Complete newbie: How do you trade stocks?

[kpob53]

First of all, I have absolutely no experience buying or selling stocks. Right now, I only have experience with bank CDs (Certificate of Deposits). I have recently gained interest in buying into the S&P 500, but I do not know how to actually do it. I prefer to do banking and financial business online, so I was wondering if there was any online buy / trade service that I could buy S&P 500 stocks, or other stocks like Apple, and watch the accounts grow.. And are there buy / sell fees? Could I cash out and buy any time I want? Once again, I'm completely new to this, and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[b2fnow]

This question is asked multiple times every day on Answers. Dont' forget to use the Answers search box.

Your question is a little like "How do I do brain surgery?" or "How do I overhaul an engine?"

Until you learn the terminology, until you know the difference between a camshaft and a crankshaft, naming those items won't help you.

Your question is too general, and you haven't done your part yet. When you have a specific question about something you don't understand, we can help. But nobody can teach you how to invest in a paragraph or two. Trading is yet another world than investing, like comparing brain surgery to overhauling an engine. You have to learn to walk the Wall Street walk first.

Look at your local library for books on investing, you'll be surprised how many there are. Also there are ebooks online.

How to start trading online:

http://www.bernanke.cn/stock-trade/......
http://www.stock-trading.jims-info.com/....
http://money.howstuffworks.com/.........
http://www.investopedia.com/
http://sharebuilder.com/
stockcharts.com

Beginner’s Books on Investing

"Which Is Better, Buy-and-Hold or Market Timing?"

"Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Market Timer

The Beginner's Bible in Technical Analysis is:
Edwards & McGee"Tech. Anal. Of Stock Trends"

Droke, ClifTechnical Analysis Simplified

Kahn, Michael N.Tech. Anal. Plain & Simple

Kamich, Bruce M.How Technical Analysis Works

Lefevre, EdwinReminiscences of a Stock Operator

Lofton, ToddGetting Started in Futures

Lowenstein, RogerBuffet (Warren)-The Making of a Capitalist

O'Neil, William J.How to Make Money in Stocks

Oz, TonyHow to Make Money From Wall Street

William J. O'Neil. How to Make Money in Stocks: A Winning System in Good Times and Bad. He is the founder of Investors Business Daily

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" by Charles Mackay

One Up on Wall Street, by Peter Lynch

Common Stocks, Uncommon Profits, by Philip A. Fisher

Stocks for the Long Run, by Jeremy Siegel

Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered, by Gallea

Trading for a Living, by Alexander Elder

From Riches to Rags, by I.C. Freeley

Develop an investment plan, test on a simulator like on investopedia.com. Then open a brokerage account, deposit funds, download the trading software or sign up online, and hit the button.