heading off to college soon and will probably be invested for around 6 years. I have about $2k to invest right now, and I’ll keep adding more over time. I’m trying to find the best balance between growth and risk. I’d say I have a medium risk tolerance. I know a lot of people recommend just buying the S&P 500, but I’m wondering if there are other relatively safe options with better growth potential over a 6-year timeline.
My main questions are:
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Should I invest now, or wait a month or two in case the market pulls back?
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What ETFs or stocks would you consider good “safer” investments for around a 6-year hold?
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What are some investments that could offer high growth?
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Is it better to keep my portfolio simple with 1–3 ETFs/stocks, or diversify more with around 5–6 holdings?
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Roughly what percentage of my portfolio should be ETFs vs individual stocks?
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Since I’m younger, should I take a little more risk for higher growth potential?
Any general investing tips for someone starting at 18 would be appreciated.