Investing seems like a very simple process: pick a stock (or bond or fund), buy it, make a profit. Sometimes it really does work that way, but not all investments (or investment strategies) are winners.

When you're just getting started, it's a good idea to enlist professional help, in at least a minor advisory role. In fact, you may want to call on more than one professional: a CPA to guide you through tax implications, for example, and a financial planner to help you design a portfolio and create the right asset allocation strategy for you.

Some people will prefer more guidance at the outset, until they become comfortable researching and choosing securities for their own portfolios. Other people may decide to hand their money over to a financial professional, then just get regular reports and occasional dividend checks. If you're reading this, though, you probably want to take your financial future into your own hands. As long as you face this challenge with your eyes open and a wealth of research behind all the securities you invest in, you should be able to build a thriving nest egg.