Starting to invest might sound like a complicated process that requires a finance degree or a Wall Street office, but the truth is much simpler. These days, thanks to online brokerages, you can open an investment account in less than 30 minutes—from your couch, while drinking your morning coffee. It may not feel like a big deal in the moment, but it can be one of the most important financial decisions you ever make.

The first thing to understand is that an investment account is just a tool. It’s a place to hold your money so you can put it to work in things like stocks, bonds, or index funds. Think of it like a garage for your money. You’re not just parking it there to sit still—you’re giving it the tools and space to grow.

To get started, you need to choose an online brokerage. There are a lot of them out there—Robinhood (this site’s main sponsor), Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and others. Some focus on being beginner-friendly, while others are geared toward more active traders. For most people just starting out, it makes sense to go with a platform that offers low fees, a clean interface, and easy access to index funds. It doesn’t need to be fancy; it just needs to be functional.

Once you’ve picked your brokerage, the setup process is surprisingly simple. You’ll go to their website or download the app and click the button that says something like “Open an Account.” From there, they’ll ask for a few pieces of information—your name, address, Social Security number, employment status, and income range. This isn’t because they’re nosy; it’s because they’re legally required to know who you are and make sure you’re eligible to invest.

You’ll also be asked to choose the type of account you want. Most new investors start with a standard taxable brokerage account. It’s flexible and straightforward. If you’re saving specifically for retirement, you might choose an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) instead, which comes with tax benefits. But if your goal is to just get started and learn, a regular brokerage account is a great way to dip your toes in.

After that, you’ll need to link your bank account. This step usually involves logging into your bank through the brokerage platform or entering your account and routing numbers. Once connected, you can transfer money from your bank into your new investment account. Many brokerages will let you start with as little as $1 or $5. There’s no need to move a huge amount of money right away. The point is to get going.

At this point, you have an open and funded investment account. Congratulations! That was the hard part. Now comes the slightly more interesting piece: deciding what to invest in.

For beginners, index funds are a solid choice. They’re low-cost, diversified, and don’t require you to pick individual stocks. Most brokerages have their own brand of index funds, and you can usually find them by typing something like “S&P 500” into the search bar. Once you find the fund you want, you click “Buy,” enter the amount you want to invest, and confirm the purchase. That’s it.

There are no bells, no confetti, and probably no instant gains. But what you’ve just done is taken the first step toward long-term financial growth. Your money is no longer sitting in a checking account losing value to inflation. It’s out there in the market, starting to work for you.

If you want, you can set up automatic contributions—say, $25 or $50 every payday—so your investments keep growing without you having to think about it. This approach is called “dollar-cost averaging,” and it helps reduce the risk of investing all your money at once. Over time, regular investing can smooth out the ups and downs of the market and build wealth steadily.

It’s also worth taking a few minutes to explore the tools your brokerage offers. Many platforms provide educational content, retirement calculators, and risk tolerance quizzes to help you better understand your options. You don’t have to become an expert overnight. Just spending a little time getting familiar with your account and how it works can go a long way.

Of course, investing isn’t without risk. Markets go up and down. Sometimes it feels like your money is growing overnight, and other times it feels like it’s vanishing into thin air. That’s normal. The key is to stay the course. Don’t panic when things dip. Remember why you started and think long-term. Investing is about years and decades, not days and weeks.

By setting up your investment account today, you’ve taken control of your financial future. You’ve done something that many people put off for years out of fear, confusion, or procrastination. And you did it in under 30 minutes.

It might feel like a small step now, but it’s the start of something much bigger. Whether you stick to index funds, explore new options down the road, or keep it simple with automatic investments, you’re building a habit that can change your life.

So go ahead. Check “open investment account” off your to-do list. You’re officially an investor. And that’s a pretty good way to spend half an hour.