Basic update

Basic ETF Investing advice

You are reading this, so you are probably a beginner that just stumbled into /smg/ after hearing about GME, or maybe you just got a job and want to save a bit of money for your retirement. You have no idea about the stock market and probably do not even have a broker yet. Now before you bother /smg/ with the same 5 basic questions asked everyday, please consult this pamphlet.

The common advice to beginners is to invest into an ETF, an exchange traded fund. These ETFs track an underlying asset, usually a big Index like the S&P 500, the Dow Jones or the FTSE 100.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqr-h-pmky4

Instead of putting your clueless money into one or two companies your friend recommended on Facebook, you diversify your portfolio across a wide array of enterprises. Of course you will not feel like the Wolf of Wall Street doing so, but it will also protect you from single companies declining or even going out of business. A big company may do an Enron or Wirecard like exit scam, still you are barely affected.

Nowadays it is perfectly fine and normal to only hold one big market ETF, and to just buy more every month when your paycheck comes. On average investing in the S&P 500 would return you 7 to 8% a month, which is a juicy plus of 900% after 30 years.
With this strategy you never sell, always accumulate and just keep buying. You are now already doing better than 90% of Americans.

But don't take our word for it, just listen to the greats and decide for yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10QoUi2PmNs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teqK4Y5M4yc

Educate yourself about the following tickers: SPY, QQQ, VTI, VEA
Doing your own research into these four will provide a wonderful foundation and starting point for your investing career.