Unlike a generation ago, there are now plenty of options for smart investment without a ton of knowledge. If you don't want to learn a ton or spend a lot of ef

Unlike a generation ago, there are now plenty of options for smart investment without a ton of knowledge. If you don't want to learn a ton or spend a lot of effort, the easiest thing to do is open an account at Wealthfront or Betterment and drop in everything except your emergency fund. (An hour or two of effort.) The next level of complexity would be to open an account somewhere like Schwab and put your money (minus emergency fund) in a Vanguard target retirement index fund for your estimated year of retirement. (Less than a day of effort.) The next level of complexity would be to open an IRA, contribute to it annually (to get the tax benefits), and invest that in Vanguard target funds.