Infomarine On-Line Maritime News - Warren Buffett was once asked how he would invest if he were ‘30 years old again’

If you’re looking for a simple self-directed investing platform to set up Buffett’s low-cost strategy, Public allows you to do just that.

Public is a commission-free investing platform that democratizes access to a wide range of assets, including stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, treasuries and alternative investments. Best of all, the platform emphasizes transparency — rejecting the controversial "payment for order flow" (PFOF) model that many brokerages rely on. It also offers real-time insights and social features that help DIY investors make informed decisions.

For a limited time, you can get a 1% uncapped match on all transfers when you move your investment portfolio to Public. This covers brokerage and IRA transfers, 401(k) rollovers and IRA contributions. Plus, they’ll cover up to $100 in fees along the way.

But slow and steady portfolio growth is just the first step on your journey, especially if you’re starting at 30.

Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 simple money rules to turn $9,800 into a stunning $150B — start using them today to get rich (and then stay rich)

Build a better financial buffer

Another essential step to keep in mind when you're new to investing is to build an emergency fund that covers at least three to six months' worth of your living expenses. If you invest your emergency fund in the market, you risk the market being down when an emergency hits and you need to use that money — which defeats the purpose of investing in the first place.

That said, leaving that much cash in a checking account earning no interest, like 82% of Americans do according to a CNBC Select survey, (2) doesn’t make sense either, as your money will actually lose value thanks to inflation.

One way you can avoid this pitfall is with the Wealthfront Cash Account, which can help you build an investment base through a combination of high-interest rates and ease of access.

A Wealthfront Cash Account can provide a base variable APY of 3.75%, but new clients can get a 0.65% boost over their first three months for a total APY of 4.40% provided by program banks on your uninvested cash. That’s over ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s October report.

With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, you can ensure your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks.

If you’re not quite ready to implement Buffett’s index fund strategy, but you still want to begin taking small, actionable steps toward building your investing muscle, automatic investment platforms like Acorns can help you get started.

Acorns makes investing early easy — even for a newbie investor — by turning your extra change into investments on every purchase you make.

This is how it works: If you purchase a snack for $5.30, Acorns will round up the price to $6.00 and invest the 70-cent difference into a smart portfolio of ETFs. Throughout the year, you can watch those coins snowball into a sizable investment, with zero work on your end.

If you want to supercharge your investing, Acorns can also accept a monthly contribution to your portfolio. New users can get a $20 bonus investment when you set up a recurring monthly deposit.