Here is my post for every 22-year-old who just got their first paycheck and doesn't know what to do with it.

Step 1: Open a high-yield savings account (Ally, Marcus, or Fidelity's cash management account are all fine). Transfer $500 to it today. This is the start of your emergency fund.

Step 2: If your employer offers a 401k match, contribute at least enough to get the full match. This is free money. If the enrollment form asks about contribution percentage, start at enough to capture the match.

Step 3: Open a Roth IRA at Fidelity or Vanguard. You can fund it with as little as $1. Set up a recurring contribution of whatever you can afford — even $50/month is meaningful over 40 years.

Step 4: For the IRA, pick one fund: Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund (FZROX) if at Fidelity, or VTSAX if at Vanguard. Don't overthink it. Total market index fund, lowest available expense ratio, done.

Steps 1-4 can be completed in a weekend. They're the foundation everything else builds on.