Getting Started in the Habit of Investing The two most common barriers for those new to investing are a self-imposed fear of not knowing where to start and also the myth that one must first have a significant amount of money to invest. Traditionally the investment community catered to clients that had significant disposable income to regularly invest, and middlemen such a stock brokers, most of whom made commissions on trades, controlled access to the stock market. Fortunately those days are over. Given the growing popularity of mobile devices, smart phones, and debit card use for routine purchases, apps have been created to reach an untapped pool of potential investors. Review the app Acorns, describe how and why it was created, its target market, and the advantages and disadvantages of adopting it. Will apps like these encourage new and reluctant investors to get into the habit of investing on a regular basis? What are the costs of using such an app versus the traditional route of broker commissions or a fee-based financial advising relationship?