The best way to make an investment grow is too consistently and systematically invest a percent of every paycheck in a conservative account. Don't listen to the advice of Wall Street, that's their job to get you to invest your money. They could care less whether you win or lost, they just want you to keep investing. A consistent addition to a conservative account will give you a comfortable retirement. I have practiced this faithfully for 40 years and I will retire next year with a nice nest egg. I don't think I ever made over $40K in any given year. It is all about discipline and it is not about chasing the high flying darling of the month promoted by the talking heads on tv.

Great advice... caution if you go it alone... read, study, invest $2500 at a time over 1 year.

Or

Get a professional and their advice.  Over 38 years I went it alone and built a nest egg at times $25 per month.  I won with McDonalds and Chrysler and Exxon-Mobil and lost with K-Mart.  I built up $131,000 and retired and turned it over to a pro.  In one year it is now $170,000.  Will tap in at age 59 1/2.  I always thought 21 was a big birthday.  It turns out 59 1/2 is a bigger one.  Lots of mutual funds.

Now mostly companies with dividends.  There are many sitting on piles of cash and the investors get a quarterly check in the form of DRIPs... dividend reinvestment plans.  It is always a bit scary.  In 2007/08 investments dropped 50%...that's how bad the economy tanked.   By 2010 it rebounded back 90% of old levels and now I am up 30% over 2006.  Bought Apple at $375 and sold it at $650... bought Oil at $80 and sold at $95.   READ...get educated.  Start with the library, Kipplingers Personal Finance magazine.  Money Magazine.   Entrepreneurs are not the only ones who take risks and you can do it at $25-50 per pay.  Read, get some hair.

Invest in your family and friends. Yeah, I know.....financial advisors advise against that...because THEY want to lend to your family and friends....and charge them HUGE interest rates-----using YOUR MONEY! Yup! The money that the banks pay you a paltry 1/2 % for the then loan out for upwards of 6,7, even EIGHTEEN PERCENT!

Cut out the middle man banks, and loan your kids the money to buy a car, a house, etc. Charge them less than the banks rates, yet more than what the banks will pay YOU. Loan your neighbor the money for that boat, loan your nephew the money for college and to HE// with the bank taking the lions share of everyones money. Most importantly, PLACE LEINS and GET COLLATERAL....just as the banks do. It's a win-win situation for all....and let the bankers starve and the banks collapse. They do NOTHING but take everyones money and call it theirs. It's YOUR money. Use it wisely!  DON'T get your financial advice from the banking and investment community. Their only advice is in THEIR interest...not yours.

Invest in global warming carbon credits, that is afer than what the author recommends...

Al Gore made $100,000,000 peddling that, it is safe because the stupid government pays off

just for trying, no results ever needed!