Let us explain it to you below!
A stock is a small piece of a company that you can own. When you buy a stock, you own part of that business.
For example, if you buy a stock in Apple, you own a tiny piece of Apple.
To grow their money over time as the company grows.
To earn income if the company shares its profits (this is called a dividend). To support companies they believe in.
An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is like a basket filled with different investments, such as stocks or bonds. Instead of buying just one stock, you buy a mix of many investments all at once.
They spread out your money across many investments, which makes them safer than buying just one stock. They’re simple to start with because you don’t need to pick individual companies. They’re affordable—many ETFs cost less than $100 per share, and you can even buy small portions of them.
Lets make this simple and break it down step by step
Think about why you want to invest.Do you want to grow your money over the next 5–10 years?
→ Start with an ETF (it’s safer and easy for beginners).Do you want to support or own a part of a specific company?
→ Buy a stock in that company.
A brokerage is a website or app where you buy and sell stocks and ETFs.
(We’ll explain how to choose one below!)
You don’t need a lot of money to begin. Many platforms let you invest with as little as $1.
Start small you don't need to be rich to invest please start small.
Don’t try to invest in too many things at once. Start with:
One ETF: Like one that tracks the S&P 500 (a group of 500 big companies).
One Stock: A company you know and trust, like Apple or McDonald’s.
A brokerage is an app or website that helps you invest in stocks and ETFs. It’s like your gateway to the stock market.
What do you need in a Brokerage and which one should you pick?
Is the app simple to understand?
Look for platforms that don’t charge fees to buy or sell.
Choose one that lets you start with small amounts (fractional shares).
Can you get help if you have questions?
Cut non-essentials like unused subscriptions or dining out.
Include all your bills, groceries, debt,
and subscriptions.
Cut non-essentials like unused subscriptions or dining out.
Let’s take a quick look below on what you will need to open and add money into your new account!
You don't need to be rich to start investing in most accounts we recommended you need as little as 5 to 10 dollars to get started.
Investing isn't a scam — but it does come with risk.Like anything in life, there's no reward without some risk. But smart investing means doing your homework, using legit platforms, and focusing on long-term growth. Scams happen when people promise guaranteed returns or “get rich quick” schemes. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Start with what you know — and use beginner-friendly apps.
You can start with index funds or ETFs, which are like baskets of stocks. They spread your risk and grow with the market. Many apps guide you through the process step-by-step. The best part? You can automate everything and let your money work for you in the background.