How do I actually place my first trade once my account is funded?

Placing a trade is simple once cash has settled. Search for the fund or stock by its ticker symbol, choose buy, and enter either a number of shares or a dollar amount if your broker supports fractional buying. You'll pick an order type: a market order fills immediately at the current price (fine for broad, liquid ETFs and funds), while a limit order only fills at a price you set or better. For long-term index investing, a market order on a major fund is usually all you need. Review the confirmation screen and submit — the shares appear in your account right away, with settlement completing the next business day. Mutual funds work a bit differently: your order fills once at the day's closing price rather than instantly. Start with one broad index fund and keep it straightforward.