New investor: Start with low-cost ETFs and blue-chip stocks

For new investors, the advice centers on starting with index funds and ETFs like $SPY (S&P 500) and $QQQ (Nasdaq 100) for broad market exposure. Adding individual blue-chip stocks like Apple is also suggested. The emphasis is on learning the basics, setting up auto-investments, maximizing tax-sheltered retirement accounts (like Roth IRAs), and adopting a long-term buy-and-hold strategy to avoid trading fees and capital gains tax on frequent sells.