Should I start Investing USD? (Betterment?)

[Sophia1029]

I am sorry if this is in the wrong place, I really know very little about economics/financial stuff.

I am 23 and a college student and a part time employee and my annual income is around $7,000 (I focus more on school right now than work).
I have always wanted to learn how to invest but every time I try to research I get overwhelmed and it feels too complicated to me. But then I found this company website/Iphone app called Betterment and have been reading a lot of good reviews about it both from the App store and on websites. (I am in no way advertising this or spamming, this is a sincere post) Basically it manages your portfolio, it helps you set a goal and gives you advice on what to invest in and everything is just done there and to me it actually looks doable for once. The fees are really low and based on your account balanced. Basically if I start with $50 the monthly fee is $0.02 and if I had $30,000 in the account it would be $6 a month.
But here is also a general warning given in an article about it which scares me:
"In this Betterment review, I have to provide a common sense reminder. Like all market investments, Betterment’s stock and bond investments are subject to market risk. If the markets are up, your balance will likely grow. When markets go down, your balance will likely shrink. You have no guarantees and Betterment is not a FDIC insured savings account.

If you need your money in the short term, a savings account might be the best place for it, because you’re guaranteed to get back the the same dollars you put in (known as your principal).

When you invest in stocks and bonds, risk is present and you can lose money. The fact that you are taking more risk also means that you’ll likely earn higher returns over the long term."

So this statement made me want to ask you guys that I assume are more experienced investors, is it too late to start investing? Do you think the American or USD economy will crash drastically soon and is it even worth it???
Would you recommend this for a beginner.. trying this site?

BTW here is the article review I looked at:
http://cashcowcouple.com/service-reviews/betterment-review/

EDIT: This site is appealing to me because they apparently no longer have a minimum starting balance and having very little money I could start with a very small amount.
Basically I want to know if this looks like a legit, safe, and good site for a beginner like me from an experienced investor.  Also, does it look like I can take out money from profits at any time? Or do I have to keep money in my account and not touch it? Idk these things.

[1715559940]

1715559940

[1715559940]

1715559940

[lyth0s]

You can take money out at any time, but depending on what country you're from the gains are taxable. Betterment fees are actually really high for low balance accounts (over 3% if I remember correctly) and it will destroy your long term gains.

A better alternative to betterment is Acorns, it rounds up your purchases and puts the "change" in the account. Fee is only $1 a month (plus a small % for larger accounts). If you don't want the "change" to be invested just link it to a card you don't use and then just use the deposit feature to add your $50/month in it.

An even better option (if/when you can afford it) is to open an IRA with a company (Vanguard for example) and make monthly deposits in it, inside the Roth IRA the gains aren't taxed when you withdrawal it in retirement, but if you withdrawal early you will pay a tax. And with the Roth IRA and your low income you actually get a small tax break by depositing money in it (I know a lot of people will come out of the woodworks and say "hey you only get tax breaks with Traditional IRA's!!!!", but check out Tax form 8880 before you criticize).

A retirement plan should be scheduled, IE "I will invest x dollars per month no matter what the market looks like". This is called dollar cost averaging and will help you the most in the long run.

If you think a big market crash/correction is going to happen soon just save the x dolllars/month right now and then start putting the money into the market in October of 2015, if a market crash happens in 2016 just keep investing your scheduled x dollars/month and consider yourself lucky for getting more shares per dollar.

[crastolol]

usd? usd is collapsing, don't listen to the price much, good investment option are bitcoin or gold

[687_2]

I am sorry if this is in the wrong place, I really know very little about economics/financial stuff.

I am 23 and a college student and a part time employee and my annual income is around $7,000 (I focus more on school right now than work).
I have always wanted to learn how to invest but every time I try to research I get overwhelmed and it feels too complicated to me. But then I found this company website/Iphone app called Betterment and have been reading a lot of good reviews about it both from the App store and on websites. (I am in no way advertising this or spamming, this is a sincere post) Basically it manages your portfolio, it helps you set a goal and gives you advice on what to invest in and everything is just done there and to me it actually looks doable for once. The fees are really low and based on your account balanced. Basically if I start with $50 the monthly fee is $0.02 and if I had $30,000 in the account it would be $6 a month.
But here is also a general warning given in an article about it which scares me:
"In this Betterment review, I have to provide a common sense reminder. Like all market investments, Betterment’s stock and bond investments are subject to market risk. If the markets are up, your balance will likely grow. When markets go down, your balance will likely shrink. You have no guarantees and Betterment is not a FDIC insured savings account.

If you need your money in the short term, a savings account might be the best place for it, because you’re guaranteed to get back the the same dollars you put in (known as your principal).

When you invest in stocks and bonds, risk is present and you can lose money. The fact that you are taking more risk also means that you’ll likely earn higher returns over the long term."

So this statement made me want to ask you guys that I assume are more experienced investors, is it too late to start investing? Do you think the American or USD economy will crash drastically soon and is it even worth it???
Would you recommend this for a beginner.. trying this site?

BTW here is the article review I looked at:
http://cashcowcouple.com/service-reviews/betterment-review/

EDIT: This site is appealing to me because they apparently no longer have a minimum starting balance and having very little money I could start with a very small amount.
Basically I want to know if this looks like a legit, safe, and good site for a beginner like me from an experienced investor.  Also, does it look like I can take out money from profits at any time? Or do I have to keep money in my account and not touch it? Idk these things.

I read their terms and conditions and they trade in the same securities that they advise people on. They also hide the investment agreement until you give them your info and become a customer. I would guess that agreement says they can change the fees and terms at any time...

I personally don't play games with anybody in NYC, and I would also suggest developing useful, salable skills and start selling a product or service instead of worrying about this "investment" stuff. Most of it is just built by fly by night entrepreneurs looking for a quick sale - it is not for your benefit, but for theirs.

[Anirban Sarkar]

Yes you can but think before it whole life is risk so try to take risk also sometimes !! Boldly

[tyz]

If you need your money in the short term, a savings account might be the best place for it, because you’re guaranteed to get back the the same dollars you put in (known as your principal).

You are almost right. But you need to minus around 3% of inflation rate. Means, your money uses value or buying power of 3% each year.

When you invest in stocks and bonds, risk is present and you can lose money. The fact that you are taking more risk also means that you’ll likely earn higher returns over the long term."

Every investment is risky. The trick is to reduce the risk as much as possible. In your case, I would invest into an ETF (exchange traded fund) which depicts a world-based index (e.g. MSCI). If one world region is struggling, lets say the States, it will be compensate by another one, e.g. Europe or Asia. Furthermore, you get dividend payments anually.

[Sophia1029]

Wow you guys are awesome! I really appreciate you all looking into this site for me for real!
I live in America and already have USD so I will not be transferring anything to USD. The reason I was saying USD is because this is a btc site and I wanted opinions on the future of USD just to know if it is worth investing in.

Someone mentioned that USD is "strong", therefore it is really risky. I thought if the currency is "strong" then you have a better chance of profiting?
Someone also mentioned ETF (I don't understand this) but in an article about the site it says that Betterment handles ETF:
"Betterment will build you an efficient portfolio comprised of widely diversified, low cost ETFs. If you don't want to manage your own portfolio, or hire a financial advisor, Betterment is tough to beat for the very low price."

[687_2]

I thought if the currency is "strong" then you have a better chance of profiting?

The only way you have a better chance of profiting in anything is if you are in control. Meaning, start your own company.

Someone also mentioned ETF (I don't understand this) but in an article about the site it says that Betterment handles ETF:
"Betterment will build you an efficient portfolio comprised of widely diversified, low cost ETFs. If you don't want to manage your own portfolio, or hire a financial advisor, Betterment is tough to beat for the very low price."

If you don't understand it, never get involved in it.

[Amph]

usd? usd is collapsing, don't listen to the price much, good investment option are bitcoin or gold

usd is still strong enough, long will the time, before we can see it collapsing, euro instead is in the dangerous zone along with bitcoin, gold is okish but not really remunerative, unless you invest millions...

[Sophia1029]

If the company were to shut down or the website, would I lose all my money invested into it?

[lyth0s]

If the company were to shut down or the website, would I lose all my money invested into it?

Don't use betterment the fees are too high for small accounts. Look into Acorns or just sign up for a Vanguard IRA.

You clearly didn't read my first response so this will be my last.

[kinnu]

Investing in stock market with long term is better. Pick some good fundamentally strong stocks and invest in them research before investing.

[nerFohanzo]

I give you 3 options

1 bitcoins
2 Gold
3 Stock market

And if you are looking for quick returns then just forget it.. you cant make quick money from above 3 products.
You have to be patient because all these investments are for long run. And if you are looking for quick money then i suggest you to go for betting on sports. 

[coolcoinz]

I give you 3 options

1 bitcoins
2 Gold
3 Stock market

And if you are looking for quick returns then just forget it.. you cant make quick money from above 3 products.
You have to be patient because all these investments are for long run. And if you are looking for quick money then i suggest you to go for betting on sports. 

There are more options, you can for example buy good whiskey wine or even art if you like. Silver especially in the form of old coins can be a good investment.

[Erdogan]

T this time, just buy some coins.

[manselr]

I give you 3 options

1 bitcoins
2 Gold
3 Stock market

And if you are looking for quick returns then just forget it.. you cant make quick money from above 3 products.
You have to be patient because all these investments are for long run. And if you are looking for quick money then i suggest you to go for betting on sports. 

There are more options, you can for example buy good whiskey wine or even art if you like. Silver especially in the form of old coins can be a good investment.

Art is too difficult to nail, you never know what will blow up in price, same goes for stuff like whiskey. The stock market gives you the opportunity to invest in anything you like without having to physically own the stuff you want. So instead you could buy stocks for some whiskey factory or for some art convention, rather than owning the actual stuff which IMO is for rich people only.

[Chef Ramsay]

It is true that USD has been and continues to be strong. But ask yourself, w/ spending out of control and the debt continuing to pile up, the excessive printing of money to prop up the welfare/warfare state and the political class that is sustained by it, it can't go on much longer and it'll take the stock market w/ it on its way out. If you're 23, this shit will be well gone and different by the time you retire. You have plenty of future to generate income for yourself so I would stick w/ physical silver bullion and bitcoin. Silver will basically hedge against inflation while something so evolutionary as bitcoin will do its own thing which is likely to grow many times its current valuation.

[Xenoph0bia]

Investing in USD is always a great option. As it is Fiat Money there is no risk involved in it. People Resist in investing online as many scams are taking place nowadays so its better to invest in USD as it will surely gives you good returns in the future better then bitcoins atleast.

[BTCevo]

Investing in USD is always a great option. As it is Fiat Money there is no risk involved in it. People Resist in investing online as many scams are taking place nowadays so its better to invest in USD as it will surely gives you good returns in the future better then bitcoins atleast.

Yes investing in USD is great but investing in a bitcoin is sure not a scam too because nowadays people are start using it as a digital payment. How can you said that is a scam? People start a new technology with it and it really gives you some profit and of course with this condition it will give you a good return of course and its better than USD

[cinder]

USD is king in the deflationary cycle. You can scoop up assets at big discount when everything is going down the sink.