Do you invest online?

United States
July 16, 2007 4:06pm CST
I was wondering if anyone invests in the stock market, online? How does one go about doing it, minimums, sites, ect. I'm really interested in starting to invest within the next 6 months or so and am trying to research it but would love to hear how other people have done it and what's worked for them. Thanks!
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5 responses
@alerty (117)
• Brazil
16 Jul 07
* Technical analysis of the financial markets John J. Murphy --- this book pretty much covers everything about technical analysis * Elliot waves - A comprehensive course on the wave principle --- Just about elliot waves * Axiomas de Zurique --- I don't know the name in english :) , but its almost like that i think. The 2 first books you don't need to read at the beginning, but the third book you should read, and its easy. We operate mostly stocks and options. i Wouldn't recommend options first.
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• United States
16 Jul 07
I will make a note of those, thanks! I don't know the 1st thing about investing, what's the difference between a stock and an option?
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• United States
16 Jul 07
That's pretty interesting, thanks for answering my question!
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@alerty (117)
• Brazil
16 Jul 07
Stock is the stock :). When you buy an option of a company, you buy the right to buy that company stock at a certain price until a certain date. The thing is that option prices go up and down very fast, you can double your money in 1 day or lose like 50% of it.
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@bsteeves (34)
• United States
17 Jul 07
I use a TDAmeritrade account, commissions are kind of high at $9.99 but customer service is excellant and they have great software that you can use to make stock picks. If you need help looking for stocks to invest in check out: http://www.technicalstockcharts.blogspot.com
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• United States
18 Jul 07
Thanks! I've heard of them on tv. Customer service is really important to me when I'm handing over my money so that's a great tip.
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• United States
16 Jul 07
I use the site sharebuilder.com There are no account minimums. Also when you have money in you account but it is not tied up in shares of stock you earn a return onit. The only downside I have found is that there are several stocks not available through sharebuilder. The commissions are modest, 4 dollars for a transaction made in advance and executed on a Tuesday, 16 to buy or sell instantaneously. It is the best site that I have found to learn to invest on. If you are a seasoned veteran you may want to try your luck with an e-trade but that requires an account minimum, usually 2500 dollars.
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• United States
16 Jul 07
Thanks, that's really helpfull! I'll check it out. Any tips for the site?
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• United States
26 Jul 07
I use TD Ameritrade and Schwab. I have used E*Trade in the past. They all work fine. TD Ameritrade seems to be a reasonable service although they seldom give correct answers to questions. Fortunately, I do not ask them many questions but it would be nice if they conducted better internal training.
@alerty (117)
• Brazil
16 Jul 07
Hi, i invest in the stock market together with my dad , i donĀ“t think i can help you much with links since i from Brazil, but i can indicate some books if you want and clear some doubts you might have.
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• United States
16 Jul 07
Thanks for the response, I would love the name of some books on investing. What sorts of things do you invest in? Oh and I think it's great that you do it together with your father, I bet it's great for bonding.
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