For those saying the market is rigged: have you ever looked at an Andex Chart? The stock market is one of the few ways the average Joe can actually build wealth. Just don't speculate on random tips from random people and buy big blue chip stocks that pay dividends. If you are starting with small amounts or doing monthly contributions, use a mutual fund or an ETF that consists of such companies. A couple examples of an ETF could be the Dow Jones Index, S&P500 Index, or NASDAQ100 Index. You could also find a mutual fund such as a US Equity Fund or US Dividend Fund.

In my opinion: I honestly think a well diversified balanced portfolio is a good place for a newbie to start.