Buying Stocks for Beginners: A Guide

Published on: 26 April 2018 Last Updated on: 30 October 2024

Investing your money wisely is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your future. It’s never too early to start investing your money so that it will grow.

Buying stocks for beginners can be scary, but there is plenty of guidance available. This is especially true if you are looking to buy US stocks outside of the United States, in which case you´ll need the help of a broker to access those markets.

If you are new to the world of stocks and investing, you will undoubtedly have lots of questions and will need to take the time to learn some basic concepts.

Buying Stocks for Beginners: A Guide

Check out this guide to buying stocks for beginners.

Why Invest?

Investing is a way to make your money work for you. Rather than sitting idly in the bank, investing your money in stocks is one way to help achieve your financial goals.

Though the stock market may have its ups and downs, it has historically averaged a 9% return on investments.

How Much Should You Invest?

How much to invest depends on your goals. This is something to discuss with your financial advisor or brokerage firm, but a good rule of thumb is to contribute about 10% of your income to your investment portfolio.

Basic Types of Investments:

There are many options to invest in, but the basic types of investments include Stocks, Bonds, Cash, Mutual Funds and ETFs.

We recommend you consult with a reputable financial advisor for suggestions on how best to distribute your funds.

How you choose to invest will boil down to how conservative or aggressive you feel most comfortable regarding your finances.

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Investing Actively or Passively:

Active investing means selecting investments that are actively managed by professionals, with a goal of beating the market and achieving greater returns. Whereas passive investing is to simply try to match the market’s performance.

The choice of whether to invest actively or passively essentially boils down to how much time you want to spend studying the market. Active investing typically requires a potential investor to do extensive research into individual stocks.

Choosing the Right Stocks to Invest In:

For a beginner, it might be wise to consider certain types of stocks that are good long-term investments. It’s important to take your time, learn the basics, and to research into the ways stocks are valued.

Another thing to educate yourself on is the difference between investing and speculating. While investing is typically designed for sustained returns over the long haul, speculating is a dangerous way of chasing fast money.

Getting Started:

Once you understand the basics of buying stocks, you’ll want to open a brokerage account. Shop around and study the various brokerages to learn about their services and fees.

As a beginner, you will want to find a brokerage with features to guide you through the stock selection process.

Buying stocks for beginners can be an exciting process, and watching the return on investment as your money begins to grow can be a source of great satisfaction.

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How to Start Your Career as a Financial Advisor?

Over the next 30 years, the baby boomers are expected to transfer approximately 30 trillion dollars of wealth to the millennial. Financial advisors are at an all-time advantageous position because they will help manage that money. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 27% job growth for advisors between 2012 and 2022. The average job is suggested to be about $99,920. However, this career is not an easy one. While there are a lot of career openings for finance sector,It is constantly changing. If you are interested in the profession, here are a few tips on the educational requirements, salary packages and the certification that will help you understand what you will need to be a successful financial advisor or start a financial planning career. Who is a financial advisor? Just as the name suggests, financial advisors provide advice to clients on how they can handle their money better. Financial advisors tell their customers where to channel their money, so they get higher returns and grow monetarily. These channels may include insurance options, retirement plans, and other investment strategies. These professionals, therefore, need to have an excellent understanding of how the stock markets, the banking and insurance sectors are performing. There are two options if you’re thinking about how to become a financial advisor. You can either choose to work with a company, or you can go private. Either way, you need a bachelor’s degree and relevant certification. Educational requirements for a financial advisor online The first step to getting into any career is to get an appropriate bachelor’s degree. The financial advisor career requires you to a degree in business administration and other specialized fields like accounting or financial management. The business administration course will cover topics like marketing, accounting, operations management, and finance. The financial management course will focus on financial planning, investments and risk management. While you are studying, make sure that you take advantage of the support resources offered by most universities. Resources such as resume writing guidance for professional CV writing service, job assistance, getting interview leads and writing cover letters will be beneficial when you are building your career. You may also want to develop your marketing skills as you study since you will be tasked with the responsibility to connect with clients through marketing your advisory services in networking avenues, workshops and seminars. It is critical for you to start learning the different marketing strategies early. They will be helpful when you are looking for clients to represent. Depending on the country and the state you reside, you will be needed to get licenses and certifications. The license you get will depend on the types of assets you want to handle. If you're going to sell securities like corporate bonds, you need a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority licensing exam. For the entry levels, the experience is not necessary, however, as you grow in the industry, you will need to get more certifications. The more certificates you have, the more likely you are to succeed in the private sector. You will have to take the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam that will require you to complete 30 units of continuing education and summation of your annual dues. These classes improve your professional conduct. To color your CV even further, take an advanced degree such as a Master’s. It will help you move up in your managerial positions and even land better-paying customers. Time and costs involved in the financial planning career This career requires rigorous studying. To pass most of the industry’s exams, you have to dedicate up to 270- hours of study time including the series seven that gives stockbrokers a license to trade and 66 to qualify you as an investment advisor and security agents. You also have to dedicate your time to training programs which will be invaluable for embarking into the career as a private representative. Being a certified financial planner is not a requirement for financial advisors although the CPF test is done after a person enters the business. Becoming a financial advisor is not cheap. The series 7 exam costs $305, and the 66 costs $155. The training may be offered by the company that you work for after getting your first degree. CFP costs are $594. The materials needed and the classes can be well over $400. The monetary costs are nothing compared to the time you have to dedicate to be a competent professional. The costs of commitment and time will help you build a healthy practice. The rewards of becoming a financial advisor The salary of financial advisors varies depending on their education and experience level. Advisors that do not have more than 10 years experience get a salary of about $25000 per year. The salary increases over time because you get a salary, bonuses, and commissions. After ten years these professionals get about $95000 per year. According to statistics, the highest paid financial advisors in 2013 reached $180000. There is also the personal satisfaction you get when you help change people’s lives. No two days at work are the same. You have endless opportunities to grow and expand. You will meet interesting people who will also change your life. You also get the chance to maintain a great work-life balance since you have the advantage of built-in scheduling flexibility. You will also work well after your retirement years because the career does not require physical strain. Once you figure out what type of investor you want to be, it gets more comfortable for you to meet clients, excel in your education and growth. Read Also: Major Financial Problems That Can Affect A New Business 5 Of The Highest Paid Remote Jobs Small Business Guide To Private Health Insurance Exchanges

Stocks Versus Real Estate: Which Is The Better Investing Option?

For a long time, people are confused between various investment options that can help them get better returns. You may also have the same confusion in your mind: the best investment option that can help you achieve your goals. There are two primary kinds of investments; one is stock, and the other is real estate. A matter of fact is which is the better form of investment stocks or real estate, from where you can get better returns from your investments. The best thing that you can do from your end is to compare the two to understand the better possibilities of returns. Stocks Vs Real Estate From Where You Can Gain More- There are several forms of investments but selecting the best among them is the challenge. Stocks or Real Estate which one can prove to be better for you. Let’s explore the two investment options to get a better idea about them. 1. Creation Of Wealth: When you are investing your money in stocks, the chances of getting higher returns are there. The reason behind this fact is you are holding the share of a company. As the company grows, the return on your investment grows simultaneously. Now, when you are investing your money in real estate, then chances are there that you can get a stable return from your investment but not higher returns. The process of wealth creation is slow compared to investments in stocks. 2. Paper Work & Stress: You have to do lots of paperwork if you want to purchase a real estate property. You have to handle midnight phone calls and have to use your references enough to sell or buy a property; the entire process is stressful and cumbersome. Whenever you wish to invest your money in stocks, you can do it easily through various stock trading apps, and you can contact a broker or a financial planner who can guide you to make your investments in the right way. Ensure that you give plans for the best stocks to buy. 3. Stability In Return: When you invest your money in stocks, you must be aware of the market risk and volatility. The stock prices of the company can fall or rise as per their current profitability rate. You have to analyze the market well before you make your investments in the stocks. No such requirement of heavy market analysis is not there in the case of the investment in real estate. You just need to compare the prices of various real estate properties, and you can earn a stable return on your entire life without any stress or tension as the market volatility rate does not impact it. 4. Impact On Debt: If you have debt in the market and invest your money in the stocks, you are putting yourself in a high-risk zone where it is challenging to get over it. You have to plan things in the correct order to get better returns to pay off your debts. The market volatility rate of the stocks is high, so you may not get anything if the company suffers losses. In the case of real estate, you can enjoy a stable return from your investments. It can help you to get better returns to pay off the debts on time. Stable returns ensure better returns from your investments. 5. Cash Flow: Rent from real estate properties can help you get a steady return from your investments, and the cash flow of money remains smooth every month. You have to consider these facts while planning your investments. The returns from the market may become unstable if you face the loss from the company where you have invested your money as stocks. Keep these things in mind while you plan to make your investments. Key Take-Aways: Hence, these are some of the crucial factors that you need to consider while trying to compare stocks and real estate. Remember that both can provide you the better returns from your investments, but the difference lies in the rate at which you get the returns from your investments. You have to think analytically while you are making your investment decisions. Read Also: Why Off-Plan Investment Is Beneficial For Expats Real Estate Syracuse NY Investment: Flipping Houses

Key Advantages Of Investing In A Preschool Franchise: The Comprehensive Guide!

If you’re passionate about working with children in a diverse, energetic environment while securing a solid income, you’ve come to the right place! Preschool franchise opportunities offer investors the best chance at success in this competitive economic landscape. As a franchisee, you’ll be able to gain an established brand name, which will assist you in finding the best training materials you need to thrive. When you decide to invest in this type of business, you’ll gain a loyal following while receiving the tools to reach more supporters and showcase your services to the general public. This blog article will explore the main benefits of investing in preschool franchise establishments. Let’s embark on this journey together. All The Tools Needed To Flourish In This Space Kickstarting a preschool franchise from scratch is no walk in the park! You’ll need to focus on a million moving parts while also trying to ensure that the children are taken care of and that their parents are happy with your service delivery. This is where franchising comes into play! Buying a franchise gives you the tools, training, and mechanisms to flourish and thrive in this industry. Your employees will receive the best training to help them take excellent care of the children, understand primary emergency medical care, and find the best resources to inspire them to provide the best quality services. As an owner, you’ll also gain the best plans and strategies to lead your team and take the establishment to the next level. This is where you’ll be able to acquire specialized tools and information about this dynamic, nuanced industry. The childcare and preschool industries are challenging to navigate! You’ll need excellent tools and plans to understand the environment and industry. Help In Standing Out From Other Preschool Franchises To make it in this cut-throat industry, you’ll need to stand out from the competition in the sector. This is where advertising and marketing come into play. When you run a franchise business, you will need specialized, unique marketing and advertising strategies to help your business grow and develop! Franchisors offer these strategies to their owners. As a franchisee, you’ll acquire perfected digital marketing processes, SEO campaigns, and social media plans to increase engagement and find new clients. Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are excellent platforms to contact your audience members. This is where you’ll gain valuable information about your customers, find out what they like, and how they will make it in this unique field. You’ll also gain the best SEO principles and information to grow your brand online and expand your digital footprint! You’re Not Alone On This Journey! Another very important aspect of investing in this field is that you’re never alone. When you invest in a trademarked business, you can join a thriving community of like-minded individuals working towards the same goal. This means that as an owner, you will form part of a group you can rely on to receive advice and essential tips when operating this type of business. These other franchisees will provide you with expert knowledge and critical factors that you can use to advance your business. This means you’ll learn how to run your franchise effectively while gaining valuable insights into the sector. Another important aspect is that this community will always be there for you. They’re only a phone call away from you should you need help or assistance handling a particular situation. Clients Will Only Support A Brand That They Trust It’s essential to understand that consumers will only support and use businesses and brands they trust and are aware of. This is where you’re going to need to come up with creative ways to promote your business. Luckily, when you invest in a franchise company, you gain an established brand name. This means that the franchisor has taken the time and effort to grow the business and stand out from the competition in your field. This means the business already has a loyal following and supportive consumer, so you can focus on other elements and aspects of your business! It’s Less Of A Financial Risk! Another crucial reason you should invest in this type of franchise is that you’ll be assured that this business will survive and flourish. It’s well-known that most businesses fail within the first few years of opening their doors. Most owners don’t know how to run a business and are unsure about the skills needed to flourish. Regarding trademarked companies, the franchisor has taken the time and energy to set up the business in the market. There are specific processes and strategies in place that will help you thrive and grow your business from strength to strength. This means you can rest assured knowing that your business is in good hands and can sustain the different stages of running a business. The Ability To Enter An Evolving Industry Buying into the franchise education space comes with many advantages and benefits that will propel your finances into the future. The fantastic thing about these establishments is that they’ve been booming in recent years, and more entrepreneurs are deciding to invest in these businesses. What makes this landscape so lucrative is the fact that there's a massive demand for these services. Parents don’t have time to home-school their little ones, which means it’s an essential service being rendered. This is amazing because it means that there will always be a need for preschool services. Let’s Wrap Up! Investing in a franchise business could be your best decision! It allows you to gain an established brand name and following. As a franchisee, you’re also gaining specialized training and education to ensure your leadership skills are current while figuring out what business moves need to be made. You’ll also learn the best marketing and advertising strategies to grow your company and stand out from competitors. If you want to ensure your mark is in the childcare preschool industry, franchising is the way to go! Read Also: Franchise Digital Marketing: 4 Effective Techniques 4 Considerations Before Investing in an Oil Change Franchise Under 100k Are Franchise Crossovers An Effective Way For Mobile Games To Grow Their User Base?

Buying Stocks for Beginners: A Guide