401k is the way to go. you can invest in a taxable account with your $12K, but you would need to be very cautious and diversify (not all your money in one stock). If you sell the stock you inherited, there will be tax owed on the profit, hopefully you now the basis at which you inherited the stock (date of death or 6 months after the date of death or other)

To Stevie. Thanks for your kind words, if you could email me at Tylerstaples@yahoo I would appreciate it. I have a couple of questions

First and foremost be aware that the answers you get to your question will mostly be worthless.

I would primarily invest through the 401k. Most employers match a certain percentage of your contribution and any gains are tax free (until you start making withdrawals). The matching contribution represents a 100% return, something that could take a long time investing in stock.

The 401 may not allow you to invest in individual stocks, but you can invest in the market.

Finally, if your initial contribution to the 401 is 3% you will barely notice the difference in your take home pay. This is because your taxable income is reduced by the amount going into the 401. The amount of the reduced taxes will be about the same as the amount contributed.

Alright, I'm looking for some great advice. Thanks in advance.

..So I landed my dream job at a casino, I'm 21, and am staying with family for the time being with my own vehicle. The money is pretty good for the work that I do & my expenses are rather low from month to month. I actually also just inherited a common stock which is in my name now and is worth just over 12,000$. I'm still in the process of doing my homework on the stock market. But I guess I was wondering if there a certain route that's more appropriate for a young gun such as myself. I believe the company I work for offers a 401k? Anything I should be aware of or any ideas, questions, or answers are greatly appreciated!