SoFi gives you the option of investing on your own they call this active investing or it will build and manage a personalized investment portfolio based on your goals and preferences. M1 Finance allows you to open an account with no fees and no minimum investments. If you lack the willpower or organization to do that alone, technological help is available via various smartphone and computer applications. Pay off high-interest debts first. A second way to start investing with a small amount of money is to sign up with an online discount broker like ShareBuilder , which operates in partnership with Capital One. Your local bank is most likely paying very low interest rates, or is insisting on large deposits before you can earn any meaningful return.