Ready to Invest but Don't Know Where to Start?
You've been meaning to start. I make it simple: answer a few questions, pick a portfolio, you're invested. Starting at $100. Sandy, Utah.
Getting Started Keeps Getting Pushed to Later.
You've been meaning to start investing. But every time you look into it, something gets in the way.
You've Been Meaning to Start for a Year
You opened a brokerage account. Maybe even funded it. But it's still sitting in cash because you don't know what to buy, when to buy it, or how much to risk. So you keep waiting.
Too Much Advice Online
Reddit says one thing. TikTok says another. Your coworker swears by crypto. You've spent hours reading and you're more confused than when you started.
Commission-Based Advice
Some advisers earn money when they recommend certain products. That creates a conflict: the advice might serve their income more than yours. Fee-only means my only revenue is the advisory fee you see on this page. No commissions, no products.
Nobody Explains the Basics
What's a brokerage? What's the difference between a stock and a fund? You want straight answers, not a lecture. Most of the industry assumes you already know this stuff.
Three Model Portfolios
I'll match you to the right one.
Income Portfolio
Dividends and cash flow Good for: investors focused on dividend income rather than growthDividend-paying companies selected for cash flow, not price chasing. This portfolio can still lose value. Dividends are not guaranteed and can be cut or eliminated at any time.
Growth Portfolio
Long-term compounding Good for: getting started with long-term investing. No need to touch it for a few years or more.Companies with durable competitive advantages, selected for long-term ownership. Growth investments carry market risk, and your portfolio's value may decline, including over extended periods.
Speculative Portfolio
Higher risk, higher volatility. Loss of principal possible. Good for: investors comfortable with significant risk and a long time horizonConcentrated positions in a small number of smaller companies. Higher risk than the other two portfolios. This portfolio may experience significant declines and loss of principal. Suitable only for investors with high risk tolerance.
| What you won't pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commissions | $0 |
| Referral Fees | $0 |
| Insurance Sales | $0 |
| Early Termination Penalty | $0 |
Not sure which one? Tell me your goals and I’ll recommend one.
All three portfolios hold individual stocks and cash, held at Interactive Brokers in accounts in your name. I have trading authority to manage your investments. I cannot withdraw funds or transfer money out. Interactive Brokers is a SIPC member. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. No portfolio is guaranteed to achieve its objective. Advisory fees do not include potential brokerage costs, transaction charges, or taxes. See Form ADV Part 2A (opens in new tab) for complete fee details.
How to Start
Three steps. Here's exactly how it works.
Review & questionnaire
No experience needed. I explain everything along the way. I send disclosures up front. You fill out a short form about your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance. No commitment required.
I pick the portfolio
I recommend Income, Growth, or Speculative based on your answers and explain what it means in plain English before you commit.
Sign & fund
Sign online. Fund your Interactive Brokers account. I take it from there. You can log in anytime to see what's happening.
You can stop anytime. No contracts, no exit fees.
About Me
Software engineer turned investment adviser.
Based in Sandy, Utah. I work with clients remotely. No office visits required. My only income is the advisory fee on this page. No commissions, no products. Form ADV 2A (opens in new tab) has the full picture.
Registered Investment Adviser
Verify on IARD (opens in new tab)Read the disclosures: Form ADV 2A (opens in new tab) · ADV 2B (opens in new tab) · Privacy Policy (opens in new tab)
The first time you look at investment options (brokerage accounts, ETFs, order types, tax implications), it's a lot. I started NarStar because investing should be something you can hand off without having to become an expert first. You don't need to know what a P/E ratio is to work with me.
Before this, I built the software that traders use to make decisions. Analytical tools, backtesting systems, the kind of work where you learn to think in data and probabilities. I explain things in plain English because that's how I'd want someone to explain it to me. When you email or call, I'm the one who replies.
NarStar registered in Utah in January 2026. I don’t have years of client results to point to yet. What I do have is my registration, my disclosures, and the fact that your money sits at Interactive Brokers in your name, not mine. Any remaining conflicts of interest are described in my Form ADV Part 2A (opens in new tab).
Want to talk? Send me a message
Also built for: small accounts and young professionals.
Questions
Things new investors ask before getting started.
No. You answer a short questionnaire about your goals and timeline. I explain the options, recommend the right model portfolio, and manage it from there. You don't need to know what to buy or when.
Your money goes into an account at Interactive Brokers, in your name, accessible to you anytime. I have trading authority to buy and sell stocks on your behalf, but I can't withdraw or transfer your funds. IBKR is a SIPC member with $500K standard coverage plus $30M excess SIPC. SIPC covers assets in the event of broker failure, not investment losses.
Fees range from 0.60% to 1.60% per year depending on the portfolio, billed quarterly. On a $5,000 account, that's $7.50–$20 per quarter. No commissions, no signup fees, no exit fees. The fee calculator on the main page shows the exact dollar amount for any balance.
Yes. Investing carries real risk and your account value can go down. That's not a worst case — it's a normal part of markets. I match you to a portfolio based on your goals and how much loss you can handle, but no portfolio is protected from market declines. If you stop, your account stays at Interactive Brokers with no exit fees.
Have Questions? Just Ask.
No sales pitch. Just a conversation.
- I reply within 1–2 business days.
- pavel@narstar.capital
- 801-251-6844