Grow wealth over time by putting money into assets that appreciate—stocks, bonds, real estate, funds—harnessing compound returns and building long-term financial security.
Investing basics: start after emergency fund established, understand risk tolerance (age, goals, comfort with volatility), diversify (don't put all eggs in one basket), think long-term (10+ years), low-cost index funds often beat active trading.
Key concepts: compound interest (Einstein's "8th wonder"), dollar-cost averaging (regular investing regardless of market), asset allocation (stocks vs bonds ratio), expense ratios (fees erode returns).
Vehicles: 401(k) (employer retirement, often with match—free money), IRA (individual retirement account, tax advantages), brokerage account (taxable but flexible), robo-advisors (automated, low-cost). Start small—even $50/month builds habit and grows over decades. Time in market beats timing market. Financial independence enabler. Essential modern life skill.