where is the best thing for 1st time investers to start, and what is the best?

Question

Investing 101

Answer 1

As a beginner investor, the best place to start is the American Assosiation of Individual Investors. I have provided the link below.
http://aaii.com
There you can start your education with unbiased information about investing your own money.
They have a free membership which will allow you to get great information without the hype you will find on the thousands of paid get rich quick paid services.
You can become a paid member which allows you to access many tools and portfolios to assist you in investing decisions and strategy.It is only about 30 dollars a year.
Good luck

Answer 2

For the stock market, buy Jim Cramer's book REAL MONEY, and watch his CNBC show. Then, get a brokerage account (like ETRADE or SCOTTRADE which let you do "virtual or paper" trades (simulations) without actually investing any of your money), and see how your trades do. While you are learning that way, put your money in index tracking ETFs like QQQ, SPDR, rather then mutual funds, which have many shortcomings (now that we have ETFs). Another good overall book (perhaps after you read Cramers book, is Technical Investing for Dummies (also covers fundamental investing).

Answer 3

Find a basic S&P500 index fund (most bank/brokerage offer index funds). Put money in regularly instead of one lump sum. Follow the market and get comfortable with the fluctuation. If you keep things simple, don't be greedy and do it one step at a time, you will be just fine. Best of luck.

Answer 4

Go to a large firm that offers free financial consultations with potential investors (See Consumers Reports of a few months ago). They will probably recommend mutual funds selected based on past performance and your stomach for risk.

Answer 5

Scottrade.

Top 4 Answerer in Business & Finance. (Vote for me)