2. An Investing Account

Generally speaking, to invest in stocks, you need an investment account. For the hands-on types, this usually means a brokerage account. For those who would like a little help, opening an account through a Robo-advisor is a sensible option. We break down both processes below.
An important point: Both brokers and Robo-advisors allow you to open an account with very little money. We have a guide to opening a brokerage account if you need a deep dive. You’ll want to evaluate brokers based on factors like costs (trading commissions, account fees), investment selection (look for a good selection of commission-free ETFs if you favor funds), and investor research and tools.