Investing in the stock market
Published: December 17th, 2021
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes.
Investing in stocks can seem difficult for someone who is just starting out and isn’t well-versed in the financial markets. But it’s actually a great way to invest your money and can be very profitable with the right strategy. When you buy stocks, you become a part-owner of the company. This means that as the company grows and generates profits, you get paid a small share of those profits.
One of the best things about investing in stocks is that you can start with a relatively small amount of money. You don’t need to be wealthy to get started. You can start today with as little as $5. If you need help getting started, keep reading to learn more.
Choosing a brokerage
Brokerages are companies that help you buy and sell stocks, bonds, etc. They let you invest in the stock market using money transferred to the brokerage from your bank account.
There are different types of brokerages so it is important to do your research before choosing one. Make sure you find one that’s reliable and trustworthy, and easy to use. There are lots of options for buying stocks these days, but some brokerages are better for beginners than others. Check out a few, and see what works for you.
I personally highly recommend Robinhood and M1 Finance. I use both for different reasons, but find them both intuitive and much easier to use than others I’ve tried. If you use the links above to sign up you’ll also get a nice bonus when you make a deposit, which is basically just free money!
What to invest in
Index funds
If you’re interested in investing your money but aren’t sure which companies to choose from, you may want to consider an index fund. This type of investment is very low risk and has low fees so it’s easy to use as a starting point. An index fund is a type of mutual fund that tracks the performance of a particular stock market index, such as the S&P 500, which tracks the performance of 500 large companies. This means that when the stocks in the index go up, the index fund goes up, and vice versa.
Index funds also automatically give you diversification because there are many different companies within it. This means you don’t necessarily need to worry about a single company's stock going down because there are many others within the fund that can offset that drop. It also provides more exposure to many different sectors, so you’re not too exposed to technology or hospitality, for example. It’s typically a safer investment than picking individual stocks.
Picking individual stocks
Picking individual stocks is generally difficult, and most of us are not good at it, as much as we believe otherwise. Many people lose money this way because they don’t have the time or knowledge to properly research each stock before investing.
However, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, and you’re comfortable with taking on more risk, then picking stocks can be a great way to invest your money. You can make a lot this way if you know what you’re doing, but it’s much more difficult than just investing in an index fund or using another type of investment strategy.
My best advice when looking for a company to invest in is to choose companies you are familiar with that make great products. If you are confident in the future of the companies you are investing in, it can alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress and worry, and definitely makes it easier to continue to add to your investment.
Investing in gold and silver
Investing in gold and silver can be a great way to help diversify your portfolio. Gold has been a valuable commodity for as long as humans have been trading. In fact, as early as 700BC coins were used as a form of currency that was made from gold. And because gold is not created from any type of government initiative, it’s relatively stable even in periods of economic instability.
Silver is also a great commodity and has been used as a form of currency for centuries. It is often seen as a more affordable option than gold and has a lot of industrial uses.
Both metals are great options for long-term investors and can be a good hedge against inflation.
It’s important to remember that these aren’t investments you should expect a huge return on quickly. While stocks and shares may provide a quick profit if they rise, gold and silver can take years to show any significant return on investment-so don’t get discouraged! In the long run, though, both of these options are great ways to help diversify your portfolio.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrencies are a very risky investment, and I would not recommend them for beginners. However, if you are familiar with the crypto market and feel comfortable with the risks, then they can be a great way to make a lot of money very quickly.
Some people believe that they are the future of money and that they will eventually replace traditional fiat currency. Others invest in them because they see them as a way to get high returns on their investment, or as a hedge against inflation. Regardless of your reasons, make sure to do lots of research before investing your hard-earned money. There are many scams and deceptions in this area, so be very careful what you put your money into.
So if you’re looking for a good starter strategy, then you should probably just buy an index fund. This type of investment is lower risk and has low fees so it’s easy to use as a starting point if you’re not sure where to start.
But don’t stop there-continue investing, learning, and diversifying your portfolio to minimize the risk and maximize the return on your investments!
Disclosure: I may earn a small commission from some links if you make a purchase, at no cost to you. I'll only recommend things I genuinely like.