To get started investing in the stock market, here is a clear step-by-step approach:

1. Set Your Investment Goals and Budget

• Define why you want to invest (e.g., retirement, wealth growth, income) and your investment time horizon.
• Determine how much money you can realistically invest after accounting for expenses and debts. Even small amounts like $10 or $20 can be a start, especially with fractional shares available

2. Decide How Hands-On You Want to Be

• Choose whether you want to manage your investments yourself, use a robo-advisor (automated investing service), or hire a human financial advisor. Robo-advisors are low-cost and good for beginners who prefer a hands-off approach

3. Open an Investment Account

• To buy stocks or funds, open an online brokerage account. Popular U.S. brokerages include Charles Schwab, Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, Robinhood, and others. Many have no minimum deposit or allow fractional share purchases, making it easier to start with little money

4. Learn About Investment Options

• Beginners often start with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds for instant diversification and lower risk.
• If choosing individual stocks, consider stable "blue chip" companies, dividend-paying stocks, or defensive stocks that perform well in downturns.
• Avoid high-risk speculative stocks initially

5. Fund Your Account and Make Your First Purchase

• Deposit money into your brokerage account.
• Use the platform to buy stocks, ETFs, or funds according to your plan.
• Many brokerages provide research tools and educational resources to help you pick investments

6. Monitor and Adjust Your Portfolio

• Review your investments periodically.
• Rebalance your portfolio to maintain your desired risk level and investment goals.

Summary

Starting investing involves setting clear goals, choosing how you want to invest (DIY, robo-advisor, or advisor), opening and funding a brokerage account, selecting suitable investments (often ETFs or stable stocks for beginners), and then buying and managing your portfolio over time

. This process can be done with minimal funds and is accessible to beginners with many online tools and platforms available.