If you have "no clue" and don't have the time/desire to closely follow stocks; don't invest in individual stocks.

I'd start simple.

Determine the year you plan on retiring and invest your money in a Vanguard target retirement date mutual fund.

As you get more experience, you can then fine tune your investment strategy. (Google "coffee house portfolio" for basic investment strategies using a small hedge based on predictable reversion to the mean)

Maybe something like this (copied and pasted from a thread last year)



If you swing for the fences with little experience, be prepared to strike out.

I have seen several posts before mentioning Vanguard funds but didn't see the answers when I searched. I am wondering if you have to set up an account through Vanguard or can the funds be bought through E*TRADE? Also are there any particular funds or indexes you guys recommend out of the many Vanguard options available?

I am 48 with a few years until I can comfortably say I am fully retired and feel like I have enough money socked away for the rest of my life. I need to get my current nest egg working for me.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Once you get into retirement, you are in an income distribution phase...which is totally different than being in what you have been in your whole adult life to this point - an asset accumulation phase. Investment planning begins to morph into income planning. A trained advisor can make all the difference in the world when it comes to income planning. There are plenty of mistakes to be made here, but as well, there are plenty of opportunities.

Everybody has different risk tolerances, time horizons, income needs, and financial situations. There are no cookie cutter investments nor financial plans. Go see someone that does this professionally.

Because you are asking the question that you are, I will assume this is a topic with which you have limited familiarity. That being the case, my somewhat stock answer here (1st pun of the day) would probably be to go see and pay for professional advice.

Here's why. If you say that you're only a "few" years away from being comfortably retired, but you are just now trying to get a nest egg working - that has a little incongruence to it. The closer you get to needing to pull that money, the more you should be dialing the risk back, not taking more. An advisor can double check your math for you and make sure you're on track as you think you are.

Once you get into retirement, you are in an income distribution phase...which is totally different than being in what you have been in your whole adult life to this point - an asset accumulation phase. Investment planning begins to morph into income planning. A trained advisor can make all the difference in the world when it comes to income planning. There are plenty of mistakes to be made here, but as well, there are plenty of opportunities.

Everybody has different risk tolerances, time horizons, income needs, and financial situations. There are no cookie cutter investments nor financial plans. Go see someone that does this professionally.

You guys have inspired me. I�m going to go sink some money into Vanguard.

I agree with everything you�ve said and I�ve personally done exactly what you�ve just described

Aren�t you in the financial planning business?

Because you are asking the question that you are, I will assume this is a topic with which you have limited familiarity. That being the case, my somewhat stock answer here (1st pun of the day) would probably be to go see and pay for professional advice.

Here's why. If you say that you're only a "few" years away from being comfortably retired, but you are just now trying to get a nest egg working - that has a little incongruence to it. The closer you get to needing to pull that money, the more you should be dialing the risk back, not taking more. An advisor can double check your math for you and make sure you're on track as you think you are.

Once you get into retirement, you are in an income distribution phase...which is totally different than being in what you have been in your whole adult life to this point - an asset accumulation phase. Investment planning begins to morph into income planning. A trained advisor can make all the difference in the world when it comes to income planning. There are plenty of mistakes to be made here, but as well, there are plenty of opportunities.

Everybody has different risk tolerances, time horizons, income needs, and financial situations. There are no cookie cutter investments nor financial plans. Go see someone that does this professionally.

Yes sir. It's the only industry I've ever worked in. The few friends that I keep up with from way back in my college days like to tell me that I've never had a real job.