Beginner at all things investing, building wealth, etc

I did. was like drinking from a fire hose.

Thanks for yelling

Plus, what's the point of this board if everything people need to know is on stickeys?

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My question is, what can i do to start really investing to build long term wealth? I'm not a super risky person, but am willing to take calculated risks. Should i start acquiring rental properties? Should i start putting $500 extra dollars a month into the stock market? My only hesitation with the latter is i feel like (not that my feelings mean much) the market is due for a correction soon. So should i keep putting money in it at the top? or save money until the correction then dump a huge chunk in?

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1. Max out 401k (what is it 19k now?)

2. Max out a Roth IRA (6k/year)

2a. Invest in Roth IRA on a consistent basis. I don't care what the market is doing.

Whether you unload $2k into it every 4 months or $250 every two weeks, or $12k every January 1st doesn't matter.
Just be consistent. You catch highs and lows, and it won't matter in the long run. I've just explained Dollar cost averaging (DCA).

3. What to invest in? An extremely diversified ETF or Mutual fund.

4. Who to invest with? Vanguard, Schwab, Fidelity

5. If you max out the 401k and the IRA then open a brokerage account and buy what you consider to be good individual stocks whether based on prospects for growth or dividend income.

This is all anyone would needto know.

401K up to employer match
Then fund 2 × Roth IRAs (yours and spouse's)
Next fully fund 401k
Finally invest excess in taxable accounts, real estate etc...

You should spend a good deal of it, enjoy your life, travel , experience everything life has to offer. Because despite what this board naively preaches, wealth isn’t the answer. It’s just a tool. Don’t die bragging about your net worth. And don’t start thread saying “ when did you make your first million “ and/or other reptilian brain garbage.

Downvote away money board worshipers.

Since when did being ambitious become a negative thing? I agree money isn’t everything but what’s the harm of getting people’s inputs and learning from one another?

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My only hesitation with the latter is i feel like (not that my feelings mean much) the market is due for a correction soon.

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Dollar cost averaging will fix all those concerns when you retire in, presumably, 25 to 30 years.

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Should i start acquiring rental properties?

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While technically qualifying as an investment, you don't really directly invest in rental properties (even if you, somewhat pardoxically "do") - you actually buy or create a business that rents housing to people.

Unlike your 401k or other equity/bond, etc., raw "investments" - rental property is also a commitment of time, resources and effort (that you will either have to do, somehow acquire for free/discounted, or pay FMV for someone to do) that most folks who consider real estate investment often do. And there is plenty of risk with real estate, seen and unseen.

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So should i keep putting money in it at the top?

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Again, dollar cost averaging is going to fix that over time. Obviously, if you needed the money this year, my advice would change. But, you're trying to time the market and that is - generally - a losing proposition.

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Since when did being ambitious become a negative thing

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Make sure to mix in a little "ambition" for living a balanced life where materialism and the pursuit of wealth does not crowd out this ONE journey you get to take here on planet earth. This board has become insufferable with the constant wealth accumulation dick measuring.

Two things at my age that I am really tired of hearing IRL. The first is people bitching about how they grind so hard they don't enjoy their lives. The second is people who are seriously ill or have a devastating life event bitching about how they wished they'd enjoyed the ride more. People become completely alienated from their own lives in the pursuit of the next material thing that's going to satiate their "ambition". It's rampant.

I read this board and I feel like half you guys have lost your damn minds with all the "I've maxed this out and I've maxed that out". Ok good for you. Did you max your relationships out? Did you max your commitment to your family and community out? Did you max your time out? Did you max your experiences out and do those bucket list things? Did you max your potential out? Did you max your compassion out, your wisdom out, your generosity out, your spirituality out, your mentorship out? You know, the actual important stuff.

But don't mind me bro. Money is the shiznit. And keep that tape measure handy. Did you know that if you save enough, you get buried in a better casket? They might even bury you with a better watch.

Well said.