What is BrokeToBroker?
BrokeToBroker teaches beginner investing in plain English — no jargon, no hype, no get-rich-quick nonsense. If you’re a student or in your first few years of working, with anywhere from $0 to your first few thousand to invest, this site was made for you. Our motto says it all: all you need to start investing.
Who’s behind it
BrokeToBroker is run by college-aged students who started exactly where you are: small amounts of money, lots of questions, and a internet full of confusing or sketchy advice. We write the guides we wish someone had handed us — researched, honest about the risks, and written to be understood in one read. Articles are published under the name Mark Vale.
Start here
- How to start investing with $100 — the first step, step by step
- What is an index fund? — the one concept everything else builds on
- What is a Roth IRA? — the account most 20-somethings should know about
- Best brokerages for beginners — Fidelity, Schwab, Robinhood and more, compared
- Opening a brokerage account as a college student — what you need and how long it takes
What this site is not
BrokeToBroker is education, not financial advice. We explain how investing works; we can’t tell you what to do with your own money. Read our full disclaimer, and for personal decisions, talk to a licensed financial professional.
What you’ll find here
Three ways to use BrokeToBroker — start with whichever fits where you are right now.
Beginner guides
Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, index funds, and brokerage basics — one topic at a time, in plain English.
Tools & links
The charting and research tools we actually use, gathered on one page with honest notes on each.
A new guide every day
Fresh beginner topics land on the site daily, so there is always a clear next step waiting for you.
New here? Start with $100.
The full step-by-step guide — free, five minutes, no jargon.