Dorm Dough

Investing your way.

Pick the lane that matches your risk tolerance, then unlock the playbook built for it.

Safe Dough

Automate calm growth with broad index funds and guardrails that protect your pace.

Build the base ->
To the Moon Dough

Experiment with higher risk plays backed by rules that keep losses capped.

Chase the upside ->
Scroll for the strategy

How Safe Dough works

Build the base with diversified funds, automation, and rules that protect progress. It is the lane for steady builders and first-time investors.

  • Automatic wins. Schedule transfers into low-cost index funds or ETFs every payday.
  • Guardrails first. Keep 3-6 months of expenses in cash before you dial up risk.
  • Tax-free growth. Prioritize Roth IRA contributions when you have earned income.
  • Reinvest everything. Let dividends and interest buy more shares automatically.
Explore Safe Dough

How To the Moon works

Layer measured risk on top of your Safe Dough base with clear caps and exit plans. It is for builders who want a responsible shot at bigger upside.

  • Allocate with intent. Decide what percent of your portfolio you dedicate to active plays and stick to it.
  • Research, then act. Write down why you bought, the price you will exit, and what would prove you wrong.
  • Protect your downside. Use alerts or stop-losses so you never ride losses past your cap.
  • Review monthly. Log lessons, adjust allocations, and push profits back to Safe Dough.
Explore To the Moon Dough

Start simple. Start now.

You do not need a huge stack to call yourself an investor. The win is the habit. Automate, stay consistent, and the dollar amounts will scale as your income does.

$25

Kick off the habit

Open a brokerage that supports fractional ETFs. Set a weekly $25 auto-transfer so the move happens even during midterms.

$75

Level up the cushion

Once the habit sticks, split $75 per month: half into Safe Dough index funds, half into your emergency stash.

$150+

Earn, then expand

Turn class skills into a micro hustle. Channel the new cash into Safe Dough, then earmark a slice for To the Moon experiments.

Why invest?

Money you put to work in your late teens and early twenties has four or five decades to compound. Even modest contributions grow into tuition-sized numbers when you combine them with raises, side hustles, and smart account choices.

3x

Students who start before age 22 end up with triple the wealth at 60 compared with those who wait until 30.

Beat inflation every semester

Textbooks, rent, and even campus meal plans creep up in price. Index funds historically grew faster than the campus cost-of-living, so every invested dollar keeps its purchasing power.

  • Pair investing with a three-month emergency fund so surprise bills do not derail you.
  • Use a high-yield savings account for near-term cash, but send anything above that cushion into the market.
$25

A single $25 weekly deposit invested at 7% grows to roughly $50k after graduation if you keep the habit for 10 years.

Lock in flexibility after graduation

A portfolio built in college can cover relocation costs, grad school apps, or the time you take to find a job that actually fits.

  • Automate transfers so raises and internship income keep feeding your accounts.
  • Keep loans in mind: investing does not replace paying minimums, but it prevents lifestyle creep from swallowing your excess cash.
45%

Of financial stress disappears when you know your money has a purpose. Investing gives your savings a job description.

Build confidence before the stakes are high

When you practice with small dollars, you learn to stomach market swings and pick the right accounts before family budgets or mortgage payments enter the picture.

  • Set a reflection date each semester to review your mix and note the lessons learned.
  • Document why you made each move. Future you will skim those notes when markets wobble.

Our tested and tried Brokerages

Slide through the highlights below, tap into the deeper comparison table right after for the fine print.

Fidelity

Best overall
Best for:
Students who want one firm for life.

Signature features:
Fractional investing, 24/7 support, cash management debit card, teen account.

Watch out for:
Desktop tools feel dense until you favorite the essentials.

Charles Schwab

Full service
Best for:
Investors who want branches plus a strong app.

Signature features:
Schwab Stock Slices, robo portfolios, investor checking with ATM refunds worldwide.

Watch out for:
Fractional shares limited to select S&P 500 names.

Vanguard

Index fund purist
Best for:
Long-haul investors laser-focused on low-cost funds.

Signature features:
Client-owned structure, legendary index funds, automatic mutual fund investing.

Watch out for:
Minimal mobile app and no fractional ETF trades.

Webull

Active traders
Best for:
Hands-on traders who love charts and extended hours.

Signature features:
Paper trading sandbox, technical indicators, crypto alongside equities.

Watch out for:
Limited planning guidance and no in-person help.

SoFi Invest

Habit builder
Best for:
New investors who want automation and career support.

Signature features:
Automated portfolios, planner sessions, checking up to 4.6% APY.

Watch out for:
Smaller fund lineup than legacy brokers.

Public

Community research
Best for:
Investors who learn visually and love crowd-sourced insights.

Signature features:
Community deep dives, treasuries, alternatives, premium data feeds.

Watch out for:
Advanced data sits behind a paid membership.

Robinhood

Mobile first
Best for:
Investors who want the fastest path from idea to trade.

Signature features:
Cash card rewards, instant deposits, IRA match for Gold members.

Watch out for:
Phone support and deeper research require Robinhood Gold.

Feature snapshot

Broker Costs Fractional shares Investment options & features Strengths / differentiators Weaknesses
Fidelity $0 per online stock & ETF trade Yes (stocks & ETFs) Index & active funds, cash management, teen accounts 24/7 support, best-in-class research, robust automation Desktop interface can overwhelm new investors
Charles Schwab $0 per online stock & ETF trade Yes (select large caps) Schwab ETFs, robo portfolios, checking with ATM refunds Nationwide branches, strong education & live support Fractional coverage is limited versus peers
Vanguard No commissions on Vanguard funds; $0 online trades Mutual funds only Vanguard mutual funds & ETFs, retirement calculators Lowest fund costs, client-owned structure Clunky app and no fractional ETF trades
Webull $0 per online stock & ETF trade Yes Stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, paper trading Advanced charting, extended-hours trading Little guidance and no in-person support
SoFi Invest $0 per online stock & ETF trade Yes Automated portfolios, active investing, high-yield cash Planner access, career coaching, 4%+ APY checking Smaller fund menu than legacy brokers
Public $0 per online stock & ETF trade Yes Stocks, ETFs, treasuries, crypto, alternatives Community research feed, premium data add-ons Deeper insights require paid membership
Robinhood $0 per online stock & ETF trade Yes Stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, cash card, IRA match Low-friction mobile app, instant deposits Full research and phone support locked behind Gold

All brokers charge regulatory, wire, and options fees where required. Verify current pricing before you open an account.

Compound the wins

College investment calculator

Use the compound interest tool to model $25 weekly deposits, then export the numbers into your Safe Dough tracker.

Run the calculator

Credit score tips

Mix the banking credit basics with the new quiz and you will see exactly how utilization, payments, and age impact approvals.

Review the credit roadmap

Side hustles that actually pay

Investing gets easier when cash flow is consistent. Start with a proven student hustle and automate the leftover into Safe Dough.

Explore hustles that pay
Clarity check

Student investing FAQ

Pair these answers with the broker you just picked so deposits stay on track all semester.

  1. How much money do I need to start investing?

    $25 is plenty. The point is getting reps, not flexing size. Automate a weekly or monthly transfer so it runs while you focus on class or work.1

    • Use fractional ETFs so every contribution buys diversified shares.
    • Pair the transfer with payday or allowance day so cash does not vanish in the weekend blur.

    Tip: Name the transfer in your banking app ("Future Rent Freedom") to stay motivated.

  2. Is $25 per month even worth it?

    Yes. Consistency beats intensity. Putting $25 in every week for four years at 7% growth is roughly $5,600 invested and $6,400 total value. Double the deposit when you land an internship and the curve steepens fast.1

    • Stack a streak chart on your wall or Notion page. Visible streaks cut the urge to skip.
    • When money is tight, lower the amount instead of pausing entirely. Momentum matters.
  3. Should I buy individual stocks?

    Start with diversified ETFs or index funds. They deliver exposure to hundreds of companies in a single trade and keep risk grounded while you learn.3

    • If you want stock picking reps, cap individual positions to 5-10% of your total portfolio.
    • Write down why you bought each stock and what would make you sell. It keeps emotions from hijacking decisions.
  4. What about crypto?

    Crypto is high volatility. Keep it to a single-digit percentage of your portfolio and only after your emergency fund and Safe Dough contributions are locked in.3

    • Stick with major assets like BTC or ETH through trusted brokers. Avoid random coins promoted online.
    • Store long-term holdings in a wallet you control and expect the price to swing wildly.
  5. Roth IRA vs. brokerage?

    A Roth IRA is built for long-term goals: contributions go in after tax, growth is tax-free, and you can withdraw contributions (not earnings) anytime. A taxable brokerage is flexible for goals inside the next 5-7 years.4

    • If you have earned income, start the Roth first and automate small contributions.
    • Use the brokerage for travel, grad school, or a launch fund for post-grad life.
  6. What returns are realistic?

    Plan on 6-8% annually after inflation for diversified stock portfolios. Some years will be negative, some will blow past averages. Your job is to stick with the plan.2

    • Review your portfolio once per semester. Rebalance only if you drift more than 5 percentage points from your target mix.
    • Use dollar-cost averaging to take advantage of down markets without trying to time them.

    Reminder: the goal is freedom, not beating your roommate. Focus on your timeline and risk tolerance.

Next level

Invest in yourself

Your best compounding move is still the hours you bank in your own brain. Grab a book, steal a highlighter, and write the next version of you.

Explore the Dorm's reading lists
Receipts

Sources

Use this reading list to validate every assumption about returns, risk controls, and tax moves mentioned above.

  1. Investing basics SEC Investor.gov: Introduction to Investing

    Foundation for diversification language, risk definitions, and the cadence for checking your portfolio.

    Accessed November 3, 2025
  2. Market expectations Vanguard Economic and Market Outlook 2025

    Informs our 6-8% after-inflation return guardrail and the rebalancing triggers we recommend.

    Accessed November 3, 2025
  3. Investor education FINRA Investor Education: Getting Started Investing

    Used for the brokerage vs. Roth IRA comparisons plus the dollar-cost averaging reminders.

    Accessed November 3, 2025
  4. Tax rules IRS Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements

    Confirms contribution limits, withdrawal rules, and eligibility data in the Roth sections.

    Accessed November 3, 2025