay statement and puked. When is Trump gonna fix the tax insanity??????

like

Hi fishes,

Does anyone know about HR Path company. Is it a good company to join as a SuccessFactors Integration Lead ?
How about the work culture, work life balance, compensation and benefits?

Please help out a poor fish trying to move for a better life. @HRPath

like

What is the salry range of band 8 at IBM

like

What is the brand strategy team like at BGB group in NYC? Pros and cons?

like
like

Hey fishers, I have got selected in my technical round in Infosys and, ctc in my current company Capgemini is 6.3LPA with 2 YOE on paper but i have 1.2 YOE in freelance also in same domain i work on. What is the ECTC i can ask from Infosys ?

likehelpful

I have an offer of $80k pa at Greensboro NC location, is it worth considering the cost of living over there?? Do I have to negotiate?

like

Bose QC35 or Bowers and Wilkins P7 Wireless? I got a gift card this year and trying to buy solid headphones for train, traveling, etc. I really like them both.

like

Im applying for an associate role at a BB, I have ~3yrs experience at a boutique. Do I need to attach my undergrad transcript to the application? (No MBA)

like

Hey y’all. What’s a lateral move? A recruiter reached out asking if I was open to a lateral move. I don’t know what that means. Halp???

like

Things to do in Nashville during Christmas?

like

Hi fishesh
I have M.Pharma and currently working as assistant professor. Need referals for Pharmacovigilance, Drug regulatory affairs domain.

like

How do you deal with extremely nosy coworkers?

like

Anyone here with fine hair gotten done Keratin? how do you like it?

like

“Strategist” seems like a rare title to see when you go in house. Are there similar roles with different titles - I could be wrong, but I don’t think it’s an agency exclusive role.

like

Need advice please: Have you ever applied to a role on LinkedIn or ZipRecruiter, see that your application gets downloaded, or even get a “thumbs up” on ZipRecruiter, and then they don’t reach out to you for so much as a 10 minute phone screen? Is there anything I can do to get them to respond to me? I’ve tried reaching out to the hiring managers, job posters etc. and no luck! 😞

like

A good friend of mine graduated from Parsons this past summer, has degrees in Journalism and French, is a talented photographer and designer (which I feel I have a pretty decent eye for after working at a design-driven branding agency for half a decade). And I’m certain she’d make a fabulous junior AD or content strategist. Unfortunately she, like many in this pandemic, is still without a job. Any advice for her and/or shops/hiring managers/non-traditional job hunt tips to steer her towards?

like

How’s WLB at EY pune? I am planning to apply for AWS devops or SRE lead position.

like

Additional Posts in Advertising

Anyone work at Mekanism? What's it like? Specifically interested in the SF office.

like

I’m pretty new to marketing/advertising. Question: are there any marketing/ advertising jobs that do not involve sales? I really like this field but hate the sales aspect. If so what position titles should I look out for? Any help would be appreciated.

like

What do you do if your former boss asks you to grab lunch although you are happy at your current agency?

like

Has anyone tried suing their ex-employer for wrongful termination? What was the process like?

like

Would you rather live in Williamsburg or East Village?

like

Marcel will be descoped to a filing cabinet...

like

Any advice on how to handle an ECD in charge of your salary who says the only way to get a promotion or even a COL raise of any kind is through winning an award? Not consistently reliable and solid performance. Not keeping the client happy and profitable. “You either win an award, or all ya get is to keep your job.”
And yes, I’m aware leaving is always an option, but eager for any other advice how to navigate.

like

Anyone know of any good resources for crafting an effective multicultural media/marketing strategy?

like

How do you guys feel about double dipping? Working full time and freelancing else where on the side.

like

How does one make the jump to client side? Any tips or advice? I tried recruiters but not getting responses unless they have another agency role..

like

What's the email format for Facebook employees?

like

Why does the 3% Conference get so much money from agencies & clients when they have a history of showcasing toxic, abusive to female employees underneath them, women in advertising? Every year, people are shocked at who gets featured there. The idea is not just to celebrate women, it’s to celebrate aspirational women. Maybe they ran out of speakers and are dipping down too much. But agencies and clients should take a hard look at who is speaking before giving money.

likesmart

Is it just me, or is Havas the douchebag of ad agencies?

like

If you work at a small agency in NYC, could you tell me what your monthly health insurance premiums are for families? I'm at a small agency in NYC and the health benefits for a family are almost prohibitively expensive, ~1,500/mo with a high deductible. Would love to know if we're competitive or not and if not, share that info with our HR and bosses.

like

Can anyone explain that thing where someone does a call with their phone on speaker, but it’s just them on the call? Just them shouting at their phone that’s 2 feet away? In an open floor plan office?

like

Should this be the year that we say NO MORE AWARD SHOWS?!?!

Do awards help or hurt the creative industry?

like

BAE = Bacon and Eggs 🍳 🐷

like

Instagram is off-putting now.
There is just too much happening there.

Post Photo
likefunny

I’ve been laid off and, as I embark on my job search, I’d like to keep my marketing skills sharp. Any recommendations on must read books, or resources?

like

🐠 creatives who have worked abroad: 1) how hard was it to get a work visa? 2) How do you get overseas agencies' interest? 3) Are there certain countries that are easier to get a job in?

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Send download link to your phone

OR

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Messaging rates may apply

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal