Getting started
- What should I learn first? What is a stock?, What is an ETF?, Index funds and Compound interest.
- Lump sum or monthly? See Dollar-cost averaging vs lump sum.
- Which account? In the US, tax-advantaged accounts such as a 401(k) or IRA usually come first.
Picking stocks
- How do I research a company? How to research a company and the Fundamentals checklist.
- How many stocks? How many stocks should you own?.
- How much in each? Position sizing.
Risk
- What if the market crashes? Staying invested through downturns and Maximum drawdown.
- Are leveraged ETFs a shortcut? Read Leveraged ETFs explained and Volatility decay first.
Taxes
Questions
How much money do I need to start investing?
Very little. Many brokers have no minimum and sell fractional shares, so you can start with a few dollars.
Should I pay off debt before investing?
Usually pay off high-interest debt such as credit cards first; a guaranteed 20% saving beats an uncertain market return.
Is now a good time to invest?
Nobody can reliably time the market. For long-term money, time in the market has mattered more than timing.
Should I buy individual stocks or index funds?
Index funds are the simplest core. Add individual stocks if you enjoy the research and will follow them.
When should I sell a stock?
When the reason you bought it no longer holds, when you need the money, or when a position has grown too large.
How are investment gains taxed in the US?
Gains on holdings kept over a year get lower long-term rates; shorter holdings are taxed as ordinary income.
See also
- What is a stock? A plain-English explanation of what a stock is, how owning shares works, how stock prices are set, and how shareholders make money.
- Index funds What index funds are, why low-cost index investing beats most professional fund managers over time, and how to use index funds as a portfolio core.
- Compound interest How compound interest and compound returns work, the formula, the rule of 72, and why starting early matters more than investing large amounts later.
- Building your investing knowledge A learning path for new investors, from basic ideas to reading filings, plus classic books and habits that build real skill over time.
Last updated September 30, 2026. Education only, not investment advice.