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The Millionaire Investing Advice For Teenagers: summary

The Millionaire Investing Advice For Teenagers

Graham Stephan · Aug 9, 2019 · about 19 min

Uploaded Aug 9, 2019 · 2.9M views (as of Oct 30, 2026)

Good value given

He regrets not getting a credit card early, because with no credit history no bank would give him a mortgage at 21.
A Roth IRA is best started young, when your tax rate is low and compounding has the most time to work.
He says to avoid any debt that doesn't make you money, like high interest credit cards, personal loans and car loans.
His first job at an aquarium warehouse taught him more than school about business and saving.
He suggests work experience or community college if you don't know what you want to study yet.

What money advice does Graham Stephan give teenagers?

His eight steps: get a starter credit card at 18 and pay it in full every month to build credit, open your own bank account with no fees, open a Roth IRA early, avoid consumer debt, get a job, live below your means, don't go to college just because everyone else does, and invest in a low cost broad index fund you plan to hold for 30 to 40 years.

Worth watching?Good value given. Eight concrete steps for anyone 18 to early 20s, told through his own mistakes. A few bank names and rates are dated, but the steps still work.

ActionableLessons

Actionable

Open a secured credit card, use it for one small bill and set autopay for the full balance.
Pick a bank account with no minimums or monthly fees.
Open a Roth IRA and set up a small automatic contribution into a broad index fund.
Take a part time job, even for a few hours a week.

Lessons

Credit history is about showing you pay on time, and debt doesn't have to be part of it.
Starting early matters more than starting big because of compounding.
Mistakes cost less at 18 than at 40, so take your risks early.

Quick answer

Graham Stephan posted this video on Aug 9, 2019. Here's our summary in our own words: the answer to the title, a verdict, 5 takeaways, and Actionable and Lessons tabs.

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Watch on YouTube: The Millionaire Investing Advice For Teenagers

Channel: Graham Stephan. Published Aug 9, 2019. About 19 minutes.

If you're 18 or older, he says to open a secured credit card, put a small charge on it each month and pay it off in full before it's due.

Quotes from the video

“building your credit wasn't about being irresponsible with money”
“if you cannot afford to buy something outright then don't buy it and don't finance it”
“just get used to living below your means”

A note on this summary

This page reports what the video says, in our own words. Quotes are copied word for word from the video's transcript. Views are as of Oct 30, 2026.

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FAQ: questions people ask

Should teenagers get a credit card?

He says yes, at 18, as long as you spend a small amount and pay it off in full every month to build credit.

What should a teenager invest in?

He recommends a low cost broad index fund held for 30 to 40 years, ideally inside a Roth IRA.

Does Graham Stephan say to skip college?

He says not to go just because everyone else does. If your career needs a degree, or you can finish without loans, go.