I want to start investing

[drewmitch44]

I want to start buying stocks. Like a few shares here and there not like thousands here and there. Is there a way i can do this or a site that will allow me to do this? I have about $2,000 that id like to buy different stocks of different types and companies. Anyone know how i can do it??

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: I want to start investing

I use Scottrade. $500 to open an account and 7 bucks to trade. Never traded stocks before but found it pretty easy to do on that site. Kinda fun, didnt make me the millionaire I had envisioned though, lol.

 

[lowkee]

Re: I want to start investing

I second Scottrade. Our accounts are there, as well. Once you turn that $2K into 30k you gain access to their Elite platform, which is really nice.

My name is Bernie Madoff, and I approve this ponzi scheme.

 

[jinx]

Re: I want to start investing

I use Etrade and it has served me well. Good luck and it really is a good time to think about this.

Jinx

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: I want to start investing

I second Scottrade. Our accounts are there, as well. Once you turn that $2K into 30k you gain access to their Elite platform, which is really nice.

My name is Bernie Madoff, and I approve this ponzi scheme.

haha are you still taking money in the pen!! LOL

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: I want to start investing

Great bumper sticker....
"I made a killing in the stock market last week.....I shot my broker"

 

[mike64]

Re: I want to start investing

How can you make a small fortune in the stock market these days?

Start with a large fortune!

 

[JeffsAV]

Re: I want to start investing

Before you invest thousands of dollars in the stock market...TALK TO A FINANCIAL ADVISOR! A financial advisor is a professional at making good evaluations of stocks and bonds that are suited to your goals, budget, and outlooks on investing. They get paid on how much you invest. In other words, if you invest through them once, and like the results, you will invest more....repeat business, it's what they want. I am a business owner, I use a financial advisor. I don't want to rebuild my outboard motor, because I don't know enough or have the correct tools, therefore, I go to a boat mechanic. I don't play the stock market on my own, because I don't know enough, or have the right tools to properly evaluate a good company from a bad company. Talk to a professional even if you don't invest through them, at least ask a pro's advice.

 

[PW2]

Re: I want to start investing

Do you plan to "invest" or to just trade stocks?

If you are 'investing" I'd start with a mutual fund and "dollar cost average" You're not likely to get rich quick that way, but you are virtually guaranteed to make a reasonable return over time.

If you just want to trade stocks, E-Trade or Scott-trade are as good as any.

There's money to be made if you can figure out when to get in, and most importantly when to get out. Even AIG is up over 50% in the last few days--hard to imagine why as IMO it is completely worthless, but under the GFT theory, anything is possible.

 

[bowman316]

Re: I want to start investing

Buy Gold, The value may double,
I think we may have runaway inflation soon, and gold will gold it's value.

Right now gold is worth 900 bucks an ounce, if the dollar becomes worth less, the value will be say 1200 for the same gold.

 

[aspeck]

Re: I want to start investing

E-trade, Scottrade, TD Ameritrade ... any of the low cost e-brokers will take your money. Best to get as much research in and be in it for the long haul. Stocks that have dividends with re-investment plans are good bets for limited fund investors. This allows your number of shares to grow consistently without brokerage fees.

With such a small amount to start, you will not be buying enough to diversify (which is important), or to buy large volumes at any one time. In the current market situation you had best be ready of the mind set that you don't care if you loose it all. Because you might. But with that said, there is a LOT of upside potential.

Study, learn, start with solid blue chips. They are all cheap right now ... the question is, do they have potential to return to their highs? Are they in sectors that the economy and the present administration likes?

Good luck, have fun, study hard!

 

[treedancer]

Re: I want to start investing

[FONT=&quot]Here?s a pretty good place to start leaning about investing.

http://www.fool.com/?source=ifltnvpnv0000001
[/FONT]

 

[v1_0]

Re: I want to start investing

E-trade, Scottrade, TD Ameritrade ... any of the low cost e-brokers will take your money. Best to get as much research in and be in it for the long haul. Stocks that have dividends with re-investment plans are good bets for limited fund investors. This allows your number of shares to grow consistently without brokerage fees.

Whatever you do make sure to read the fine print!

I know one of these places will charge you a fee for everything that you do with them, including a yearly "management" fee.
It's not a lot at one time. But it's like being eaten by piranhas, especially for small time investors. For example: at $7 a trade, you will need 2 to make any money (buy, increase in value, then sell), so that's $14 right there. Then there's the management fees. So, as the single stock you could afford for $486 is going up in value and you are getting dividends - that money is getting eaten up by the management fees. One day, when you are feeling rather clever, you may come up with the idea to ask the brokerage to cut you a stock certificate. Since you have the stock certificate, and the dividends now go directly to you - the brokerage is not managing your stocks, and can not charge you maintenance fees!
Ahh, nice try. But the evil geniuses at the brokerage are about 50 steps ahead of you (they do this sort of thing for a living, after all). "KaChing!" shouts the brokerage. That'll be bucks for the stock certificate processing fees, then additional bucks for shipping and handling - the certificate is sent registered mail. Oh, and we charge you the maintenace fee anyway for this year... Muhahaha!

Again, read the fine print. Calculate your break even point - how much you need to make in value/dividends in order to cover the cost of buying, selling, and management in-between. If you think that your stocks will gain that, or more, then go for it.