Strategy
Understand investing and why it is important. Not learning about and handling investments is a good way to end up poor. Businesses no longer have simple pension plans. The US government and Social security are not solvent. People outlive employment by decades.
Understand taxation, especially in retirement. It is a critical element of investing.
Think of returns in inflation adjusted percents (average 2.5%, total 85%, over the last 25 years). The "wonder" of compound interest does not apply to investments that don't keep up with inflation. CDs, bonds, money market, will not grow much faster than inflation. DODIX (excellent bond fund) over 25 years, up 70%, inflation adjusted, up 12%. S&P500 over 25 years, up 696%, inflation adjusted up 430%. If you need a million dollars to retire today, plan on 1.85 million in 25 years. That's assuming a stable inflation rate.
You should initiate any investment. Letting others push your investment is ripe for them making a profit, not you. Listen to advice, evaluate it with outside sources, decide whether to use it.
Note the difference between investing and gambling - owning a share of a business (common stock) versus derivatives, futures, options, crypto coin, market timing, day trading.
Remember - investing is to earn money over decades in return for ups and downs over months.
You will make mistakes. Learn from them. Do not repeat them.
It is often suggested that you hold on to debt in favor of investing because the investing growth is more than debt interest. But - growth rates on investments are maybes. The debt interest is guaranteed and failing to keep up with the payments makes a mess.
Tactics
Bonds suppress the volatility of stock prices in your portfolio, but long term they will suppress the growth.
Dividend paying businesses, with roughly a 50% payout ratio (that's half of profits go to investors, half to growth or stock buy backs), suppress stock price volatility and add confidence to the efficacy of a business.
Do not use traditional mutual fund in taxable accounts. Well established indexed ETFs are far more tax efficient and much less likely need to be sold due to under-performance.
I prefer well established ETFs to mutual funds in tax advantaged accounts, although there is no tax advantage. ETFs have lower fees and are easier and quicker to buy, sell, and trade. But if you find a mutual fund that you like, no problem. Look for low fees, a good manager replacement strategy, a low price earnings ratio, and a stock picking strategy that you like.
After retirement, if you need money from a taxable account, turn off any automatic reinvestment. Every buy or sell is a potential taxable event. Take the money from distributions and reinvest what you don't use.
While your income is low, especially while you are young, contribute to Roth IRAs/401ks/... in preference to traditional IRAs/401ks/... A traditional IRA contribution makes a nice tax break, but you will likely end up with a much higher tax bill when it's time to use the money.
Move traditional IRA assets to Roth IRA at the beginning of the year, not the end. If you wait until the end of the year, you have missed out on a year of tax free growth. Of course you might catch a nice dip for conversion sometime during the year, but that's market timing.
More
Check back in occasionally if you like this, I will probably think of more to add. Suggestions are welcome.
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