Getting started investing in stocks

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Promotion Exclusive! Tiers apply. Choose an investing account Once you have a preference in mind, you're ready to shop for an investment account. For the hands-on types, this usually means a brokerage account. For those who would like a little help, opening an account through a robo-advisor is a sensible option.

We break down both processes below. An important point: Both brokers and robo-advisors allow you to open an account with very little money. The DIY option: Opening a brokerage account An online brokerage account likely offers your quickest and least expensive path to buying stocks, funds and a variety of other investments. We have a guide to opening a brokerage account if you need a deep dive.

You'll want to evaluate brokers based on factors such as costs, investment selection and investor research and tools. The passive option: Opening a robo-advisor account A robo-advisor offers the benefits of stock investing, but doesn't require its owner to do the legwork required to pick individual investments. Robo-advisor services provide complete investment management : These companies will ask you about your investing goals during the onboarding process and then build you a portfolio designed to achieve those aims.

This may sound expensive, but the management fees here are generally a fraction of the cost of what a human investment manager would charge: Most robo-advisors charge about 0. And yes — you can also get an IRA at a robo-advisor if you wish. One thing to note is that although robo-advisors are relatively inexpensive, read the fine print and choose your provider carefully.

Some providers require a certain percentage of an account to be held in cash. The providers generally pay very low interest on the cash position, which can be a major drag on performance and may create an allocation that is not ideal for the investor. If you choose to open an account at a robo-advisor, you probably needn't read further in this article — the rest is just for those DIY types.

Learn the difference between investing in stocks and funds Going the DIY route? Don't worry. Stock investing doesn't have to be complicated. For most people, stock market investing means choosing among these two investment types: Stock mutual funds or exchange-traded funds. Mutual funds let you purchase small pieces of many different stocks in a single transaction. When you invest in a fund, you also own small pieces of each of those companies. You can put several funds together to build a diversified portfolio.

Note that stock mutual funds are also sometimes called equity mutual funds. Individual stocks. Building a diversified portfolio out of many individual stocks is possible, but it takes a significant investment and research. If you go this route, remember that individual stocks will have ups and downs. If you research a company and choose to invest in it, think about why you picked that company in the first place if jitters start to set in on a down day.

The upside of stock mutual funds is that they are inherently diversified, which lessens your risk. For the vast majority of investors — particularly those who are investing their retirement savings — a portfolio made up of mostly mutual funds is the clear choice. But mutual funds are unlikely to rise in meteoric fashion as some individual stocks might. The upside of individual stocks is that a wise pick can pay off handsomely, but the odds that any individual stock will make you rich are exceedingly slim.

See our list of the best brokers for ETF investing 4. Set a budget for your stock market investment New investors often have two questions in this step of the process: How much money do I need to start investing in stocks? The amount of money you need to buy an individual stock depends on how expensive the shares are. Share prices can range from just a few dollars to a few thousand dollars.

If you want mutual funds and have a small budget, an exchange-traded fund ETF may be your best bet. How much money should I invest in stocks? Individual stocks are another story. A general rule of thumb is to keep these to a small portion of your investment portfolio.

Focus on investing for the long-term Stock market investments have proven to be one of the best ways to grow long-term wealth. If your portfolio is too heavily weighted in one sector or industry, consider buying stocks or funds in a different sector to build more diversification. Finally, pay attention to geographic diversification, too. You can purchase international stock mutual funds to get this exposure. Best stocks for beginners The process of picking stocks can be overwhelming, especially for beginners.

After all, there are thousands of stocks listed on the major U. Stock investing is filled with intricate strategies and approaches, yet some of the most successful investors have done little more than stick with stock market basics. It compares today's top online brokerages across all the metrics that matter most to investors: fees, investment selection, minimum balances to open and investor tools and resources.

Read: Best online brokers for stock investors » Frequently asked questions Is stock investing safe for beginners? Yes, if you approach it responsibly. One of the best is stock mutual funds, which are an easy and low-cost way for beginners to invest in the stock market.

These funds are available within your k , IRA or any taxable brokerage account. Goals can change over time. Just make sure that you define and review them periodically so that you can keep your focus on achieving them. Determine Your Investing Style Some investors want to take an active hand in managing their investments, while others prefer to set it and forget it. Your preference may change, but decide on an approach to get started. If you're confident about your investing knowledge and capability, you could manage your investing and portfolio on your own.

Traditional online brokers, like the two mentioned above, allow you to invest in stocks , bonds , exchange-traded funds ETFs , index funds , and mutual funds. An experienced broker or financial advisor can help you make your investment decisions, monitor your portfolio, and make changes to it. This is a good option for beginners who understand the importance of investing but may want an expert to help them do it.

A robo-advisor is an automated, hands-off option that typically costs less than working with a broker or financial advisor. Once a robo-advisor program has your goals, risk tolerance level, and other details, it automatically invests for you. Choose Your Investment Account Retirement plan at work: You can invest in various stock and bond mutual funds and target-date funds through a retirement plan at work, such as a k , if your employer offers one.

It may also offer the option of investing in the employer's company stock. Once you enroll in a plan, contributions are made automatically at a level you set. Employers may make matching contributions on your behalf. Your contributions are tax deductible and your account balance grows tax deferred.

This is a great way to maximize your investing dollars with little effort. It can also instill in investors the discipline of regular investing. An IRA or taxable account at a brokerage: You can also start investing in stocks by opening an individual retirement account even in addition to having a workplace plan. Or, you can go with a regular, taxable brokerage account. Normally, you'll have lots of options for investing in stocks.

These could include individual stocks, stock mutual funds and exchange traded funds ETFs , stock options. A robo-advisor account: As referenced above, this type of account takes your investment goals and creates a stock portfolio for you. Learn to Diversify and Reduce Risk Diversification is an important investment concept to understand.

You could think of it as financial jargon for not putting all of your eggs in one basket. It can be difficult to diversify when investing in individual stocks if your budget is limited. This results in greater risk. This is where mutual funds and ETFs can help. Both types of funds tend to own a large number of stocks and other investments.

This makes them a more diversified option than a single stock. Minimums to Open an Account Many financial institutions have minimum deposit requirements. It pays to shop around, and not just to find out minimum deposits. Check out our broker reviews see below. Some firms don't require minimum deposits. Others may reduce costs, such as trading fees and account management fees if you have a balance above a certain threshold.

Still others may offer a certain number of commission-free trades for opening an account. All brokers have to make money from their customers in one way or another. In most cases, your broker will charge a commission every time that you trade stocks, whether you buy or sell. Some brokers charge no trade commissions at all, but they make up for it with other fees. Depending on how often you trade, these fees can add up, affect your portfolio's return, and deplete the amount of money you have to invest.

These costs alone can eat into your account balance before your investments even have a chance to earn a positive return. Mutual Fund Loads Mutual funds are professionally managed pools of investor funds that focus their investments in different markets. They have various fees that you should be aware of.

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If you're just beginning your career, an investment goal could be to increase the amount of money in your account. If you're older, you may want to generate income as well as grow and protect your wealth. Your investment goals might include buying a house, funding your retirement, or saving for tuition. Goals can change over time. Just make sure that you define and review them periodically so that you can keep your focus on achieving them.

Determine Your Investing Style Some investors want to take an active hand in managing their investments, while others prefer to set it and forget it. Your preference may change, but decide on an approach to get started. If you're confident about your investing knowledge and capability, you could manage your investing and portfolio on your own. Traditional online brokers, like the two mentioned above, allow you to invest in stocks , bonds , exchange-traded funds ETFs , index funds , and mutual funds.

An experienced broker or financial advisor can help you make your investment decisions, monitor your portfolio, and make changes to it. This is a good option for beginners who understand the importance of investing but may want an expert to help them do it. A robo-advisor is an automated, hands-off option that typically costs less than working with a broker or financial advisor.

Once a robo-advisor program has your goals, risk tolerance level, and other details, it automatically invests for you. Choose Your Investment Account Retirement plan at work: You can invest in various stock and bond mutual funds and target-date funds through a retirement plan at work, such as a k , if your employer offers one. It may also offer the option of investing in the employer's company stock. Once you enroll in a plan, contributions are made automatically at a level you set.

Employers may make matching contributions on your behalf. Your contributions are tax deductible and your account balance grows tax deferred. This is a great way to maximize your investing dollars with little effort. It can also instill in investors the discipline of regular investing. An IRA or taxable account at a brokerage: You can also start investing in stocks by opening an individual retirement account even in addition to having a workplace plan.

Or, you can go with a regular, taxable brokerage account. Normally, you'll have lots of options for investing in stocks. These could include individual stocks, stock mutual funds and exchange traded funds ETFs , stock options. A robo-advisor account: As referenced above, this type of account takes your investment goals and creates a stock portfolio for you.

Learn to Diversify and Reduce Risk Diversification is an important investment concept to understand. You could think of it as financial jargon for not putting all of your eggs in one basket. It can be difficult to diversify when investing in individual stocks if your budget is limited.

This results in greater risk. This is where mutual funds and ETFs can help. Both types of funds tend to own a large number of stocks and other investments. This makes them a more diversified option than a single stock. Minimums to Open an Account Many financial institutions have minimum deposit requirements. It pays to shop around, and not just to find out minimum deposits. Check out our broker reviews see below. Some firms don't require minimum deposits. Others may reduce costs, such as trading fees and account management fees if you have a balance above a certain threshold.

Still others may offer a certain number of commission-free trades for opening an account. All brokers have to make money from their customers in one way or another. In most cases, your broker will charge a commission every time that you trade stocks, whether you buy or sell. Some brokers charge no trade commissions at all, but they make up for it with other fees. Depending on how often you trade, these fees can add up, affect your portfolio's return, and deplete the amount of money you have to invest.

Note that stock mutual funds are also sometimes called equity mutual funds. Individual stocks. Building a diversified portfolio out of many individual stocks is possible, but it takes a significant investment and research. If you go this route, remember that individual stocks will have ups and downs. If you research a company and choose to invest in it, think about why you picked that company in the first place if jitters start to set in on a down day.

The upside of stock mutual funds is that they are inherently diversified, which lessens your risk. For the vast majority of investors — particularly those who are investing their retirement savings — a portfolio made up of mostly mutual funds is the clear choice.

But mutual funds are unlikely to rise in meteoric fashion as some individual stocks might. The upside of individual stocks is that a wise pick can pay off handsomely, but the odds that any individual stock will make you rich are exceedingly slim. See our list of the best brokers for ETF investing 4. Set a budget for your stock market investment New investors often have two questions in this step of the process: How much money do I need to start investing in stocks? The amount of money you need to buy an individual stock depends on how expensive the shares are.

Share prices can range from just a few dollars to a few thousand dollars. If you want mutual funds and have a small budget, an exchange-traded fund ETF may be your best bet. How much money should I invest in stocks? Individual stocks are another story. A general rule of thumb is to keep these to a small portion of your investment portfolio.

Focus on investing for the long-term Stock market investments have proven to be one of the best ways to grow long-term wealth. If your portfolio is too heavily weighted in one sector or industry, consider buying stocks or funds in a different sector to build more diversification. Finally, pay attention to geographic diversification, too. You can purchase international stock mutual funds to get this exposure. Best stocks for beginners The process of picking stocks can be overwhelming, especially for beginners.

After all, there are thousands of stocks listed on the major U. Stock investing is filled with intricate strategies and approaches, yet some of the most successful investors have done little more than stick with stock market basics. It compares today's top online brokerages across all the metrics that matter most to investors: fees, investment selection, minimum balances to open and investor tools and resources. Read: Best online brokers for stock investors » Frequently asked questions Is stock investing safe for beginners?

Yes, if you approach it responsibly. One of the best is stock mutual funds, which are an easy and low-cost way for beginners to invest in the stock market. These funds are available within your k , IRA or any taxable brokerage account.

The other option, as referenced above, is a robo-advisor , which will build and manage a portfolio for you for a small fee. Are stock investing apps safe? Generally, yes, investing apps are safe to use. Even in these instances, your funds are typically still safe, but losing temporary access to your money is still a legitimate concern.

Can I invest small amounts of money in stocks? However, investing small amounts comes with a challenge: diversifying your portfolio. Diversification, by nature, involves spreading your money around. The less money you have, the harder it is to spread. One solution is to invest in stock index funds and ETFs. These often have low investment minimums and ETFs are purchased for a share price that could be lower still , and some brokers, like Fidelity and Charles Schwab, offer index funds with no minimum at all.

And, index funds and ETFs cure the diversification issue because they hold many different stocks within a single fund. The last thing we'll say on this: Investing is a long-term game, so you shouldn't invest money you might need in the short term. That includes a cash cushion for emergencies. Is it really worth it to invest small amounts? Regular investments over time, even small ones, can really add up.

Use our investment calculator to see how compounding returns work in investing. The key to this strategy is making a long-term investment plan and sticking to it, rather than trying to buy and sell for short-term profit. Are stocks a good investment for beginners? Why five years?

That's because it is relatively rare for the stock market to experience a downturn that lasts longer than that. But rather than trading individual stocks, focus on diversified products, such as index funds and ETFs.

Index funds and ETFs do that work for you. What are the best stock market investments? In our view, the best stock market investments are often low-cost mutual funds, like index funds and ETFs. By purchasing these instead of individual stocks, you can buy a big chunk of the stock market in one transaction.