A sane starting point

What the evidence supports.

The boring consensus

Clear expensive debt, hold an emergency fund, use tax-advantaged accounts, buy broad low-cost funds, contribute regularly, and leave it alone. That is most of the published advice, compressed.

Simplicity is not a compromise here; it is what the data supports.
Write down your plan so that a falling market meets a decision made calmly.

The honest caveat

How much risk suits you depends on your income, obligations, timeline and temperament. This course explains the machinery, and a qualified adviser is the right place for a decision about your circumstances.