INTRO: Im looking into investing for the first time and heres my situation currently: +~ $4k cash +Still in high school, interested in finances and just trying to start out early +No experience, been reading articles and putting together my own "cheat sheet" of terms and such over the past few weeks just to get a base going. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOALS : Year One - Become more knowledgable, at least break even any profits are a bonus Year Two - Same as year one except maybe a tiny more profit. I will be done with high school and my goal is to have $15k banked because of work ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHORT TERM : +Continue to do my research and read up on things. +Decide on brokerage +Once brokerage is decided my money breakdown will look similar to this ~$500 just in the bank for everyday stuff ~$1000 bonds/CD's(?) ~$2500 stocks (further breakdown to be determined) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/ETC : + Any books you all can recommend? +Is IB all its cracked up to be and is it too complex for novices? +On the IB website it says the activity fee minimum is $3 (Age 25 or under), since im not 18 yet i dont think its legal for me to open an account in my name so i would have to have to be trading in an account created by a parent, but then i would have to be doing $10 a month in trades or making the difference which is a fairly high amount of money % wise when you are working with $2500 $10x$12 = $120 $120 = 4.8% of $2500 Any ideas on this? (phew...sorry for that long question..) +Any other fees to look out for? I have looked over all of them so far and havent found anything. +Should i wait until i have more money before doing anything and just let my money sit in a CD for a little while? +Any other advice? Thanks