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One beginner investor thought they were doing everything right. They opened a Roth IRA<\/a> in 2017, made weekly contributions without fail and assumed the brokerage firm was automatically investing the money for retirement.<\/p>\n Years later, they discovered the account had mostly just been sitting in cash.<\/p>\n \u201cFor almost 4 years, my money just sat there in cash. No growth. Nothing,\u201d the person wrote in a recent post on Reddit\u2019s r\/RothIRA<\/a> forum that quickly gained attention from others who admitted they had made similar mistakes.<\/p>\n Don’t Miss:<\/strong><\/p>\n The poster explained that they didn\u2019t realize an IRA itself isn\u2019t an investment. Instead, it\u2019s simply an account that holds investments. After money is deposited, the account owner still has to choose where to put it, whether that\u2019s stocks, ETFs, mutual funds or index funds.<\/p>\n Many Investors Said They Made The Same Mistake <\/p>\n One commenter said their father unknowingly kept his retirement savings entirely in bonds for more than 20 years and \u201clost out on millions just from never bothering to look into where that money is being invested.\u201d<\/p>\n Another person admitted they left retirement money sitting idle for years before realizing something was wrong. Others shared stories about relatives, military workers and coworkers who accidentally kept their retirement savings in cash or ultra-conservative funds that barely grew.<\/p>\n \u201cI did the exact same thing,\u201d one commenter wrote.<\/p>\n Another added: \u201cI know so many people who have accidentally made this error.\u201d<\/p>\n Trending: Find out if you qualify to reduce your monthly debt payments \u2014 see how much you could save with a quick, free consultation.<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Several people blamed the problem on poor financial education in schools. \u201cFinancial literacy<\/a> is woefully undertaught in schools, or not at all,\u201d one commenter wrote.<\/p>\n The original poster said they genuinely believed the IRA worked more like a savings account<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI was young, I wasn\u2019t following the market,\u201d they said. \u201cI didn\u2019t even know IRA invested in the market. Thought it was something similar to a savings account.\u201d<\/p>\n Debate Over Advisors, Index Funds And Stock Picking <\/p>\n The thread eventually turned into a broader debate about how beginners should invest<\/a> once their money is actually in the market.<\/p>\n Many commenters urged new investors to keep things simple with broad index funds\u00a0 instead of trying to pick individual stocks.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trick to making money in the markets is achieving average returns for an above-average amount of time,\u201d one investor wrote.<\/p>\n See Also: See What AI Could Build for Your Portfolio \u2014 Try a Custom Index Now<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Others said beginners who don\u2019t fully understand investing may benefit from using a financial planner or advisor instead of trying to pick individual stocks on their own.<\/p>\n Still, many focused less on criticizing the mistake and more on encouraging beginners to learn from it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe important thing is that you figured it out and are now in the market,\u201d one person wrote.<\/p>\n The original poster agreed and said they shared the story mainly to help newer investors avoid making the same costly mistake.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re new, double-check your account,\u201d they wrote. \u201cMake sure your contributions are actually invested.\u201d<\/p>\n Mistakes like this are more common than many investors realize, especially among beginners setting up retirement accounts for the first time. Some investors choose to work with a fiduciary adviser<\/a> to help ensure their contributions are properly invested and diversified from the start.<\/p>\n Read Next: What If Your Investment Income Didn’t Rely Entirely on Market Swings? Some Investors Are Taking a Different Approach<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market<\/strong> <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.<\/p>\n Connect Invest<\/strong><\/p>\n Connect Invest is a real estate investment platform that allows investors to access short-term, fixed-income opportunities backed by a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial real estate loans.<\/a> <\/strong>Through its Short Notes structure, investors can choose defined terms (6, 12, or 24 months) and earn monthly interest payments while gaining exposure to real estate as an asset class. For investors focused on diversification, Connect Invest may serve as one component within a broader portfolio that also includes traditional equities, fixed income, and other alternative assets\u2014helping balance exposure across different risk and return profiles.<\/p>\n Mode Mobile<\/strong><\/p>\n Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream. For investors, Mode Mobile offers exposure to the expanding mobile advertising and attention economy through a pre-IPO opportunity tied to a new approach to user monetization.<\/p>\n rHealth<\/strong><\/p>\n rHealth is building a space-tested diagnostics platform designed to bring lab-quality blood testing closer to patients in minutes rather than weeks<\/a><\/strong>. Originally validated in collaboration with NASA for use aboard the International Space Station, the technology is now being adapted for at-home and point-of-care settings to address widespread delays in diagnostic access.<\/p>\n Backed by institutions including NASA and the NIH, rHealth is targeting the large global diagnostics market with a multi-test platform and a model built around devices, consumables, and software. With FDA registration in progress, the company is positioning itself as a potential shift toward faster, more decentralized healthcare testing.<\/p>\n Direxion<\/strong><\/p>\n Direxion specializes in leveraged and inverse ETFs designed to help active traders express short-term market views during periods of volatility and major market events.<\/a><\/strong> Rather than long-term investing, these products are built for tactical use\u2014allowing investors to take magnified bullish or bearish positions across indices, sectors, and single stocks. For experienced traders, Direxion offers a way to respond quickly to changing market conditions and act on high-conviction views with greater flexibility.<\/p>\n Immersed<\/strong><\/p>\n Immersed is a spatial computing company building immersive productivity software that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens inside VR and mixed-reality environments.<\/a> <\/strong>Its platform is used by remote workers and enterprises to create virtual workspaces that reduce reliance on traditional physical hardware while improving focus and collaboration. The company is also developing its own lightweight VR headset and AI productivity tools, positioning itself in the future-of-work and spatial computing space. Through its pre-IPO offering, Immersed is opening access to early-stage investors looking to diversify beyond traditional assets and gain exposure to emerging technologies shaping how people work.<\/p>\n Arrived<\/strong><\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100<\/strong><\/a>. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.<\/p>\n Masterworks<\/strong><\/p>\n Masterworks enables investors to diversify into blue-chip art, an alternative asset class with historically low correlation to stocks and bonds.<\/strong><\/a> Through fractional ownership of museum-quality works by artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, investors gain access without the high costs or complexities of owning art outright. With hundreds of offerings and strong historical exits on select works, Masterworks adds a scarce, globally traded asset to portfolios seeking long-term diversification.<\/p>\n Public<\/strong><\/p>\n Public is a multi-asset investing platform built for long-term investors who want more control, transparency, and innovation in how they grow wealth.<\/a><\/strong> Founded in 2019 as the first broker-dealer to offer commission-free, real-time fractional investing, Public now lets users invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more\u2014all in one place. Its latest feature, Generated Assets, uses AI to turn a single idea into a fully customized, investable index that can be explained and backtested before committing capital. Combined with AI-powered research tools, clear explanations of market moves, and an uncapped 1% match for transferring an existing portfolio, Public positions itself as a modern platform designed to help serious investors make more informed decisions with context.<\/p>\n AdviserMatch<\/strong><\/p>\n AdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.<\/p>\n Accredited Debt Relief<\/strong><\/p>\n Accredited Debt Relief is a debt consolidation company focused on helping consumers reduce and manage unsecured debt through structured programs and personalized solutions<\/a><\/strong>. <\/strong>Having supported more than 1 million clients and helped resolve over $3 billion in debt, the company operates within the growing consumer debt relief industry, where demand continues to rise alongside record household debt levels. Its process includes a quick qualification survey, personalized program matching, and ongoing support, with eligible clients potentially reducing monthly payments by 40% or more. With industry recognition, an A+ BBB rating, and multiple customer service awards, Accredited Debt Relief positions itself as a data-driven, client-focused option for individuals seeking a more manageable path toward becoming debt-free.<\/p>\n Finance Advisors<\/strong><\/p>\n Finance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning.<\/a><\/strong> Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiency\u2014factors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.<\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/strong><\/p>\n This article They Opened An IRA Thinking Their Money Was Invested Automatically. Later They Realized It Was Just Sitting In Cash. ‘No Growth. Nothing’<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. 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