Investment beginners can be confused as to where to invest their money because of the sheer size of the stock market. It appears to many people as a huge amount of options without any clarity to direct them in the investing process. Education is definitely the way to go when trying to understand what actually happens in the stock market at all times. Education will help make this process an easy, logical way to make the decision on how to invest money. This is the one thing that will alleviate the stress and anxiety associated with investing in the stock market.
There are two main attitudes that a newcomer to the stock market may have: that the stock market is a form of gambling, or that it is a golden opportunity. In the first case, personal experience or advice of friends or family members has led the person to believe that there is nothing good that can come out of the stock market, and that no matter what happens, the market will come out ahead in the end -- after all, you can't beat the house. In the "go-getter", golden opportunity case, the person feels that the stock market is a silver bullet that they feel they must take advantage of, even without knowing the details. This is even more dangerous than those who feel the stock market should be avoided altogether, as they often will place blind trust in their stock manager's judgment. In both cases, more education about the risks and rewards of the stock market is needed.
Every economy is, essentially, based on business. Most large companies began as small businesses that grew into profitable behemoths. These giants are able to raise capital by selling stock in their enterprises to people who are willing to invest in order to make their own futures financially secure. When a small business needs to grow, it faces the problem of finding enough money to expand its operations. Businesses can generate money by borrowing: they can take a loan from a bank or from a venture capitalist (someone who is willing to invest in a business because they expect to receive a high return on their investment). They can also utilize a gain from another business investment in order to get the cash needed for expansion. Most businesses try to finance their expansions by taking out loans, but banks don't lend money to just anyone. There is no guarantee of a loan.
Business owners looking for funds for expansion but not wanting to pay exorbitant interest on loans often go to the stock market. They issue stocks which allows them access to money that does not have to be repaid in return for giving up some control over how the company is run. When a business does this for the first time, it is referred to as "going public". The more money that comes in, the better the chances for expansion and the better chance an investor has to see his investment grow.
If you are planning to invest some of your hard-earned cash into the stock market, learn the basics of investing and do some thorough research in the companies that attract your interest. The first step is carefully gathering information about a business you like for investment and then evaluating that information to make a wise choice.
