| It's amazing to think about the opportunities available | | | | online stock trading from the inside. There is so much |
| to new traders today compared to just ten years | | | | information available and many choices you can use |
| ago. Right now, anyone can open a trading account | | | | to sort out and customize that information so that it |
| and have access to U.S. trading markets and possibly | | | | suits your needs. You are really sitting in the seat of |
| even foreign markets right from their computer. And | | | | the stock broker of a decade ago and probably have |
| you can conduct your own trading in whatever style | | | | more access to streaming information and tracking |
| is comfortable for you. You can start slowly, buying | | | | information. |
| small lots of stocks. You can have several holdings of | | | | The huge benefit to individual traders is that buying |
| stocks at once, or just follow one. | | | | and selling stocks has changed from an investment |
| Not long ago, trading stocks was very different and | | | | opportunity to a trading opportunity. Investments |
| required a much more substantial financial | | | | have a long term time horizon. Stocks are traded |
| commitment to get started. You had to use a | | | | with the intent of riding it out for a period of weeks, |
| broker, so even placing a single trade would cost you | | | | months or years. The goals are to earn a nice return |
| $30 or more. And you wouldn't likely call your very | | | | overall for the year, say 10% or higher. Trading is |
| experienced broker and tell him you wanted to buy 5 | | | | very different. The time horizon can be long term, |
| shares of a $20 stock. That would be embarrassing. | | | | but it can also be as short as a minute. The goal is to |
| But we are lucky. With the online stock brokers that | | | | earn a profit over that short term. So earning 15% |
| are available to us, anyone can open an account, put | | | | for that day or that week, then added up over the |
| some funds in it and get started ourselves, our way. | | | | course of a year can turn into a meaningful profit. |
| You can do your own research online or through | | | | So is it time to get started online trading? That is up |
| other media outlets, pick your own stocks and place | | | | to you, but one of the first steps is to choose your |
| your own trades. You can track the performance of | | | | online broker and find one that is geared toward |
| that stock over time and see how it moves - with | | | | serving new traders with low commissions and fees, |
| the market, based on company news, or whatever | | | | good customer service and good educational |
| drives it. | | | | materials. |
| This is a great opportunity for any individual to learn | | | | |