How to Invest in Stocks, Mutual Funds & ETFs for Beginners
What you'll learn
- Research and select stocks for a personal investment portfolio.
- Enter market and limit orders to control the price you pay for stocks.
- Understand financial services companies, funds and fund families.
- Make informed choices about how to use dividend payments; cash or reinvestment?
- Understand the benefits and risks of lump sum investing vs dollar cost averaging.
- Read a candlestick chart.
- Enter a trailing stop order to protect your profits.
- Meet The Fearless Girl and The Charging Bull.
Requirements
- Have at least some understanding of the stock market and related terminology.
- Recommend Completion of Level One, Novice Investors Guide to the Stock Market
- Set up an individually-managed brokerage account where you can buy and sell shares of stock.
- Or have a paper trading account where you can practice buying and selling.
Description
Are you ready to take charge of your own investment accounts? Make informed decisions about how to manage your money and let it work for you.
Know what questions to ask and learn basic research skills to understand the companies in which you are considering investing. Feel more confident choosing stocks, mutual funds and ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds).
Understand bulls, bears and corrections and why a correction can be a great time to buy. Protect your investments with diversification, by wisely selecting your own investments or by buying diversified funds.
Know which stocks pay a dividend and the importance of dividend dates, including declaration, ex-dividend and payment dates. Decide whether you will take your dividends in cash or use them to re-invest in shares of the company that pays them.
Use your knowledge to decide not only what to buy, but when to buy. Read a stock chart, look at trends, and decide whether lump sum investing or dollar cost averaging is right for you. Enjoy several case studies with examples of investors who are making the kinds of decisions you will be making.
See the relationships between investment companies, fund managers and brokerage services. Sometimes the names seem the same when the services are not!
Finish this course as a stronger, more knowledgeable investor. Then, after you gain some investing experience, I hope you will join our Novice Options Traders program and safely take your investing to the next level.
Who this course is for:
- Novice investors who are ready to invest.
- Investors wanting to make more informed choices about their stock market purchases.
- Investors who want to speak confidently with a financial advisor.
Instructor
- 4.7 Instructor Rating
- 200 Reviews
- 863 Students
- 6 Courses
I'm Patricia Saylor, a retired educator turned investing teacher and the author of The Novice Investor’s Guide to Stocks, Funds, and Options. I specialize in making stock market investing and safe options trading easy to understand—even for total beginners.
My mission is simple: to help people like you invest with confidence by teaching the fundamentals clearly, patiently, and without hype. If you’ve ever read an article or watched a video about investing and felt overwhelmed or confused, you’re exactly who I create content for.
I'm the founder of Saylor Financial Fundamentals and Head of School at Solterra Way Cottage School, where I provide educational assessments, academic support (and swimming lessons!) to private students.
After retiring from a 30-year career in public education and administration, I grew both of my small businesses from side hustles into main gigs.
I have an MA in Linguistics from Gallaudet University and a BA in Spanish and Education from UNC-Chapel Hill. I'm conversant in Spanish and fluent in American Sign Language.
Unlike most financial educators, I was a teacher before I became an investor. I built a second career writing books, conducting seminars, and coaching students 1:1 from all over the world. I love hearing how my content helps people grow their confidence and build wealth through practical, low-risk investing.