Thinking about investing... any advice?

I’m 15 and I’m thinking about buying stocks or crypto. I saw that this forum talks about investments going up a lot. I even put $20 into a stock because I thought it might be a good idea. A few years back, I remember hearing people hype up XRP, and now it seems big. I don’t know much about any of this though. Got any tips for someone just starting out?

Crypto is a scam. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

Charlie said:
Crypto is a scam. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

Yeah, crypto’s value depends on the greater fool theory. Basically, you profit if someone pays more than you did.

Riley said:

Charlie said:
Crypto is a scam. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

Yeah, crypto’s value depends on the greater fool theory. Basically, you profit if someone pays more than you did.

That actually makes sense, thanks for explaining it!

Charlie said:
Crypto is a scam. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

Lol, everything’s a scam if you think about it… doesn’t mean you can’t make money though.

Charlie said:
Crypto is a scam. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

But isn’t Bitcoin still doing well? And I heard XRP has been steady.

Blair said:

Charlie said:
Crypto is a scam. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

But isn’t Bitcoin still doing well? And I heard XRP has been steady.

This forum’s not big on crypto. Scams have hurt its rep, but research Bitcoin. It hit $100k per coin for a reason.

@Kaius
I feel like Bitcoin could be good, but with all the hype, now doesn’t seem like the best time to invest.

Check out ETFs for a safer way to invest. You get diversity in your portfolio, and gains are steady over time. QQQ ETF is a good start. If you’re set on crypto, research blockchain tech. But remember, today’s winners might not last forever.

@Bayley
Thanks! Do you know if there are ETFs on Cash App? That’s all I use for stocks since I’m under 18.

You’re 15, so be careful. Social media loves to influence people, especially about investments. If TikTok says to buy something, question it.

Jess said:
You’re 15, so be careful. Social media loves to influence people, especially about investments. If TikTok says to buy something, question it.

I’d rather learn from people here who have experience. I didn’t trust XRP back then because I wasn’t sure, especially after FTX went down.

Start with the stock market. Growth ETFs are great if you’re in it for the long term—don’t sell when they dip. Crypto is risky, so only put in what you’re okay losing. Also, look into blue-chip stocks that pay dividends and reinvest those. Learn and understand risks before buying anything.

@Laken
Thanks, I’ll try to learn more so I can understand what I’m getting into.

@Laken
Wait, isn’t Google saying growth ETFs are more volatile? Shouldn’t I avoid those if I’m just starting?

Crypto’s up because of the elections. With tariffs and stuff, it might mess up global currencies. Not sure if the rise will last though.

Nyle said:
Crypto’s up because of the elections. With tariffs and stuff, it might mess up global currencies. Not sure if the rise will last though.

Do you think investing in this stock was a good idea?