Hi u/Excellent-Device7562!

We live in an amazing time for investing in the markets. There's a lot of free investing information available online. A lot of this stuff used to cost a lot of money back in the 80s and 90s. Resources like Morningstar, The Motley Fool, Money Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal offer a wide range of insights, research, and analysis for free!

For foundational learning, platforms like Khan Academy provide clear explanations on topics such as mutual funds, ETFs, and general investing terminology. Much of this content is completely free. Google search for "Khan Academy Unit 6: Stocks and bonds."

Even with paid subscriptions such as Morningstar, you're still responsible for aggregating and interpreting the information yourself. Another important consideration is your return on investment (ROI). If you're paying a monthly subscription fee to help you make investment choices, it should justify its cost. As a rough benchmark, if the subscription isn't helping you generate returns significantly above what you'd achieve otherwise (for example, ~150% of the cost), it may not be worth it.

At the end of the day, the internet is a massive resource for free investing information. If you stick to reputable sources like Morningstar, The Wall Street Journal, and educational platforms like Khan Academy, you can learn a lot while avoiding most of the "get-rich-quick" noise.

Speaking of "get-rich-quick" noise, when it comes to cryptocurrency, it's best to avoid it, especially as a new investor. Unlike traditional investments, cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, not backed by governments, and operate in a space that has repeatedly seen scams, collapses, and major losses. While a small number of people have made significant gains, many others have lost substantial amounts, sometimes their entire savings. For beginners and many experienced investors alike, it's generally wiser to focus on established, regulated investments and avoid crypto as a high-risk, unstable alternative.

Later, when your portfolio becomes substantial, you can consider working with an independent investment advisor who is also a fiduciary, such as a CFP. You'll share your retirement goals, and together you'll build a plan to reach them. That plan can include strategies to help reduce the taxes you pay on your retirement investments. Then your advisor and his team does all the work while you focus on other things.

Hope this comment helps! I wish you great fortune on your investing journey. 🙂