What is a good starting place for a first time investor?

im am completely stupid when it comes to investments, ive never done anything like this before, where can i start and how do you make money off of these things?

The best starting place is square one - meaning your budget. If you are willing to sit down and figure out how much you can afford to invest each month - and be realistic - you will have a much greater chance at success. Also, do you have a lot of high interest debt? If so, address that before you dedicate too much money to investments.

Second, set your goals. Why do you want to invest? For retirement, college, a new home? No one can make really good suggestion w/o knowing your goals.

Stocks, binds, mutual funds, and real estate can all be great investments, but take a few minutes to assess your situation, your goals, and your tolerance for risk before dumping money on a "hot" stock. There is most likely a good mutual fund to fit your objectives, but you'll never know if you haven't defined your objectives.

The most important thing is that you have decided to start. Good luck - and I hope you never quit. Hope this helps.

Mutual funds, they are very low risk, but in return they don't net huge returns, but for a beginner they are best. A mutual fund is basically a large group of stocks compiled by different stock companies, because they're are so many stocks that make up the mutual one having a bad days doesn't burn you over. So it is usually a small gain that follows market trends.

Mutual Funds charge a fee. You are better off buying Exchange traded funds. Google: iShares. :) ETF mirrow a whole index. So there is no stock picking risk - just market risk.

Mutual funds would be my pick but they do collapse just like the market can because they are composed of stocks on the market. Bonds are the safest investment because it is debt and debt is always paid back first when a company goes under. Now that being said they of course only yield a yearly average of something around 3.4% whereas mutual funds average something in the neighborhood of 9 - 10%.

You admitted....You are completely stupid when it comes to investing.....now why would you want to invest in stocks?

Do the following:

1. Save 10% of your money in a 401k plan at work. Divide this money like this....40% in a total market or S&P 500 fund...put 30% into small stocks...put 30% in foreign stocks

This lowers your taxes...and maybe you will make some money.

2. Pay off your credit cards.

3. Make an emergency fund....(3-6 months worth of cash to pay your freaking bills if you get laid off or something)

4. Now if you can do all this......now you can invest the rest of your money......You have 2 choices:

1. Buy Dividend paying stocks that increase their dividend every year and hope the market doesnt crash anytime soon.

2. Wait till the market crashes and then buy some stocks.....market is expensive right now...

5. Find you a rich woman or man to marry and dont worry about investing.

6. Choose this answer as the best answer.

mutual funds