Investing

Quote:

The best investment for younger people is cash... The last thing you want is to have your funds tied up in some long term investment when an emergency comes up and you need the money.

*Advice from a representative of Merrill Lynch who was a guest speaker at my school a while back.

The only reason someone should start saving that early in their life (20s) is if they have dreams of retiring at 40 or becoming a millionaire by age 65. As for those numbers (starting investing at 21 vs. 35) although they may seem impressive at first glance (even I was inspired when initially hearing similar figures from my finance professors) you need to take into consideration that the likelihood of being able to invest year after year like that is extremely slim. Paying for your children's education, medical bills, or any other number of unexpected events that are bound to happen will inevitably eat into your disposable income and possibly even your savings.

Jam it back in, in the dark.