LESSON 1
Investing basics
Investing involves buying assets for potential long-term income or appreciation. Stocks represent ownership, while bonds are loans. Both can lose value.
Start lesson →Invest with knowledge, not hype
Money moves.
Understand why.
Learn what stocks are, how investing works and how to understand the market. Then test ideas using fictional money before risking your own.
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The markets, explained simply.
LESSON 2
Stock market history
Public share markets have roots in Amsterdam in the early 1600s; the New York Stock Exchange traces its beginnings to the 1792 Buttonwood Agreement.
Start lesson →LESSON 3
Understanding stocks
A share represents partial ownership of a business. Share prices change with expectations, risk, news and supply and demand.
Start lesson →LESSON 4
Investing versus trading
Investing generally focuses on longer horizons. Trading involves shorter-term buying and selling, with more execution, cost and behavioral risks.
Start lesson →LESSON 5
Opening a brokerage account
Compare fees, regulatory status, account protection, order types and margin terms. FINRA BrokerCheck and Investor.gov help verify credentials.
Start lesson →LESSON 6
Analyzing companies
Use annual reports to review revenue, margins, debt, cash flow, competitors, valuation and major risk factors. Start with SEC EDGAR.
Start lesson →Practice without pressure.
Explore a fictional trade, risk budgets and company research questions. No trading account required.
Open Market Lab →Stocks, crypto, investing and AI in 2026.
Learn to research investments, identify red flags, avoid hype and verify facts from the source.
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30 days to investing literacy
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How to Start Investing When You Know Nothing
A practical starting framework: goals, emergency reserves, financial accounts, investment types and research.
Read →Stocks vs. ETFs: What's the Difference?
Understand individual company ownership, fund holdings, fees and diversification.
Read →How to Read Stock Charts Without Guessing
Learn price axes, time frames, volume and what candlesticks can and cannot tell you.
Read →More answers for curious investors
Explore clear guides on stocks, ETFs, dividends, valuation, order types and investment risk.
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