Most online brokers have low or no minimum to open an account. If you are investing, buy and hold, all you need is finds to buy the instrument. I have an account at one broker with $50 and that's only to get the charting they provide.
Trading is an entirely different animal for funds required and rules related to daytrading.
For those that want to do it on their own and avoid "advisor" fees. SPY, QQQ, IWM are indexes to look at when investing long term. There are other for Emerging market exposure, etc. Easy to do.
It's funny that the largest asset, sometimes exceeding the value of homes people live in, is willfully turned over to someone else. The issue with most advisors is they don't get paid on performance, they get paid for AUM, assets under management. There is ZERO incentive to be great... It's easy to get educated about it and save a TON of money in the long run. Run a growth rate on a single 1,000 for 40 years at 8% and 9%.... Do it for a ira style monthly/yearly additional 100-1000 investment per period. The difference in that 1% will shock you. I find that to be interesting. It's not hard to do this yourself and it can be fun.
If you are young, don't fall into that trap... Do it yourself, be disciplined.
