What to do if you have $2,500

Source: Act One BY EMILY MEEHAN

Advice from several financial planners

Set up an IRA (Roth or traditional)

-- T. Rowe Price Retirement 2045 Fund or
-- Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund

Put something aside for rainy days

An emergency reserve
-- Keep $1,000 in a CD that matures in 6 months,
-- $1,000 in another CD that matures in 12 months, and
-- put $500 in a savings account

ETFs, ETFs, ETFs

The goal: 10%-type returns with lower volatility than the stock market.

For stocks:
-- 30% Vanguard Total Market and
-- 30% State Street Developed and Emerging Market.

For bonds:
-- 20% iShares 3-7 year Treasury.

For commodities and real estate:
-- 10% PowerShares DB G10 Currency Harvest Fund and
-- 10% State Street International REIT

Be somewhat aggressive

-- Vanguard Star Fund ??

Take the bond route

-- $2,000 on T. Rowe Price Spectrum Income Fund
-- put the other $500 in a money market fund