Some people view investing in the stock market as a chore. Others see it as a fun hobby, and there are those who are practically obsessed with it. Most of us view investing as a necessity for building wealth on the road to retirement.

But regardless of where you end up in that spectrum, the first steps are often the hardest, and many people just don't know where to begin. They find it too daunting, too complex, or too risky. Those folks should know that investing really isn't rocket science (although if you know a lot about rocket science, there are certainly some stocks to consider). In fact, you can build a comfortable retirement nest egg if you're willing to save and stick to a simple strategy. Here's how.

The first no-brainer thing you can do is invest in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, like a 401(k), if one is available to you. Employer-sponsored plans are important because they typically offer free money in the form of a company match with most employers offering a 4% to 6% match. That means that if you invest 4% of your annual salary in your 401(k), for example, the company will match that amount. Just keep in mind that not every 401(k) match will be the same, so be sure to understand the different amounts, types, and vesting periods for your plan.

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Source Fool.com