Buffett Says best way to invest is simply to buy index fund?

[cwsiggy]

You can usually autoinvest into mutual funds from your bank account for as little as $50, sometimes $25.
Depends on the fund group. Seems like it would be cheaper investing in Vanguard's fund than Spiders despite the slightly higher expense ratio.

[Uglyowl]

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Is there minimum dollar amount to invest in an index fund? I'm just 18 with about 4k of poker money and looking to put about 2k into an index fund (other 2k left for downswings). I think that is the best bet, for stocks I need much more money. Rather than keep 2k in a bank it would be much better if I invested it. Any advice

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SPY, an EFT, follows the S&P 500 and there are no minimums.

[1C5]

You have to buy EFTs like a common share right so they wouldn't work as well for dollar cost averaging investing?

[imported_bingobazza]

Buy Buffett, hes hammered the index over 30+ years.

Bingo

[MrMon]

You can put the $2k at Schwab and buy their S&P 500 Index fund. Just say you want to buy $2k worth. They'll give you fractional shares. You can even dividend reinvest. (I'm sure Vanguard and Fidelity work the same way, but have no experience there.)

[FishHooks]

Just found out that the vanguard index funds are 3k minimum, and you can dividend reinvest as well.

[1C5]

what are the fees like on the vanguard ones?

[Sniper]

Vanguards fees on index funds are generally very low... their S&P500 index fund has an expense ratio of 0.18%.

You can view all the info you want about all their funds, on their website.

[FishHooks]

here is a link to their fees.

http://flagship4.vanguard.com/VGApp/...eesContent.jsp

Vanguard fees are, from what I've read, the lowest fees in the industry. That 3k min sucks for me though was going to invest 2k but I guess I got to make some more money from poker to hit that 3k min.

[Sniper]

There are plenty of funds that have minimums lower than 3K.