 TITLE: Investing 101: How to Start Investing CONTENT: Invest on Your Own\n------------------\nOnce you've built an emergency savings account, have a retirement fund well underway, and have little to no credit card debt, you may want to explore stocks, bonds and other investments on your own. (Short-term investing options usually include high-yield savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market funds; the investments below are part of a long-term strategy.)\nThere are several different ways you can invest.\n*   **Robo-advisor**: These are automated advisors that use algorithms based on your financial goals and risk preferences to recommend and manage your investments.\n    *   Robo-advisors typically charge less than human financial advisors, but don't provide in-person financial planning services.\n    *   They can be a good option for beginner investors who don't want to manage their own investments and want to minimize fees.\n*   **Online brokerage**: You can set up an account with an online brokerage such as TD Ameritrade, Fidelity Investments or E-Trade to buy, sell and manage your own investments.\n    *   You'll need the time and expertise to research your investment decisions and monitor your investments.\n*   **Financial advisor**: Human financial advisors provide in-depth financial planning that includes recommending and managing investments. They often require a certain minimum initial investment amount.\n    *   Financial advisors may charge an hourly fee, a flat rate, or a percentage of the investment amount they manage for you.\n    *   Before working with a financial advisor, make sure they and their firm are registered with the SEC and licensed to do business in your state. Visit the North American Securities Administrators Association website to check for any complaints. END