How to “Invest in the Stock Market”

So you don't have to hear “if you'd 'invested in the stock market' you'd have $ X now”

Say you have $12,000

Go to Fidelity dot com, open an individual brokerage account (it's easy)

Transfer the $12K

It's defaulted into their money market fund SPAXX which is earning you about $600 a year free. You're already better off.

Once a month, on a prespecified date (e.g. the 1st), buy $1,000 worth of an ETF called VOO. This is an “index fund.”

If you get more money, keep doing this. A prespecified amount on a prespecified day of the month- do not deviate.

You are now “invested in the stock market.”