The tools youneed to invest (2024)

Investing 101

Our guide to stocks, strategies, and

everything in-between.

Why should I think about investing?Like planting a tomato patch, investing requires time and patience. Often, there are challenges along the way. But with care and consistency, you give yourself the chance to build a rich harvest. So, let’s see that green thumb.
Three things to do before you start investingYour investment plan starts with a few key questions: Where are you now? And where do you want to be in the future? You can prepare to invest by reflecting on your goals, paying off high-interest debt, and creating an emergency fund.
What can I invest in? An overview of assetsInvesting is the act of purchasing an asset in the hope that it will deliver some profit, potentially through appreciation, dividends, or interest. Examples of investments include stocks, bonds, ETFs, and real estate.
What is an Investment?An investment is an asset bought by an individual or organization with the expectation that it will generate some future income or profit.
What is a Stock?A stock is a unit of ownership in a company — If you own a stock, you're a shareholder, meaning that you may be eligible to receive dividends if the company succeeds and decides to pay them out. Also, you may have a vote in some company decisions.
What is the Stock Market?The world’s stock markets are complex, but are all based upon one simple concept… Connecting stock buyers with stock sellers to trade under an agreed upon set of rules. This is the key role of every stock market, from New York to Hong Kong.
How can I start budgeting? Learn how to spend, save, and investBefore you can save or invest, you probably have to cover the basics: food, housing, healthcare, transportation, and insurance. If you’re able to, it’s helpful to spend less money than you earn. It’s one of the keys to building wealth.
Picking an investment: How to approach analyzing a stockInvesting is like shopping for a car, but more consequential. You start with your personal needs, style, and objectives. Consider different makes and models, and compare choices based on key metrics. Then, make a decision that works for you.
What’s the purpose of a diversified portfolio?A diversified portfolio is kind of like a nutritious diet... The better you spread your investments across different assets, the less likely they are to all experience a loss. Or in other words, your aggregate losses will likely be less severe.
What is a Portfolio?A portfolio is your investment pie. Each asset represents a slice of the pie, whether it be stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), cash, etc. The size of each slice is proportionate to how much you own.
What is a Dividend?A dividend is like a ripe coconut falling from a tree... When a coconut falls from a tree, it’s as if the tree is a company, distributing some of its fruit back to you. As an investor, you have a choice of keeping the coconut or planting it.
What is an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)? An ETF is like an investment smoothie… Similar to a smoothie, it’s one thing you can invest in that’s made up of a mix of ingredients, available in different asset flavors (i.e., industries, sectors, etc.).
What is Market Capitalization?Calculating the value of oranges by multiplying the number of oranges by the cost per fruit is like calculating the market capitalization of a company… It’s the value of all of the shares people own.
How much should I save for retirement?Saving for retirement is like preparing for a long vacation. While you can’t pinpoint the exact cost of the entire trip, you’ll need to save enough so you hopefully don’t run out of money along the way.
How to start investing for as little as 1 dollarInvesting in the stock market doesn’t mean you need to have thousands, or even hundreds of dollars to get started. Even if you have just one extra dollar, fractional shares (which are offered on Robinhood) can help you build your portfolio.
What are Bull and Bear Markets?Bull and bear markets are like the emojis of investing… They’re simplified labels to describe market movements up or down over time. You’ll notice the words’ meanings have expanded to capture the general sentiment of stocks, markets, or industries.

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Content is provided for informational purposes only, does not constitute tax or investment advice, and is not a recommendation for any security or trading strategy. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all customers. Customers must read and understand the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before engaging in any options trading strategies. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.

The tools youneed to invest (2024)

FAQs

What are 5 questions you should ask when investing? ›

5 questions to ask before you invest
  • Am I comfortable with the level of risk? Can I afford to lose my money? ...
  • Do I understand the investment and could I get my money out easily? ...
  • Are my investments regulated? ...
  • Am I protected if the investment provider or my adviser goes out of business? ...
  • Should I get financial advice?

What are the keys to successful investing? ›

Learn more about these 6 keys to better investing:

Invest for the long term. Take your risk tolerance level into account. Benefit from diversification and strategic asset allocation. Review and rebalance your portfolio regularly.

What is the most important thing you can invest in? ›

Stocks generally offer a larger potential return on your investment than lower-risk investments like government bonds, but also may expose your money to higher levels of volatility. Best for: Investors with a well-diversified portfolio who are willing to take on a little more risk.

What are the 5 steps they suggest to start investing? ›

The following five steps should help you identify your needs, decide the most suitable asset allocation, and lead you toward your financial goals step by step.
  • Assess your risk tolerance: selected.
  • Diversify your investment.
  • Do asset allocation.
  • Assess investment performance.
  • Rebalance your portfolio.

What is the 4 rule in investing? ›

The 4% rule limits annual withdrawals from your retirement accounts to 4% of the total balance in your first year of retirement. That means if you retire with $1 million saved, you'd take out $40,000. According to the rule, this amount is safe enough that you won't risk running out of money during a 30-year retirement.

What are the 5 investment guidelines? ›

  • Up Next Principle 1: Get started. 1:08.
  • Up Next Principle 2: Invest regularly. 1:09.
  • Up Next Principle 3: Invest enough. 1:30.
  • Up Next Principle 4: Have a plan. 1:20.
  • Up Next Principle 5: Diversify. 1:28.

What are the 5 golden rules of investing? ›

The golden rules of investing
  • If you can't afford to invest yet, don't. It's true that starting to invest early can give your investments more time to grow over the long term. ...
  • Set your investment expectations. ...
  • Understand your investment. ...
  • Diversify. ...
  • Take a long-term view. ...
  • Keep on top of your investments.

What are the 3 A's of investing? ›

Remember the 3 A's for retirement saving: amount, account, and asset mix.

What are the four key principles of investment? ›

  • Goals. Create clear, appropriate investment goals. An investment goal is essentially any plan investors have for their money. ...
  • Balance. Keep a balanced and diversified mix of investments. ...
  • Cost. Minimize costs. ...
  • Discipline. Maintain perspective and long-term discipline.

How to invest wisely? ›

First, open an investment account based on whether you are investing for retirement, education, a kid or another goal. Select investments—such as stocks, bonds, funds or real estate—that match your risk tolerance. Minimize your exposure to risk by spreading your money across a range of asset classes.

What to look at when investing? ›

10 Key Things to Look For When Analyzing Stock Market Performance
  • Earnings. ...
  • Earnings per share. ...
  • Price to earnings ratio. ...
  • Price to earnings growth ratio. ...
  • Book value. ...
  • Free cash flow. ...
  • Return on equity. ...
  • Return on assets.

How to learn how to invest? ›

How to start investing
  1. Decide your investment goals. ...
  2. Select investment vehicle(s) ...
  3. Calculate how much money you want to invest. ...
  4. Measure your risk tolerance. ...
  5. Consider what kind of investor you want to be. ...
  6. Build your portfolio. ...
  7. Monitor and rebalance your portfolio over time.

How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month? ›

A stock portfolio focused on dividends can generate $1,000 per month or more in perpetual passive income, Mircea Iosif wrote on Medium. “For example, at a 4% dividend yield, you would need a portfolio worth $300,000.

What is the best money investment right now? ›

What to invest in right now
  1. Stocks. Almost everyone should own stocks or stock-based investments like exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds (more on those in a bit). ...
  2. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) ...
  3. Mutual funds. ...
  4. Bonds. ...
  5. High-yield savings accounts. ...
  6. Certificates of deposit (CDs) ...
  7. Real estate. ...
  8. Cryptocurrencies.

How to be successful in investing? ›

Most successful investors start with low-risk diversified portfolios and gradually learn by doing. As investors gain greater knowledge over time, they become better suited to taking a more active stance in their portfolios.

What are 7 questions to ask before you buy a stock? ›

Questions to answer before investing in a stock
  • What does the company do? ...
  • Is the company profitable? ...
  • What are its EPS and P/E? ...
  • Who are its competitors? ...
  • How does the company differentiate itself? ...
  • What are its plans for the future? ...
  • Does it give back to investors? ...
  • Are other investors bullish?
Feb 24, 2023

What is the best advice for investing? ›

Tips for Smart Investing
  • Don't Delay Current Section,
  • Asset Allocation.
  • Diversify Your Portfolio.
  • Rebalance Periodically.
  • Keep an Eye on Fees.
  • Consider Tax-Loss Harvesting.
  • Simplify Your Investing.
  • Key Takeaways.

What type of questions do investors ask? ›

Industry Analysis:
  • How does your company fit into the industry?
  • How did you calculate the size of your market and its growth rate?
  • What are the major obstacles to your success?
  • What are the barriers to entry?
  • What is the profile of your end user?
  • What advantages do your competitors have?

What are the five basic investment considerations? ›

Five basic investment concepts that you should know
  • Risk and return. Return and risk always go together. ...
  • Risk diversification. Any investment involves risk. ...
  • Dollar-cost averaging. This is a long-term strategy. ...
  • Compound Interest. ...
  • Inflation.

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