Hereās the realest money move I can give you: Start investing now. Not next year. Not when your money's āright.ā Not when life calms down. NOW.
Waiting on the "perfect time" is how people stay stuck. If youāre serious about building long-term wealth ā especially if you didnāt grow up with a financial safety net ā youāve got to make your money work for you, not just because of you.
One of the simplest, most powerful ways to start? Investing in an S&P 500 index fund like Vanguardās VOO.
š§ Whatās VOO and Why Does It Matter?
VOO is Vanguardās version of an S&P 500 index fund. That means it gives you instant access to the 500 largest companies in America ā from Apple and Microsoft to Home Depot and Nike ā without having to pick individual stocks.
Hereās why I like it (and personally invest in it):
- Diversification: Youāre not betting on one company ā youāre owning a slice of 500.
- Low Fees: VOO has a super low expense ratio (0.03%) ā which means more of your money stays invested.
- Consistent Growth: Historically, the S&P 500 has returned about 8ā10% annually over the long term.
This isnāt about āgetting rich quick. āItās about getting rich wisely. And slowly. And securely.
šŖ Step-by-Step: How to Start Investing in VOO on Fidelity:
Let me walk you through exactly how to get started on Fidelity ā the platform Iāve used for years. (Again, this is NOT an ad. Iām not sponsored. Just sharing what works for me.)
š Already have a Fidelity account? Skip to Step 4.
š¹ Step 1: Go to fidelity and create an account Choose a Brokerage Account (not a retirement account ā unless you're doing both). This will be your standard investment account.
š¹ Step 2: Verify your identity and link your bank
Youāll need basic info ā SSN, ID, employment, etc. Then link your bank so you can transfer funds.
š¹ Step 3: Fund your account
Start with what you can ā $25, $50, $100.Donāt get caught up in the lie that you need thousands. The most important thing is to start.
š¹ Step 4: Search for VOO
Once inside your dashboard, click āTradeā ā then search for VOO. It should say:VOO ā Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
(If the price is too high to buy a full share, no worries ā Fidelity allows fractional shares. Buy $10 worth if thatās all youāve got. Youāre still in the game.)
š¹ Step 5: Make your first trade
Choose āBuy,ā input the dollar amount, and execute the trade.Boom. Youāre now an investor.
š¹ Step 6: Set it and (semi-) forget it
Use Fidelityās automatic investing feature to put money in monthly. Even $25/month adds up when youāre consistent.
š§ Mindset Reminder
Donāt wait until 2026. Donāt wait until āthings calm down.āThe market pays those who show up early and stay in.
You donāt need a finance degree. You donāt need $1,000. You just need to get started.
š Other Platforms You Can Use
While I use Fidelity, there are others you can explore:
Again ā no sponsorships here. Just options.
š Final Word:
Getting started with investing can feel intimidating. But whatās even scarier? Being 10 years down the line and realizing your moneyās been sitting still while everyone elseās grew.
You donāt need perfect timing. You need consistent action.
š„ Get in the game.š° Let your money work for you.š Start with VOO.