Investing offers a great way to directly benefit from America's economy. But getting started in investing can be intimidating. There are thousands of stocks to choose from and all sorts of information (both good and bad) pulling you in multiple directions. It's a situation ripe for developing analysis paralysis.

A potential cure for this paralysis offers a simple way to invest and a great way to get started for those without experience. All you need is a willingness to take action and the patience and fortitude to endure the inevitable volatility of owning stocks.

The solution is buying shares in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) like the Vanguard S&P 500 Index Fund ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). Below, I'll explain what's so great about this particular ETF and why it should be among the first stocks you look at as you build your portfolio.

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Source Fool.com