I agree 100% with UW. You don't need to be daddy Warbucks in order to be in the market. In fact it's more important if you're not Mr. Warbucks.

There is a certain point after your basic needs are met that people should be putting away $50 per paycheck or whatever, and that's in addition to any 401K or whatever. $100 per month is $1,200 per year and $12,000 per ten years.

Ten years ago the DOW was at 9,170. Today it's been over 27,000, and that's with all the crazy stuff in the market.

If you put $100 a month under your mattress you only have $100 per month. Still better than nothing but there are better options.