<prompt> Human: Hello PF. Youve helped me out before; lets see what happens this time. So heres the background to my situation. Ive had a Roth IRA account through Scottrade for about 4 years now. Im 22, and have just started my first big job this summer. Therefore I havent been able to max out my contributions each year and instead have only added about 150 each year. Going to school for Chemical Engineering full time and working 20 hrs a week while supporting myself and paying for all of my schooling alone didnt really allow much more of a contribution. But thats beside the point. I plan on contributing the max amount before I file my taxes next spring, and each year after that. My Roth IRA currently has a balance of 900. I have 4 positions: 10 shares of Ford, 2 shares of Nextera Energy, 1 share of First Solar, and 21 shares of J.C. Penney Company. I plan on selling my J.C. Penney shares as soon as I do a little better than breaking even since the time I bought them since keeping JCP seems too risky for me. Whenif that happens my IRA will be hopefully closer to 1000.Heres my question: Knowing what Ive already told you, what do you think would be the smartest move for me to make with my IRA that will help it grow at a faster rate than it has in the past few years? I understand that in the stock market there are no guarantees, and that it is not a get rich quick game in the case of an IRA. But unfortunately I dont have something set up with an adviser that takes care of the money I contribute, and I have to make my own trade decisions. If anyone at all has been in a similar situation as mine and felt as lost as I do, please tell me what you did to better yourself, or what you wish you wouldve done instead. Thanks so much for any feedback!  <response>: Stop trying to pick individual stocks and go with index funds. Check out the three-fund portfolio 