Some investors buy stocks to create a growing passive income stream, or a dividend growth strategy. The idea is simple and works, and many real-life stories exist of people building wealth from equities.
Stocks are not risk-free. Most people are familiar with low-risk savings accounts and Certificates of Deposit that are, in many cases, insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Start buying stocks by picking a brokerage firm. In the past, an investor had to deal with a broker who placed a buy or sell order. Today, orders are placed directly by the investor online.
Start researching a stock by reading about it in one of the many investing books available to the public regarding learning how to research and select stocks.