When you're just beginning your journey into investing, one of the most important questions you'll face is: “What should I invest in?” That question can feel overwhelming. The internet is filled with financial jargon, stock charts, and investment advice that often sounds complicated, technical, or even intimidating.
But here’s the good news: You don’t need to be an expert to understand the basics. In fact, most successful investors don’t spend their time trading every day or reading complex financial statements. Instead, they focus on simple, reliable investment types that build wealth over time.
In this section, you’ll learn about the three most common — and beginner-friendly — investment types in the stock market:
These three types of investments are the foundation of most people’s portfolios, and they’re a great place for you to begin. We’ll explain each one in plain English, explore how they work, and help you understand their differences so you can decide what’s right for your goals.
Let’s start with stocks, which are the most well-known type of investment.
When you buy a stock, you're buying a tiny piece of a company. That piece is called a share. If the company does well, the value of your share increases. If the company performs poorly, the value may decrease.
Example: If you buy 1 share of Apple (AAPL), you become a small owner of Apple Inc. If Apple earns more money or grows in value, your share is likely to become more valuable.
People invest in stocks for two main reasons:
Yes — stocks can go up and down in price, often due to market news, company performance, or the economy. This is called volatility. However, over the long term, many stocks have historically gone up in value.
That’s why it’s best to think of stock investing as a long-term strategy. Stocks may drop in the short term, but over years or decades, they have the potential to deliver strong returns.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ticker symbol | A short code used to identify a stock (e.g., AAPL for Apple) |
| Market price | The current price of a stock on the market |
| Dividend | A payment from the company to shareholders |
| Volatility | How much a stock’s price moves up and down |
| Portfolio | The collection of all your investments |
Next, let’s talk about ETFs, or Exchange-Traded Funds.
Imagine you want to invest in the tech industry but you’re not sure which tech company to choose. Instead of picking just one, you could invest in an ETF that holds shares of many tech companies — like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google — all in one fund.
An ETF is a collection of stocks (or other assets) grouped together into a single investment. It’s like a basket of investments that you can buy with one click.
ETFs are popular because they offer:
ETFs are managed by financial firms like Vanguard, BlackRock (iShares), or Charles Schwab. These companies create funds that track specific themes, industries, or indexes.
Some common types of ETFs include:
| Type of ETF | Description |
|---|---|
| S&P 500 ETF | Tracks the 500 largest U.S. companies (e.g., SPY or VOO) |
| Tech ETF | Focuses on technology companies |
| Dividend ETF | Focuses on companies that pay high dividends |
| International ETF | Includes companies outside the U.S. |
| Bond ETF | Invests in government or corporate bonds |
Let’s say you invest $100 in an ETF called VOO, which tracks the S&P 500 index (more on that below). That $100 is automatically split among 500 different U.S. companies. You’ve just become a part-owner of hundreds of companies — without needing to buy each stock individually.
ETFs are considered low to medium risk, depending on what they include. They’re a great way for beginners to invest in a wide range of companies with a single purchase.
Some ETFs are more aggressive (focused on growth), while others are more conservative (focused on income). The key is choosing one that fits your goals and comfort with risk.
Index funds are very similar to ETFs — in fact, they are often made of the same types of investments. The main difference is that index funds are usually bought and sold at the end of the day, while ETFs trade like stocks during the market day.
Both index funds and ETFs are built to track an index — like the S&P 500, Dow Jones, or Nasdaq. These indexes represent major parts of the stock market.
An index is a collection of selected companies that represent a particular part of the market. Here are the three most famous:
| Index | What It Represents |
|---|---|
| S&P 500 | The 500 largest public companies in the U.S. |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 30 major U.S. companies across various industries |
| Nasdaq Composite | Mainly technology and growth companies |
When you invest in an index fund, you’re buying a piece of all the companies in that index.
| Feature | ETF | Index Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Traded | Like a stock (all day) | Once per day (after market closes) |
| Minimum Investment | Often low or none | Sometimes higher (e.g., $500 or $1,000) |
| Fees | Very low | Very low |
| Best For | Flexible trading | Long-term passive investing |
If you’re just getting started, it’s normal to ask: Should I buy individual stocks, ETFs, or index funds?
Here are a few guidelines to help:
You can also do a mix of all three. Many beginners start with a low-cost S&P 500 ETF or index fund and add individual stocks later as they learn more.
Here are a few beginner-friendly investments to research:
Can I lose money?
Yes — all investments carry risk. However, over long periods (10–30 years), the stock market has generally gone up. If you invest with a long-term mindset, you reduce your risk of losing money.
How much money do I need to start?
Many apps and platforms let you invest with as little as $5 or $10 using fractional shares. You don’t need thousands of dollars to get started.
Should I pick my own stocks?
Only if you feel comfortable doing research. Most beginners do better with ETFs or index funds at first.
How do I track my investments?
Most apps have dashboards to show your returns, portfolio value, and performance. You don’t need a spreadsheet — unless you want one!
You now know the three main types of investments available to you as a beginner:
These are your building blocks. Think of them like tools in a toolbox — each has a purpose, and they can work together to build your financial future.
Remember: you don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to get rich overnight. You just need to start. Investing regularly — even small amounts — in diversified, simple investments is one of the most powerful habits you can develop.
In the next part of this module, we’ll show you where and how to begin investing by introducing you to safe, beginner-friendly platforms you can use today.
Ready to explore the best tools? Let’s go.