No! It is not too late.
1) Start now. Invest "so-much each month". That will give you dollar averaging and smooth out the peaks and valleys.
2) Continue to invest even after you have retired in 40 years or so
3) Stick with high quality (Blue Chip) investments, weather they are stocks, bonds or mutual funds. They're safer.
4) You get instant diversification with mutual funds.
General rule--never too Early to start, a few bucks now compounded over working a few decades will make you a millionaire (so the smart money says.) Contrarian view--financial markets are headed for a crash sometime in the next few years, keep most all safe in a federally insured savings account.
Both: keep 6 months living expenses or more as safe savings emergency fund against when the satanic forces of destruction converge upon unfortunates in this crazy environment.
No, now is a good time to start an investment program. Just remember the money invested is subject to loss of principle. You have 40 or more years to invest and hopefully build up a good retirement nest egg.
You are 23 and you feel as if it is too late, Boy!!!! I am within serious trouble anyway get yourself a Roth IRA from vanguard and well you are there, get yourself a vanguard total stock market index fund
First thing within the morning, get yourself a 401k through your employer. Never leave free money on the table.
Best of luck. Take Care and stay cheap
23? How much time do you have left? 50 years?
Better buy a cane, wheel chair and burial plot instead. Don't wait til the last minute.
In stocks, bonds, etc.
