Investing for dummies: $170,000…where to invest?

[Anonymous]

You should spend a year reading some financial books and magazines and learn about where you’re putting your money. It’s not ever a good idea to listen to stringers for those types of things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should spend a year reading some financial books and magazines and learn about where you’re putting your money. It’s not ever a good idea to listen to stringers for those types of things.

OP here. Yes, good point PP. Also, I know “timing the market” is not a good idea but with the stock market downturn maybe it would be wise to wait a little before investing the money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should spend a year reading some financial books and magazines and learn about where you’re putting your money. It’s not ever a good idea to listen to stringers for those types of things.

OP here. Yes, good point PP. Also, I know “timing the market” is not a good idea but with the stock market downturn maybe it would be wise to wait a little before investing the money?

Downturn is when you want to jump in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should spend a year reading some financial books and magazines and learn about where you’re putting your money. It’s not ever a good idea to listen to stringers for those types of things.

OP here. Yes, good point PP. Also, I know “timing the market” is not a good idea but with the stock market downturn maybe it would be wise to wait a little before investing the money?

Downturn is when you want to jump in

Yes, I know that. What I meant was wait and see what happens over the next few weeks (or months?) to see if things continue to go down. But I understand nobody has a crystal ball.

[Anonymous]

Today would be a good day to invest 25% of it into an index like SP500 or equivalent. Tomorrow if it is lower, invest 25% more. If it is higher tomorrow, don't add.

[Anonymous]

I used to be a big reader for Bogleheads when I was in my twenties. To sum it up, Bogleheads do not time the market nor try to time the market. They add money to the market regardless of the prices. Currently, the stock market is a bit down (about 20% from All Time Highs), so a Boglehead would love to put a new $170K into the market right now, even though their existing portfolio is going down day by day. Nasdaq down even more from All Time Highs.

[Anonymous]

The QQQ (nasdaq ETF, includes AAPL, MSFT, AMZN, GOOGL) was 400 at the highs. Now 267 today. Buy this now! Bargain hunting.

[Anonymous]

Vanguard total stock market. Either the ETF or Index: VTI or VTSAX. https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/vtsax-vs-vti/

If you would want to make sure the money stays the same value in this market, you would put it in a high-yield online savings account (stable and government-insured but yielding less than inflation) U.S Government I-bonds (not losing money to inflation but have restrictions on purchase amounts, buy from U.S. Treasury Direct: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/05/03/heres-where-financial-advisors-say-i-bonds-may-work-in-your-portfolio.html), or a money market account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should spend a year reading some financial books and magazines and learn about where you’re putting your money. It’s not ever a good idea to listen to stringers for those types of things.

OP here. Yes, good point PP. Also, I know “timing the market” is not a good idea but with the stock market downturn maybe it would be wise to wait a little before investing the money?

Downturn is when you want to jump in

Also don't want to try to 'catch a falling knife'!

[Anonymous]

Buy stocks - they are all on sale!

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thanks to all the PPs for your advice! Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can I buy Vanguard index funds (like VTSAX) if I don’t have a Vanguard account?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks to all the PPs for your advice! Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can I buy Vanguard index funds (like VTSAX) if I don’t have a Vanguard account?

Yes, but you may have to pay a fee. Most brokerages have an equivalent that is just as good and no fee. Who is yours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks to all the PPs for your advice! Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can I buy Vanguard index funds (like VTSAX) if I don’t have a Vanguard account?

Yes, but you may have to pay a fee. Most brokerages have an equivalent that is just as good and no fee. Who is yours?

I have Fidelity. A PP recommended FSKAX and FTIHX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks to all the PPs for your advice! Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can I buy Vanguard index funds (like VTSAX) if I don’t have a Vanguard account?

Yes, but you may have to pay a fee. Most brokerages have an equivalent that is just as good and no fee. Who is yours?

I have Fidelity. A PP recommended FSKAX and FTIHX.

Oh right, I’m that PP. if you have Fido, no need to pay a fee to buy Vanguard. Fido has a better interface anyway.

[Anonymous]

Use some of your $170k to hire a personal finance adviser, one that charges an hourly rate, not someone who gets a commission off your investments. And yes the Bogleheads forums are good. Far better than the DCUM one for financial advice.