If you were to start investing at 18, what would you do?
Hello, I am 18 and am interested on beginning to start investing. I want to approach it the right way from the start. I understand the basics of how stocks work, but I’m still trying to figure out what I should actually focus on learning first and how to build a solid strategy.
I’m more interested in long-term growth than quick profits, and I want to avoid the common mistakes beginners make, like chasing hype or taking unnecessary risks. I’ve heard about things like index funds, ETFs, and dollar-cost averaging, but I’m not sure how to apply them in a real portfolio or when it makes sense to start picking individual stocks.
For example, I don't know whether this would be the golden ratio and also what to look for in each category.
70% index funds
20% individual stocks
10% cash
I’d really appreciate advice on what topics I should prioritize, how to properly research a stock, and what strategies have worked for you over time.