Before you spend $0.01 on any investment, you must know what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and how to do it. Before you invest in any security, the first investment you should make is in yourself, and the best investment you can make is by educating yourself.
Begin your education by learning why you should invest and the importance of being able to make your own decisions or how the pro’s make theirs. Start your education by reading “Investing for Dummies” by Eric Tyson.
To continue your education select some of the following
Beating the Street by Peter Lynch
Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered, by Gallea
From Riches to Rags, by I.C. Freeley
How to Make Money in Stocks” by William O’Neil
24 Essential Lessons for Investment Success by William O’Neil
The Intelligent Investor, by Benjamin Graham
Common Stocks, Uncommon Profits, by Philip A. Fisher
One Up on Wall Street by Peter Lynch
Stocks for the Long Run, by Jeremy Siegel
The Interpretation of Financial Statements by Benjamin Graham
The Lazy Person's Guide to Investing by Paul B. Farrell
Uncover the Secret Hiding Places of Stock Market Profits by Joel Greenblatt.
What Works on Wall Street by James O'Shaunessey
You Can Be a Stock Market Genius by Joel Greenblatt
Your Money and Your Brain by Jason Zweig
Websites that can provide instructions and help with procedures and terminology are Investopedia - http://www.investopedia.com/ http://www.investorshub.com/ and 1 Source for Stocks - http://www.1source4stocks.com/info/stock... or Smart Money
http://www.smartmoney.com/
Visit some of the more professional websites like Zacks Research - http://www.zacks.com/ Schaeffer’s http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/ Investors Business Daily - http://www.investors.com/default.htm?fro...
Some of these web sites will have advertisers who are worth looking into also. And remember, if they offer free information, get it.
And when you think you want to invest/trade, try some paper trading to test your skills without spending you money http://simulatorinvestopedia.com/ http://www.moneyworks4me.com/
and/or http://www.tradingsimulation.com/
After you feel comfortable with what you're tryng to do, visit the Web sites of some of the more popular brokerage firms. So if you feel comfortable with what you see on line and look at the cost and/or charges. When you are ready to go, just open an account on line with the firm. Please remember, the cheapest is not always the best. Even though you’re opening an account on line. you can always call the firm's "customer service" area for help
You at least have made the right decision to start investing, this is the first big step and it won’t be your last. Keep taking those steps forward and along the way never take the advice from people that are not in the market or try to tell you not to invest.
Good luck on your journey, study hard and you’ll invest well.
To become a successful investor you need to become smart always try to think beyond the limits. People who have big dreams they always get success in their life. You need to be aware with the latest market up and downs that will increase your chances to get maximum returns on your investment. This is the only basic suggestion which is missing among all these answers.